Email etiquette in a classroom setting is the most important standard of communication between students and teachers. Teachers cannot stress the importance of email etiquette enough, as it is important to be kind and professional to those who control the gradebook.
DECA instructor Becky Dougherty and social studies teacher Christopher Menefee have both been on the receiving end of emails with improper email etiquette. For example, students would call them “bro” and “big spoon.”
Students should use a professional tone and format in emails so that teachers can quickly understand the message’s meaning and respond efficiently.
Students can practice proper etiquette by using a clear subject line, a formal salutation, grammatically correct text and a professional closing. These are all great starts to writing a proper email with good etiquette.
An example of putting this all together in an email could look like this:
Subject title: Question about today’s class
“Dear Mr. or Ms. My name is _______ and I am in your [Course name] class, [Period] I am writing to ask for clarification regarding [mention specific assignment or topic]. I have reviewed the notes, but I am still unsure about _____ Thank you for your time and help. Best regards, _____”
This is an email with proper email etiquette that is nice and calls the teacher by their correct name instead of “bro” or anything else along those lines. And most importantly, it is respectful and polite toward the teacher.
Here is what NOT to do:
To: [Teacher Email]
From: [Unprofessional Email Address]
Subject: [Empty]
sup teach,
i didn’t get why u gave me a D on the quiz. i deserve a B at least because i tried hard. can u change it? also i’m skipping on fri so dont count me absent.
thx,
[Student Name Missing]
This is an improper email as it is quite disrespectful and is unprofessional, to say the least. It does not include a student’s name or a formal address, and it is grammatically incorrect.
Email exchanges between teachers and students is not the place for abbreviations, slang and sloppy punctuation. Students must communicate with their teachers clearly and respectfully. Proper email etiquette may even earn students favor or grace with the teacher, or at the minimum, will increase the likelihood that the student will receive a response.
Best regards,
Braden Smith, a dignified student
