missing assignments parent letter

Homework Letter to Parents | Email Templates

As a teacher, communicating with parents about the homework expectations for their children is crucial for fostering a successful learning environment. Crafting a homework letter that is both informative and engaging can be a challenging task. That’s why we’ve created a list of homework letter-to-parents templates that you can use to effectively communicate with parents about the assignments, expectations, and goals for their child’s homework. In this article, we’ll go over the key elements of a successful homework letter, and provide you with a customizable template that you can use for your classroom.

The key elements of an effective homework letter to parents include

• A clear introduction that establishes your purpose and goals for the homework,
• A detailed explanation of the assignments, expectations, and grading policies,
• A schedule outlining when homework is due, and a section dedicated to answering frequently asked questions or addressing concerns.
• Additionally, adding information or resources about how parents can support their child’s learning at home and providing resources for additional support can also be helpful.

These elements will help ensure that parents are well-informed about their child’s homework and can effectively support their child’s academic success.

Example of detailed Homework letter to parents

I hope this email finds you, your child, and in good health. I wanted to take the time to talk about the value of homework and how it may aid in your child’s development as we begin the new school year. I’ve designed a template for a homework letter to parents that I’ll be using this year to assist keep you informed about your child’s homework requirements.

The homework template was created to give you succinct, clear information about the homework assignments, goals, and expectations for your child. It will also include a schedule explaining when homework is due, as well as a part devoted to addressing any worries you might have or frequently asked questions.

I’ll explain how the assignment helps your child learn in the introduction, as well as its purpose and goals. You can have a clear grasp of what is expected of your child by reading the thorough explanation section. This section defines the assignments, expectations, and grading guidelines. You may assist your child manage their time by giving them the due dates as per the timetable area.

I have also included some resources to help your child’s learning at home. You can learn how to support your child’s academic success.

I am aware that parents and students alike may find the topic of homework to be difficult, which is why I am providing this homework letter. I hope that this template will make it easier for you to support your child’s learning by having a clear understanding of the homework expectations.

If you have any questions or concerns about the homework letter to parents template, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I am always available to discuss your child’s academic progress and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for your continued support in your child’s education.

Homework letter to parents templates

• Dear parent, This is a reminder that it is your child’s responsibility to bring their homework assignments home. We encourage you to make sure your child has their work ready with them each day so we all spend less time on this task and more time on teaching. Missing homework assignments may result in a lower grade for the assignment or even being taken out points from the report card altogether. Please see attached a list of missing homework assignments from your child’s class.
• Dear Parent, We are writing to inform you that we have not received homework from your child for the following subjects [list]. If we do not receive this assignment by [date], your child will receive a zero grade on all assignments until the missing homework is submitted. We thank you in advance and appreciate your help with this matter.
• Dear parent, we noticed that your child did not hand in his/her homework. We will do our best to ensure your child does not miss out on learning from this lesson. Please ensure that your child brings home their homework next week. Thank you for your time and cooperation.
• Dear Parent, It is important that your child complete their homework on time each night. Please help them by discussing the importance of homework completion and encouraging it to be done every night. Thank you.
• Dear Parent, It has been brought to our attention that your child has been missing homework. We are asking that you remind your child of the importance of homework. Please ensure it is being completed daily, as this greatly helps your child in the classroom. Thank you for your time and cooperation.
• Dear parents, Please see below a list of your child’s missing homework assignments. Please check if there are any questions you may have and then sign the form at the end. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank You,
• Dear Parent, Your student has not turned in the homework assignment. Please see that they bring it with them tomorrow. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at [number]. Thank you for your time. Sincerely,
• Dear parent, this is our weekly homework reminder. We would appreciate it if you could check and make sure that your children have their homework completed. That way, they will be capable of focusing on school work instead of struggling to complete missing assignments in class. Thank you for your help.
• Dear Parent, your child has been marked absent for missing homework. Please see the attached document for more information.
• Dear Parent, I am sending this email to notify parents that the assignment [name] was not turned in. I hope that the assignment will be returned soon.
• Dear Parent, We noticed that you missed the lesson titled [name] on Monday. This lesson was designed to help your child develop a better understanding of grammar and sentence structure, which are crucial skills to learn as they grow into successful adults. To access this lesson again and complete the homework assignment please visit the link. If you have any questions or concerns during this process please do not hesitate to contact me. 

