Requesting a change in your child’s classroom placement can be tough, here are some ideas to help get started.

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Requesting a Change in Your Child’s Classroom Placement

My daughter went from dreading to looking forward to her day at school. As a parent, I ho-hummed about requesting a change in her teachers, but then realized that speaking up for her needs at school was what I had to do. Now that we are half way through the school year, I am SO glad we did.

Read How to Get the Teacher You Want for next year!

How do You Know It’s Time to Request a Change to Your Child’s Classroom?

1. Your Child Doesn’t want to Go to School

The classroom placement for this year just wasn’t working for my grade school daughter. It started out ok. The new teacher was friendly, organized and enthusiastic. My daughter seemed to get along with her, but then things never really settled after the first few weeks of school. She was coming home frazzled, didn’t want to go to school, and was having a hard time making friends. It wasn’t like her and so we sat down and talked.

Some kids do not want to go to school for a variety of reasons from feeling frustrated with academic tasks to having friend issues. Talk to your child about what is making them unhappy. If they say, “I hate my teacher,” or “My teacher is mean.” Ask for examples. Keep in mind, you are hearing the kid-version of the story. E-mail or call for the teacher version.

Because of the grade levels schedule, my daughter was seeing one teacher for home room, another for reading, another for science and yet another for math. Add in all the special teachers (library, art, PE…) and she didn’t see one teacher for more than 90 minutes in a day. Which also meant, she didn’t see the same kids either. On top of that, she had to keep all her belongings in the homeroom class and stop there – like a locker- in between all the other classes. It felt like my 9 year old had the schedule of a middle schooler. When we really analyzed it, she had MORE transitions that a middle schooler.

My book-a-holic, straight A student hated school? WHAT? This mom knew, her daughters homeroom classroom needed to change.

2. You have scheduled a conference with your child’s teacher, made a plan, and things still haven’t gotten better.

The first thing we did was talked with the teacher about our concerns. She really listened and referred me to our school counselor. Because my daughter has a 504 plan, she arranged a meeting for her education team (all the teachers and school counselor) to discuss possible solutions. Even if your child does not have an IEP, Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan, you can always ask your school’s guidance counselor, curriculum director or principal to help set up a team meeting to discuss the educational needs of your child. (After the conference, plan, and no improvement)

3. A change in your child’s classroom placement should occur if your child’s learning is affected by a relationship with another child or adult.

This not getting along with a teacher, professional in the room, or peer may be causing inner turmoil. Looking at the facts, there are just times when 2 people do not work well together. It is my opinion that if a child does not feel emotionally safe at schools then we, as parents, must speak up and insist upon a change. I have seen parents remove children from the public school setting to homeschool due to these bad connections. Changing classrooms is always an option to consider too.

Don’t miss How to Write a First Grade Teacher Request Letter

What to do when Your Child’s Classroom Placement Needs a Change

Tips for Requesting a Change in Your Child’s Classroom Placement

• Address the issue with your child.  Do lots of listening.
• Address the issue with your child’s teacher via phone or e-mail.
• Schedule and in-person conference with your child’s teacher
• Make and follow a plan to solve the issue as a team (parent – child – teacher)
• Continue the dialog on a consistent basis. Do not wait weeks to let your child’s teacher know the current plan is not working.
• If the plan doesn’t work – Consider meeting with an extended education team. This team may include the guidance counselor, grade team leader, principal, curriculum director, behavior specialist, teacher, and parent.
• If it hasn’t already been brought to the table as an option, ask firmly, but kindly for a change in classroom placement. Can we consider changing my child’s classroom?
• As always, it is easier for me to sandwich the issue between positives. Say something nice about the current situation, then explain why it isn’t working and must change, then end with a positive, like how the new teacher will help your child do better in school.
• In our case, my daughter’s entire team of teachers was in support of changing her homeroom classroom teacher. We were lucky in the fact our issue was not related to having a “mean teacher.” It made it so much easier to say, “Mrs. E is very sweet, welcoming, and organized, but the way my daughters’ schedule is set up, it severely affects her learning with so many transitions. I would like to propose that she moves into ___ or ___ homeroom. This change would eliminate 6 transitions and add 25 minutes to her learning day. “

Additional Resources for Classroom Placement for Your Child

Keep your kindergartner’s skills sharp this summer and help prepare them for first grade with these hands-on, innovative learning games in our book, 100 FUN AND EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS. Turn off the TV and beat boredom blues with these clever activities that are quick and easy to set up with common household materials. Each of the 100 learning games comes with an additional 3 alternative ways to play, making this a resource with nearly 400 activities!

