Today, we’re going to learn how to write an email to your teacher. Imagine you’re sending a message to our school principal. It’s important to let them know that this email is for school purposes, not a personal chat.
When you talk to your teacher, think about how it’s different from chatting with your friends. For example, you might say, “Sure, Mr. Fisher,” instead of using casual language. Let’s explore how to write emails properly.
Now, imagine you need to ask your brother or sister for help with homework. You might write, “Hi [their name], please remind me to finish my homework tonight.” This is more casual because it’s to someone you know well.
Let’s see how these emails are different. When writing to Mr. Fisher, you should use his formal name because it’s a formal email. It’s important to think about who will read your email and write accordingly.
Always include a subject line that clearly shows what your email is about. This is important for professional communication. It helps the reader understand the purpose of your message.
Before you send your email, check if you have a clear subject line. Did you include Mr. Fisher’s name? Is your message ready? Once everything looks good, you can click send.
From the start, it’s crucial to think about who will read your email and how to write properly. Let’s make sure we learn to do it right from the beginning!
Email Role Play: Pair up with a classmate and take turns pretending to be a teacher and a student. One of you will write a short email asking for help with a school project, and the other will respond. Use formal language when writing as the student and practice reading the emails aloud. Discuss how the language changes when you switch roles and write as friends planning a fun activity.
Email Scavenger Hunt: At home, ask your parents or guardians to show you examples of emails they have received. Look for one formal email and one informal email. With their help, identify the differences in language, subject lines, and how the emails start and end. Share what you found with the class and discuss why these differences are important.
Create Your Own Subject Lines: Think of three different scenarios where you need to send an email: one to your teacher about a homework question, one to a friend about a playdate, and one to a family member about a birthday party. Write a clear and appropriate subject line for each email. Share your subject lines with the class and explain why you chose them.
Today, I want you all to send an email to your teacher. The first thing I ask is for you to send a message to our principal, letting them know that this is not a personal email; it is a business email for school purposes.
When you communicate with your teacher, think about how you talk to your friends at home or in the neighborhood. For example, you might say, “Sure, Mr. Fisher.” One of the first things I do is guide the students through this process.
I want you to send a message to one of your siblings, asking for help with an assignment. If you were to send a message to your sister, you might say, “Hi [her name], please don’t let me forget to finish my homework tonight.”
Now, let’s consider how those two emails would look different. For the email to Mr. Fisher, you would use his formal name because this is a formal email. One of the first things to teach in writing is to think about your audience.
Make sure to include a subject line that clearly indicates the purpose of your email, as this is a professional communication. It’s important to help students understand that they need to consider who might read their email and to apply basic writing skills.
Let’s check your email: Do you have a precise subject line? Is Mr. Fisher’s name included? And do you have your message ready? Once everything looks good, you can click send.
Starting from the beginning, it’s essential to teach students how to think about their audience and how to write appropriately. Let’s ensure we teach them to do it right from the start.