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• Email to parents about academic concerns

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Letter to Parents from Teacher Regarding Homework

Writing effective communication between teachers and parents is a critical aspect of fostering a supportive learning environment for students.

The following “Sample Letter to Parents from Teacher Regarding Homework” exemplifies how educators can engage with families, creating a partnership that benefits student learning and development.

This carefully formulated letter provides a blueprint for teachers looking to articulate the purpose, structure, and philosophy of homework within their classroom. It is presented as a starting point, one that can be personalized to reflect the unique dynamics of their teaching style and the needs of their students and families.

The template is designed to facilitate understanding and encourage collaboration between school and home.

By reading through this sample letter, educators will gain insights into how to effectively convey expectations, offer support techniques, and initiate open lines of communication with parents regarding their child’s homework experience.

Use this resource to help guide your outreach to parents, ensuring they are well-informed and involved in their child’s academic journey and homework process.

Sample Letter or Email to Parents from Teacher Regarding Homework

Subject: enhancing our children’s homework experience.

Dear Parents,

I hope this letter finds you well and embracing the new school year with enthusiasm and optimism. As your child’s teacher, I remain dedicated to facilitating their educational journey and growth both within the classroom and at home.

Homework is a key component of our curriculum as it reinforces the concepts learned in school and promotes a disciplined approach to independent study. I believe that a strong partnership between home and school underpins the academic success of our students. As such, I’m reaching out to discuss our current homework policy and provide some insights to help our children obtain the maximum benefit from their homework assignments.

Homework Expectations

1. Consistency : It’s important for homework to be a regular, predictable part of your child’s routine. I typically assign homework four days a week, giving them the opportunity to decompress and pursue other interests on the weekends.

2. Duration : The amount of time students should spend on homework will vary, but a general guideline is approximately 10 minutes per grade level. This means a 3rd grader should spend about 30 minutes on homework, while a 6th grader might spend about an hour.

3. Support : While students are encouraged to complete their homework independently, your role in creating a supportive environment cannot be overstated.

Ways You Can Help

1. Establish Routines : Setting a specific time and place for homework can instill good study habits. A distraction-free zone is also critical for maintaining focus.

2. Encourage Proper Planning : Teaching children to prioritize their assignments and manage their time can alleviate the stress of last-minute rushes.

3. Communicate : If you notice that your child is consistently taking too long to complete assignments or struggling with certain concepts, please reach out. We can then collaborate to find strategies that work best for your child.

I would love to hear your thoughts and any concerns you might have. Your insights are crucial to ensuring our homework policy meets the needs of our students. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly via email or by phone to discuss further, or we can schedule a meeting to dive deeper into this conversation.

Our shared goal is to see your child thrive, and with your support, I am confident we can make this school year wonderfully productive.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education.

Warm regards,

[Teacher’s Name] [Grade Level] Teacher [School Name] [Contact Information]

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Why it’s hard for students to “just turn in” missing assignments, and how to get them unstuck

Mar 29, 2023 | Blog

With the end of the semester on the horizon, many students may feel overwhelmed by low grades or feeling behind in some of their classes.

As a parent, it can be stressful to see that your student has overdue work, or get notifications from their teacher that they’re missing assignments. 

It’s even more frustrating when you’ve told them over and over again how important it is to “just turn it in”…but the work is still showing up as missing.

The reality is that no matter how simple it might seem to an outside observer, doing missing work is almost never as easy as “just getting it done.” If they haven’t done the work yet, there’s a good chance that something is getting in their way. 

If you can figure out what the problem is before jumping in to help them (or make them) do the work, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of success.

In our experience, there are usually 3 main reasons students resist submitting their missing work…even when it seems like “just turning it in” would be SO much easier!

Reason 1: They think it won’t make a difference

Once the due date for an assignment has passed, students often de-prioritize it and move on to focus on upcoming assignments instead. It’s tempting for students to justify this by thinking “there are lots of other assignments, missing one or two won’t matter.”