Sending a Smart Kid to Kindergarten

Here are some commonly asked questions and a few thoughts on ways to help make your kindergarten year even more successful.

Q: My kid knows all their letter names and letter sounds. They are reading already.  Won’t they be bored when the teacher is teaching the letter names and sounds?

A – Yes, your child will be bored while the teacher is teaching the letter names and sounds. Sorry. There will be times when your smart kid will be advanced in what the teacher is instructing.

In most kindergarten classrooms, the teacher will begin the reading instruction time with a whole group lesson. This is the time when the children sing songs, participate in shared reading experiences, and learn academic concepts.

The curriculum builds in focus areas for children to develop phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension skills, fluency, and vocabulary. While your child may be a strong reader already, the good news is that there are so many other things that children are also learning at the same time. These lessons will reinforce what they already know.

Additionally, there are numerous other things children are learning during whole group reading instruction time including:

• being respectful of peers
• waiting for turns to answer questions
• participating in group activities
• asking questions for clarification
• listening skills
• staying in your own space

What you can do:

1. Talk to your child about learning. Remind them that all children learn to read at a different pace.
2. Explain to them how to be a kind-hearted, respectful learner.
3. Model how to give positive encouragement to others when you can see they are trying their best.
4. Give specific praise to your child on effort and being able to navigate difficult tasks.
5. Ask the teacher how your child will be challenged at his or her own level. Keep an ongoing dialog with your child’s teacher throughout the year.
6. Attend all parent-teacher conferences.
7. Remember that there is more to kindergarten than learning to read!  Focus on a different area of learning that you would like to see your child become stronger in: writing is always a good one!

Disclosure Affiliate links used to Amazon. 

Q: If my child already knows everything on the kindergarten standards – how will they be challenged?

A – There are a few schools that have ability grouping for kindergarten or gifted programs. These programs pull academically gifted children out during the learning day for a small period of time. Traditionally, most kindergarteners are not screened for giftedness until the end of the kindergarten school year.

Most kindergarten classrooms however use small group instruction to meet the needs of different ability levels. That means, that during the children’s work time, the teacher brings small groups of students to a work area and instructs them on a topic that is at their instructional level. One group may be working on letter sounds while another group is working on reading sentences.

If you want them to be “challenged” I would strongly recommend enriching the school curriculum with learning activities after school.  Your child can have an amazing teacher, but there is just honestly not enough time in the day for them to do it all.

What you can do:

1. As the school year begins, give them little daily challenges on your way to school such as: find a word around your room that you didn’t know. Sound it out and tell me what your new word is when I pick you up.
2. Plan an educational field trip each week with your child. Visit the museum, zoo, park, botanical gardens, inventors museum, grocery store, local event, or art fair and learn within your community.
3. Schedule in science, engineering, and art challenges into your child’s day.  Start an art journal and explore famous artists through a variety of mediums, set aside one day of the week for super cool science.  Bake or sew with your child.
4. Hire a tutor or enroll them in an afterschool program that will enrich their daytime learning.  Maybe they can learn French? Delve into coding? Play chess?

Q – How can I keep my smart kid from seeking attention through negative behaviors? 

A –  This is a tough question and takes careful planning and teamwork between the teacher and parents. There are really two issues at play in this question, keeping the child intellectually challenged and socially navigating the classroom dynamics when there is no challenge.

I have had some awesome kids in my classroom that were highly intelligent but quickly became disruptive, attention-seeking students.  They were the students who craved a brain challenge to maintain intellectual stimulation throughout the day. As with each student, a teacher’s job is to find out what their needs are and how to best meet those needs within the classroom.

Think about the strategies that you use at home to help your child navigate the world. Are there special challenges (Sudoku? Chapter books? Riddles?) your child enjoys?  If so, let your teacher know this.  Ask the teacher if they would mind if you purchased and sent in some extra challenges for your child to have available when they completed their classwork.

