Making Sense

Parenting, media, and everything in between.

Parenting, media, and everything in between.

 

My kid's teacher encourages students to email him with questions. What's the etiquette for emailing a teacher?
• August 1, 2012 • Categories: Ask our parenting editor
Parenting Editor | Mom of one

Sending an email to a teacher isn't like emailing a friend. Here are some important dos and don'ts. (Learn more manners for the digital age.)

Do:

  • Use a proper salutation, correct grammar, and full sentences.
  • Clearly state the purpose of the email (didn't understand the homework, forgot the field trip form, etc.).
  • Save problems, complaints, and other issues for face-to-face discussion -- that avoids a lot of drama

Don't:

  • Be rude
  • Overuse emoticons
  • Attach long, elaborate email signatures with images, song quotes, etc.
  • Click "reply all" and send superfluous messages to everybody in the class or community

More Back-to-School Questions Asked and Answered

Related tags
back to school

Related posts

My child's school is giving every student a laptop for use at school and home. What do I need to know?
Back-to-school shopping has gotten so ad-heavy. How do I avoid buying into the commercialism?
Back-to-School Shopping Tips
About Caroline Knorr

As Common Sense Media's parenting editor, Caroline helps parents make sense of what’s going on in their kids' media lives. From games to cell phones to movies and more, if you're wondering "what’s...

Add comment

Login or register to post comments

Comments

space123 Jan 2, 2013
Emailing a teacher, i think, is the best way if u have an issue or just want to ask a questian.
Joseph Van Deuren Aug 24, 2012
For the sake of safety and perception, I believe it is a good idea for all emails between teachers and students should be cc or bcc with the parents also. In this way parents, teachers and students are all on the same page. *://balancedlifeskills*
caro73 Aug 25, 2012
That's actually not a bad recommendation. I have three young children, but I also teach senior students. In a small remote rural school, many of the parents don't have email that they check regularly, but it is certainly worth bearing in mind as a rule of thumb for both my sake and the sake of students. Thanks!
Caroline Knorr Sep 6, 2012
Great idea to copy parents on emails to the teacher so everyone is informed! Thanks for the tip!

About our bloggers

See the full list

Stay connected to Common Sense

 

Browse More

By age

By topic