But what they often don’t realize is that because of the way most grading scales are weighted, even one or two zeros can have an enormous impact on their grade. Showing students the difference it makes to turn in just a few assignments can increase their motivation to get the work done. 

Here’s an example of the difference it can make to turn in just a few missing assignments before the end of the semester:

Overall grade with 3 missing assignments: 78.3%

Overall grade when assignments are turned in: 90.1%

It’s hard for students to calculate these averages in their head, so it can be really powerful for them to run the numbers and see firsthand exactly how much they have to gain from making up their missing assignments.

When we do calculations like this with our students, they are almost always surprised by how much this makeup work could improve their grades, and feel much more motivated to submit the assignments when they can see for themselves the difference it will make.

Reason 2: They think it’s too late

Another reason students often resist doing makeup work is that they think it’s too late to get credit for it. 

Even if they’ve done the math and know that submitting the work would make a difference in their grade, they still won’t want to turn it in if they think the teacher won’t accept it.

Especially for introverted or anxious students, it can be very intimidating to have conversations with their teachers. They might think they’ll get in trouble for asking to submit their work late, or worry that the teacher will say “no.”

The good news is that many teachers are flexible with their late work policies and allow students to turn in overdue assignments even when it is past the “official” deadline to submit them.

So if students can find the courage to ask for help, there is a good chance that their teachers will respond positively and allow them an opportunity to make up the work.

For students who are struggling to reach out to teachers, we often find it is helpful to roleplay these conversations in coaching sessions if they’re not sure what to say, or work with them to email their teachers if they’re not sure what to say.

Reason 3: They feel overwhelmed

Students who are behind on their work often have challenges keeping track of due dates, managing time, breaking down complex assignments, prioritizing work, staying focused, or following through with plans….which is why they fell behind in the first place. 

These challenges can become even more daunting when they are behind in their classes, and trying to complete makeup assignments on top of their normal workload.

This can feel so stressful that a lot of students avoid or put off doing makeup work even when they   know   how much it would improve their grade.

For these students to get their work submitted, it’s essential to help them find ways to…

• Break down the assignments so they have a realistic plan for getting the work done that they’re confident they can actually follow through with
• Lower the stress they feel while they are doing the work so they will be less tempted to avoid it
• Visualize the progress they are making so they can see that their efforts are making a difference

Providing support

When students have a lot of makeup work to complete, having some additional support to help them work through it can be invaluable. 

For some students, this may mean finding a tutor to help them with the content they didn’t understand when their teacher was first presenting the material. 

For other students, having a family member or friend nearby as a source of moral support to keep them company while they are working (and a motivating reward to look forward to as soon as the work is completed) can be enormously helpful.

Other students may benefit from working with an academic coach to help them get unstuck and started on their missing work. Sometimes, having someone else who is not a family member step in to help can reduce stress and conflict at home and make it easier for students to take the steps they need to get back on track in their classes. If you think this type of support would be helpful for your student, please feel free to reach out and we’ll be happy to help! 

What Do You Do About Missing Assignments? 

Missing assignments…one of the biggest challenges for the classroom teacher. It’s really tough when you get to the end of a grading period and suddenly you realize students have missing assignments that are really affecting their end-of-term grades. You definitely want their grades to reflect their abilities, and you definitely don’t want parents suddenly wondering why there are low grades on their report cards…so we’ve put together an easy solution for you!

Hold Students Accountable with Missing Assignment Templates

This year, we invite you to promote student accountability in your classroom with our printable Missing Assignment Logs and parent communication notes. We’ve created a handy set of differentiated templates for you to use to notify students and parents of missing assignments, plus an easy way for you to keep track of which students owe work and which ones have submitted late work already. This resource download includes:

• Missing Assignment Log for Younger Students
• Missing Assignment Log for Older Students
• Missing Assignment Log with Teacher Signature Option
• Missing Assignment Note for Younger Students – This form requires students to fill out what assignment they did not complete and why it wasn’t completed. It also provides a place for parents to sign when they finish.
• Missing Assignment Note for Older Students – This form requires students to fill out what was not completed, write to explain why they didn’t submit the work, and sign stating that they understand the consequences of their actions.

Download and Celebrate No Missing Assignments! 