Communication between school and home is vital to coming up with a good solution to attention-seeking negative behaviors!  Make sure to be open to new ideas and approach each day with a positive attitude.

What you can do:

•  Ask the teacher to meet before school begins (or within the first few weeks) to discuss ways that you both can work together to enrich your child’s education. E-mail or phone calls work good as teachers are really busy during back-to-school time.
• ALWAYS send your child to school with a book to read.  My daughter always had a chapter book in her backpack.  Encourage them to read when time permits.
• Purchase a workbook that is at your child’s independent reading or math level that will provide them with intellectually challenging work when needed. Keep this in a desk or work area.
• Come up with a plan for how a child can receive positive attention. This may be a little hand signal, a picture cue card or a special place in the room.

Here are some of the books we have used in the past. Why 1st grade? because K is probably too easy for your smart kindergartener.

Your child may also enjoy these activities…

Keep your kindergartner’s skills sharp this summer and help prepare them for first grade with these hands-on, innovative learning games in our book, 100 FUN AND EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS. Turn off the TV and beat boredom blues with these clever activities that are quick and easy to set up with common household materials. Each of the 100 learning games comes with an additional 3 alternative ways to play, making this a resource with nearly 400 activities!

Here are a few guidelines and a sample classroom placement letter to get you started.

I believe that it may or may not help in making your next year’s teacher a better match with your child, but it is worth the chance. So, as the time is now for most schools, how should you write a placement request letter?

Disclosure: Amazon affiliate Links Used in this Article

Tips for Writing a Placement Letter Request

Grab your pens and paper, now’s the time to sit down and write a placement letter request. There really is no one right way. This is just the format that I use every year with my own children. Call your school first to find out if they accept placement letters, the date they need the letters by, and the specific guidelines for your school.  Some principals allow preferred teachers to be named others do not.

Placement Letter Request Format:

1. Start by stating your child’s current grade level and teacher. I always include a picture of my child somewhere in the letter as well.

2. Write about your child’s strengths – academic and social.

3. Write about your concerns for your child. This is the place to include any special needs or personality traits that may need extra attention.

4. Write about the type of classroom or teacher traits that you feel your child would do best with.

5. Thank the team for considering your request.

Read the article: Getting the Teacher You Want

Sample Classroom Placement Letter

RE: 2024-2025 Classroom Placement Dear “School” Team,

We are writing this letter on behalf of our daughter “name”. She is currently in “teacher” “grade level” class and excelling in all areas; social and academic. “Name” is a very bright and enthusiastic learner. She reads at a much higher decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension level than her current grade. In fact, she reads 1-2 chapter books and multiple picture books every evening and is able to discuss with higher-order thinking, challenging concepts. She reached over 100 AR points, made it to the 5^th level in Ticket to Read, and has read almost the entire collection of chapter book series in the school library this year (and she is only 6 years old). In addition to reading, she enjoys science and has become a citizen scientist collecting data for a project called Monarch Health. Her one complaint about school is that she wants to learn more than the material presented. We are currently providing her with enrichment activities at home.

She is also a very thoughtful, kind-hearted child. I have seen her give up her space for others, allow them to go first, and help solve disputes using kind words and effective problem-solving. She responds well to compassionate adults with fair rules.

It is amazing to be parents of such an inquisitive, thoughtful child. When she was younger, we were worried she would have trouble learning as she has vision issues. After patching for several years, multiple eye muscle surgeries, and therapy, she has improved her vision. Glasses are essential for her and she is never without them. She also relies heavily on her other senses and benefits from consistent classroom routines.

We feel that she would do the best in a classroom that is not only organized, with consistent routines but also has a teacher who is willing to challenge and enrich the grade level material. “Name” would also do well with a teacher who routinely uses multi-sensory lessons, rather than one who primarily leans towards providing visual cues and presentations.

Last, but not least, we feel that it is important for her to be placed in a classroom that supports and challenges her in a safe and loving way, for “name” to feel worthwhile and appreciated in her learning environment.

Thank you,

“Parents Names”

Need tips for writing a First Grade Classroom Request Letter?

