One important life skill that children should learn is how to advocate for themselves and communicate appropriately with adults and teachers. This is especially important during this period of remote learning. That is why it is the perfect time to teach your child how to write an email to their teachers that communicates their needs in a polite manner. Below are a few tips to make sure your child includes in their email:

• Subject line: This should not be blank. It should include a 2-5 word summary of what the email is about. For example: “Homework Question” or “Question about today’s lesson”.  

• Greeting: When writing the body of the email, make sure that your child begins with a proper greeting that includes the teacher’s name such as “Dear Mrs. Burke,” or “Good Morning (Afternoon) Mrs. Burke” or even “Hi Mrs. Burke.” Double-check for the correct spelling of the name and punctuation.

• Body of Email: This should be short, simple, and to the point. A good way to begin the body of the email with, “I am writing because …….”.  Then add whatever details are needed to further explain the issue.

• Closing: A simple “Thank you” or “Thank you for your help” is a suitable way to end the email. 

• Don’t forget to sign your name!

As adults, it is easy to take the skill of email writing for granted, but many children may need help in knowing exactly how to construct an email that conveys their point of view in a clear and concise manner. This is one of the first steps in teaching them how to speak up for themselves on their own - an important life skill for sure!

Any questions?  Please email us at Janice@Neighborhoodlit.com.  Taylor Burke is a teacher and Director of Communications at Neighborhood Lit. and works closely with Janice Migliazza, a Reading Specialist and owner of Neighborhood Lit, Route 34, Colts Neck to bring you this information.