This resource is available as an easy-to-use Google Slides or Printable PDF Resource file. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button to select the file format you prefer.

This resource was created by Lisamarie Del Valle, a teacher in Florida and Teach Starter Collaborator.

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Parents and Missing Assignments

• Traci L Williams
• February 2, 2021

If you have kids in middle or high school, the term “missing assignments” is all too familiar. When I went to school, our parents didn’t know what our grades were until the six-week progress reports and the semester report cards. Maybe not the best plan, but daily reports is not a good plan either. It creates tremendous stress for the whole family.

Potential Reasons

As parents, we do often wonder why the assignments are missing. That’s natural. I tend to think of it this way: Imagine your child is working for six bosses . Each boss is equally weighted in power and they ALL want your child’s attention EVERY DAY. And, your child isn’t working in their area of passion or anything they’ve even done before. They are learning something new each day . Being sick or taking a “mental health” day isn’t an option because the catch-up puts them way behind. Thus, kids can easily get overwhelmed and lose their motivation because every day is another mountain to climb; rarely a plateau .

Another thing to consider is what if your child needs to spend extra time on one class because they struggle with that subject? That’s common. The end result is it takes time away from another class. They may give up sleep to make up for it, but that takes its toll on the body, and they often get in trouble for being up too late or being tired in the morning. They are literally pressed on all sides.

Currently, many kids are away from friends and working at home with stressed parents who are also often struggling. I understand school is important and overcoming challenges is a great skill. However, sleep matters, stress is a killer, JOY is IMPERATIVE, and many kids feel like there is NO reprieve. Even Easter, Summer and Christmas breaks aren’t always breaks anymore. Mental down time is essential .

Mental Health

All the way through school kids are told, “If you don’t do XYZ now, you won’t be ready for kindergarten, next year, middle school, high school, etc.” There are 4.4 million kids in the United States diagnosed with anxiety disorder from age 3 to 17 . Wow! And that’s just the “diagnosed” cases.

Parents … give this some thought. Do your kids have balance ? Are they always “working”? Do they sleep well ? How often do they get to enjoy today, or are they always striving to be ready for tomorrow? How often are you fighting and battling over school, homework and missing assignments vs. how often are you talking about who they are , what they enjoy and how they are doing as a person ? PLEASE … give your kids the benefit of the doubt. If what is being asked of them doesn’t seem reasonable or you see them crumbling under the pressure, ask for adjustments, a slower pace or forgiven assignments. Teachers often understand .

What You Can Do

Your kids are not the enemy . Talk to them to find out what would work better for school. Get creative . What is causing them stress? Why do they get behind? Are their teachers approachable and helpful? Do they feel comfortable asking for help? Some kids are introverts and some are extroverts . Some are great at math and others at writing. They aren’t perfect and we need to stop treating them like they should be. We are pushing our kids to the brink and THAT is why they are depressed , anxious and hurting themselves. They have no reprieve, no advocate, no voice. Everyone is pushing them for more, and discounting their answer of WHY they are struggling. It can be too much. Do not let that be your family. Ask . Listen . Adjust .

Traci L. Williams is the Founder of A Loving Way to Parent . She is known for her intuitive and practical approach to parenting. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to find out how she can support your family! ( [email protected] ~ 951-240-1407 ~ www.alovingway.com )

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Keeping parents informed on missing homework

Discussion in ' Elementary Education ' started by shoreline02 , May 25, 2016 .

shoreline02 Cohort

May 25, 2016

How do you keep parents informed about their child's missing homework? I teach science and have about 70, 4th grade students. I thought about sending home a weekly slip if students were missing anything and parents would have to sign and return the slip. Also, keeping parents informed about their child's behavior. On the same notice perhaps?  

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otterpop Phenom

I do this: Before handing in homework, every student holds theirs up in the air. I can immediately see and make note of who does not have theirs. Then, I send a quick email to all parents (bcc) of those children saying that their student did not turn in their homework. Simple, easy, quick.  

geoteacher Devotee

shoreline02 said: ↑ How do you keep parents informed about their child's missing homework? I teach science and have about 70, 4th grade students. I thought about sending home a weekly slip if students were missing anything and parents would have to sign and return the slip. Also, keeping parents informed about their child's behavior. On the same notice perhaps? Click to expand...