As a Parent of a Grade School Child, you may also enjoy these resources:

• The Parent Backpack for Kindergarten through Grade 5: How to Support Your Child’s Education, End Homework Meltdowns, and Build Parent-Teacher Connections
• Smart Parenting for Smart Kids: Nurturing Your Child’s True Potential
• Raising a Gifted Child
• Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids
• Different Learners: Identifying, Preventing, and Treating Your Child’s Learning Problems
• Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents
• The Learning Habit: A Groundbreaking Approach to Homework and Parenting that Helps Our Children Succeed in School and Life
• The Educated Child: A Parents Guide From Preschool Through Eighth Grade

Keep your kindergartner’s skills sharp this summer and help prepare them for first grade with these hands-on, innovative learning games in our book, 100 FUN AND EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS. Turn off the TV and beat boredom blues with these clever activities that are quick and easy to set up with common household materials. Each of the 100 learning games comes with an additional 3 alternative ways to play, making this a resource with nearly 400 activities!

Although many schools discourage parents from requesting a particular teacher by name, they do allow parents to write a teacher request letter. As a former kindergarten and first grade teacher, now mom to a soon-to-be first grader, I too am writing this letter for my son. Affiliate links.

Finding the BEST Classroom Fit for First Grade

First grade is a big transition from kindergarten in terms of time on task and expectations for learning. Our kids are getting bigger, more independent, and learning more each and every day. I believe that their early classroom years set the stage for a successful lifetime of learning. If kids are excited about going to school, there is a good chance; they will be excited about learning to read too! So how can we find the best classroom fit for our first graders?

Writing a teacher request letter “MAY” help your child get into the right classroom fit.

I add quotation marks in the word may, because placement letters

1. May not be read. Yes, this is a chance I am willing to take.
2. Do not have to be granted. Many factors are involved in building classrooms, from current teachers opinions, learning styles, student needs, and a mix of ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Parent request letters are just a portion of things considered during a child’s school placement.
3. May work in the ideal world, but not be the right fit in reality.

Tips for Writing Your First Grade Teacher Request Letter

As with all classroom placement letters, I tend to follow the simple sandwich rule. That means, I start with something positive about my child’s education, then state the “need” or “issue” that concerns me, and end with a positive. I sandwich the concern for my child’s education in between the good stuff. As a parent, I have a lot of needs for my kids, so I try to pick one or two of the most important ones.

Start with a Positive

Add the Concern

End with a Positive

Another piece of advice for writing placement letters is to skip the flowery writing and be short, sweet, and to the point. Often, the principal or curriculum director is reading a TON of placement letters. The schools that do allow parents to write these often times DO take the time to read each and every one. Make sure that your voice is heard.

Be consistent, clear, and kind. Even if you do not like your child’s current kindergarten teacher, this placement letter is not the place to discuss it.

If you do not know where to start, consider asking your child’s current teacher. He or she may provide valuable insight into the type of classroom environment that may be best for your child. Other family members may also be invaluable in helping to write these letters. I will often times bounce ideas off my mom because she knows my kids and the education world.

Sample First Grade Teacher Request Letter

Dear NAME OF SCHOOL team or PRINCIPAL,

I am writing on behalf of my kindergarten son, _____ in regards to his first grade classroom placement. He is currently in Mrs. ____’s classroom. We appreciate how hands-on her math lessons are and how she incorporates movement throughout the children’s learning day.

My son LOVES to take things apart and build and home. He is curious about the world around him and likes doing science experiments. I believe that he would do well in an experienced teachers classroom that has consistent routines and procedures in place, but is also sensitive to his feelings and gives positive feedback often. He loves SMILES! In the ideal world, I would like him to be in a classroom that uses music, art, and hands-on stations for learning as well (with lots of recess!)

I appreciate your team’s consideration and look forward to another successful year at ____ Elementary.
Please feel free to call me or e-mail with any questions.

Phone Number
E-mail
Name
< I usually add in a picture of my child’s smiling face at the bottom of the letter>

First Grade Teacher Request Letter Format

So, in a nutshell, make sure to include the following information in your parent request letter for your child’s first grade placement.

