Summarize the following:
Whether you made a mistake or forgot to do something you were supposed to do, state what you did and that you know it was wrong. Reflect on why what you did was wrong before you write out your apology. If you're having trouble understanding why what you did was wrong, talk to your parents, the principal, the counselor, or another teacher. It may also help to think about how your actions affected your classmates. Say exactly what you did and apologize. For example, say, “I’m sorry that I tried to copy my friend’s quiz,” rather than “My behavior last week was wrong.” Don't try to figure out what your teacher is thinking or to put the focus back on them. When you apologize, focus on your actions and feelings. For example, say, “I know that you were speaking to the class, and I should not have been talking to Alex while you were speaking.” It's tempting to minimize your blame or explain yourself with an excuse. Maybe there really is a great reason for why you acted the way you did, but bringing it up in your apology will only undermine your efforts because it shows the teacher that you don't feel totally at fault. If you feel like your behavior was caused by an outside factor, such as a new medication you are using, set up a time to talk to your teacher, either with or without your parents. At the meeting, explain your situation to your teacher, who will understand. This is a great option if you know that the medicine may cause the issue again. For example, if your medicine makes you drowsy, then your teacher needs to know that you may fall asleep. Blaming the teacher will only make the situation worse. When you put the blame on the other person in an apology, then it becomes about you, not about them. It also shows them that you don't think what you did was wrong because you think it's their fault.  Blaming the teacher also includes saying something like “I’m sorry if you felt like I disrespected you yesterday when I shouted during the test.” Saying “if you felt” places blame on the other person for how they feel. It shows them that you don't think you did anything wrong but instead think they overreacted.  A better way to say your apology would be like this: “I’m sorry I disrespected you yesterday when I shouted during the test.” Now that you've realized that what you did was wrong, think of ways you can avoid that behavior in the future. How you plan to be better will depend on what you did.  Think about what you could have done instead. If you were talking during class, then you could have been taking notes instead. If you got into a fight, you could have used your words or should have found an adult to help you resolve the issue. If you made a huge mistake, such as shoving a teacher, then you want to make it clear that you will never do it again. You could say, “Instead of shoving you, I should have stepped back and asked to go get a sip of water to calm down.” When you apologize and promise to do better, you need to make sure that you can follow through. It's tempting to say what you think the other person wants to hear, especially when you're in trouble, but if you can't keep your promise, then your apology will come under doubt.  Don't promise your teacher that you'll never nod off in class again because that's a hard promise to keep. Instead, promise that you'll stop playing video games past your bedtime, you'll eat breakfast, and you'll keep your head up. These are all completely doable tasks. You don't have to “promise” anything. Instead, try saying, “From now on, I’ll raise my hand and wait for you to call on me when I want to speak in class.” Briefly summarize your lesson to show your teacher that you've grown from the incident.  If you're struggling to figure out what to write, think about why what you did was wrong, and that will help you figure out what you learned. You could say, “I learned that it’s rude to talk while the teacher is talking.”
Acknowledge what you did wrong. Be direct. Use “I” statements. Don't make excuses. Don't blame the teacher. Plan to be better in the future. Keep your promises. Tell your teacher what you learned.