May 26, 2016

Most of our parents don't have an email or computer. Some have phones that connect to the internet, some don't.  

TXforever Companion

May 29, 2016

I bought duplicate missing assignments notes/ forms from Really a Good Stuff. They're kind of expensive, but it's nice to have instant documentation. When the notes are returned signed, I just put them in a file,  

Sarge Enthusiast

="otterpop, post: 1992615, member: 84048"]I do this: Before handing in homework, every student holds theirs up in the air. I can immediately see and make note of who does not have theirs. Then, I send a quick email to all parents (bcc) of those children saying that their student did not turn in their homework. Simple, easy, quick. Click to expand...

Unfortunately, many of my kid's parents do not have email addresses, computers, or access to internet with their phone. I guess a note home will be my only way to go.  

minnie Habitué

May 30, 2016

I would suggest Remind 101. Every parent in America has a cell now  

shoreline02 said: ↑ Unfortunately, many of my kid's parents do not have email addresses, computers, or access to internet with their phone. I guess a note home will be my only way to go. Click to expand...

I might be able to connect electronically with 25/30 of my parents.  

catnfiddle Moderator

Since I know for a fact all of our parents have access to a portal where they can view their kiddos accounts, I simply call the parents of those who are disengaged and ask they log in. Sometimes, when it's been a terrible year for a few students, I will send a letter home with a copy of the grade book, making sure the envelope doesn't have school insignia (you'd be amazed how many students will intercept mail).  

mathmagic Enthusiast

I do weekly reflection sheets for students that goes home with their papers from the week. This contains a quick 3/2/1 on how they're doing interdisciplinary-wise as well as an "on-time"/late/missing for each homework assignment. It's supposed to come back on Monday, so they will see it over the weekend. Those with numerous missing assignments I have set up a plan to contact daily - briefly listing the night's HW - so that the parents can help build the stronger habits with their child. For me, these methods give a good balance of driving student responsibility and holding them accountable.  

Thank you everyone!  

Rabbitt Connoisseur

Jun 1, 2016

Do you have an assignment notebook or agenda that could be signed by parents? I would only use this with frequent flyers.  

BioAngel Science Teacher - Grades 3-6

Jun 5, 2016

Create a checklist of that week's assignments - check off what assignments came in (with a grade if it's graded) and which assignments did not (you can do this as you go through the week or have it ready to go home for the weekend). (You can probably have students help you do their own checklists as the school year goes on.) The checklist can go into their folder and has to be signed over the weekend and returned with any missing work. You can then put that checklist paper into the student folder and have documentation that the parents saw their grades and missing assignments.  

Jun 6, 2016

I'm so embarrassed to admit this 30+ years later, but I was an expert at screwing with those checklists when I was in middle school. I'd write the assignments in for the teacher to sign, but I'd do it so lightly that I could erase / edit as I felt like doing. If I could do it in the 80s, these kids could do so now. These days, parents have the ability to check grades and assignments online. Even a weekly check using a library computer should work for parents who don't have home internet or smart phones.  

MrsC Multitudinous

All of our students in grades 1-8 have agendas to keep track of homework and assignments. During the first half of the year, I check agendas every day as they leave (it only takes about 2 minutes to do a check of all 28); during the second half of the year, I only need to check about 1/3. I'm strongly leaning towards having a Twitter account for the class next year and posting a photo of the Homework board every day. Between these two methods, everyone will have access to the information.  

catnfiddle said: ↑ These days, parents have the ability to check grades and assignments online. Even a weekly check using a library computer should work for parents who don't have home internet or smart phones. Click to expand...

Jun 9, 2016

catnfiddle said: ↑ I was an expert at screwing with those checklists when I was in middle school. I'd write the assignments in for the teacher to sign, but I'd do it so lightly that I could erase / edit as I felt like doing. Click to expand...

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Late or Missing Work Form

by Admin · 27 November, 2008

Communicate with parents about a student’s late or missing assignments. Send this home and have parent sign to keep them informed about late or missing work.

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the graphic organizers are wonderful! i also like the awards/certificates section. thanks so much for the free stuff!