• Greeting:
• Say who you are, what grade your child is in, and one nice thing about their current classroom / classroom teacher.
• Explain 1 good thing about your child. Tell about their needs and what type of classroom environment they would do best in.
• Thank them for considering your request.
• End with all of your contact information.
• Child’s picture, optional

Keep your kindergartner’s skills sharp this summer and help prepare them for first grade with these hands-on, innovative learning games in our book, 100 FUN AND EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS. Turn off the TV and beat boredom blues with these clever activities that are quick and easy to set up with common household materials. Each of the 100 learning games comes with an additional 3 alternative ways to play, making this a resource with nearly 400 activities!

Here are some ideas for getting the teacher you want for your child in the upcoming school year.

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Getting the teacher YOU want.

1. Really get to know the teachers.

Many of us have attended school events to get to know the teachers. Yes, the school carnival is a great way to support my child’s school, but also a good time to see all of the teachers and how they interact with the kids and families. I like knowing that my child’s school has teachers that care enough about their students to spend time outside of their contracted work day to engage with families.

To me, this shows that the teachers are dedicated to their profession and their students. I don’t know all the teachers in the next grade level up, but I do know who the “favorites are.”

They are the teachers at these extra events. The ones kids run up to and give high fives and hugs. The ones all the room parents know by first name. You know, the teachers that every parent wishes their child would make it into their classroom.

2. Write a well-crafted placement letter.

Most schools that allow parents to write a classroom request letter. If your school allows it, grab your pen and paper and ask nicely for the teacher you want. If your school does not allow for specific teachers to be named, write about the positive qualities of that teacher. When you are writing your letter, think of the things that the specific teacher you want does and how those things meet your child’s learning style. I taught with a kindergarten team of teachers that were amazing.

One particular teacher really got into thematic units (she was a real life Ms. Frizzle). Her classroom was full of learning stations that children could rotate between by choice. A parent who thought this teacher would be best, may say, “My child is very creative and thrives in a classroom environment that activates her learning through different modalities. I would like to request a placement where she is able to learn in flexible grouping and small learning stations. Self-directed children who thrive in a creative, flexible environment would work well in her classroom.

Another teacher in my team was extremely regimented to the minute. She was an amazing teacher and the kids thrived knowing exactly what was expected of them. The classroom was a buzz with talk about books and writing was integrated into the entire day. She kept reading logs and sent home detailed notes to parents with records and suggestions for enriching their academics at home. Children needing structure and routine stability, would probably do very well in her classroom.

You know your child best.  Think about the ideal classroom to match their learning style.

3. Schedule a conference with your child’s current teacher

You may consider scheduling a conference with your child’s current teacher to discuss their placement for the upcoming year. They may have a good insight into which teacher would be the best fit for your child. If your child has an IEP, Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan, then you may consider scheduling a meeting with the team to discuss which teacher would best meet the needs of your child and how to get that teacher.

The last, but not least, person to consider meeting with in regards to getting the teacher you want is the school principal. They are extremely busy people, so this may not be possible, but if you are concerned about your child’s classroom placement, consider scheduling a 15 minute meeting to discuss academic success in the upcoming year.

The Do’s and Don’t of Getting the Teacher You Want.

• Do ask for the teacher or learning environment you feel would best meet the needs of your child.
• Do NOT guarantee your child a particular teacher. In fact, it may be best not to even mention your preferences, rather talk about how all the teachers are fabulous and that the next year is going to be great!
• Do ask parents of the next grade what they like about their current teachers.
• Do NOT bad mouth teachers, especially in front of children. If the conversation turns into negatives, try to change the tone.
• Do follow your schools rules and guidelines for teacher requests.
• Do NOT be pushy, rude, or demanding.
• Do know that you will most likely NOT get the teacher you want.
• Do NOT panic. There are MANY, MANY, MANY amazing teachers out there. No matter which teacher your child gets, with your support and guidance, it will be an awesome year.

You may also enjoy these parenting articles…

Keep your kindergartner’s skills sharp this summer and help prepare them for first grade with these hands-on, innovative learning games in our book, 100 FUN AND EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS. Turn off the TV and beat boredom blues with these clever activities that are quick and easy to set up with common household materials. Each of the 100 learning games comes with an additional 3 alternative ways to play, making this a resource with nearly 400 activities!