How a High School French Teacher Turned a Tough Writing Skills Conversation into a Positive Parent Partnership Email

Hi Cecilia! I'd be happy to help you polish that message to Owen's parents. It’s always a delicate balance to communicate concern while remaining supportive, especially with the added pressure of AP curriculum changes.

Here are two versions for you—one that is slightly more conversational and one that is a bit more formal—along with a small "Action Plan" you can include to show you're already thinking of ways to support him.

Option 1: Warm and Collaborative (Recommended)

Subject: Supporting Owen’s progress in AP [Insert Subject Name]

Hi [Parent Name],

I hope you’re having a good week!

I’m writing to share a quick update following a conversation I had with Owen earlier today. As we look ahead toward the AP exam—and keep in mind the curriculum changes for next year—I want to ensure Owen is as prepared as possible.

Specifically, next year’s changes mean that the essay will be the sole writing component, accounting for 20% of the overall grade. Looking at the current pace of our class, I am slightly concerned that Owen’s writing skills aren’t quite accelerating at the speed necessary to keep up with these more rigorous requirements.

Owen is a dedicated student, and I want to make sure he feels confident rather than overwhelmed. Would there be a possibility for him to engage in some additional practice outside of class? Specifically, working with a tutor who specializes in academic writing might give him the targeted support he needs to bridge this gap.

I’ve put together a small "Focus List" of areas we can target (see below) to help him get started. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this and discuss how we can best support him together.

Best regards,

Hrishi [Your Title/School]

Option 2: More Direct and Professional

Subject: Update regarding Owen [Last Name] - AP Writing Skills

Dear [Parent Name],

I am reaching out to share some observations regarding Owen’s progress in our AP class. We had a chance to speak today about his writing, and I wanted to loop you into that conversation.

With the upcoming changes to the AP exam format, the written essay is becoming significantly more critical, representing 20% of the total score. At this stage, I am concerned that Owen’s writing development is not currently on track to meet the pace and expectations of the course for the coming year.

To help him succeed, I suggest exploring additional support, such as a writing tutor or focused supplemental work. This would allow him to focus specifically on the structural and analytical aspects of the language that the AP exam demands.

I am fully committed to Owen’s success and have attached a brief "Writing Growth Plan" below to help guide any extra sessions he might take part in. Please let me know if you would like to schedule a brief call to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

Cecilia [Your Title/School]

Ready-to-Use Resource: Owen’s Writing Growth Plan

You can copy and paste this into the bottom of your email or send it as a separate attachment to provide immediate value.

Target Areas for Owen:

1. Thesis Development: Moving from a general statement to a complex, defensible claim that maps out the entire essay.
2. Evidence Integration: Practicing how to "weave" quotes and data into sentences rather than "dropping" them in.
3. The "So What?" Factor: Strengthening the analysis/commentary to explain why the evidence proves the thesis, which is where the bulk of AP points are earned.
4. Timed Transitions: Improving the speed of drafting without sacrificing the logical flow between paragraphs.

Recommended Weekly Routine:

• Drill: Write one "Introduction + Thesis" paragraph based on a past AP prompt (15 minutes).
• Review: Compare the draft against the AP Rubric (5 minutes).
• Refine: Rewrite one body paragraph to focus specifically on sophisticated transition words.

I hope this helps Owen get on the right track! Let me know if you need any other adjustments to these drafts.