E-Mail Tips

 

For Practicum Interns and Teacher Candidates

When Communicating in the Professional World

 

 

E-Mail Procedure Hints

 
  1. Use your McDaniel College E-Mail address as your professional E-Mail address. 

      Be aware of the impression your E-Mail address gives to others.    

      partygirl@hotlips.com may be fine to use with your friends.      

      Jlt001@mcdaniel.edu is much more professional to use in the working 

      world.  Do not use a Hotmail or AOL E-Mail address.  They are not reliable.

 
  1. Check your E-Mail daily.  The Education Department faculty and staff use E-Mail as their main means of communication with you.  

 
  1. Exchange E-Mail addresses with your PDS mentor teacher, site coordinator and liaison.  Discuss his/her comfort and expectations with using E-Mail.  Some teachers use E-Mail a lot; others rarely. 

 
  1. Turnaround time for E-Mail.

      Be considerate of the time that you send an E-Mail to your mentor teacher,

      college faculty or staff member and expect a response.  Discuss a deadline

      timeframe for receiving an E-Mail.  You may be a night owl, but they may

      not.   Example:

     It is McDaniel College policy to give lesson plans to your mentor teacher 24

      hours for approval before you may teach a lesson. Do not send your lesson

      plan through E-Mail at 9:30 P.M. and expect a reply by the next morning.   

 

 

 

 

 

E-Mail Writing Hints: 

You are establishing a professional teaching reputation in the schools.  The way in which you communicate to professional contacts says a lot about your work ethic. 

 
  1. Subject box hints. 

Always include an entry.  Summarize your message. Keep it brief and concise.

Write URGENT if you need an immediate response.  FYI (for your information) if it is not a rush. This helps others to prioritize their responses to E-Mail.    

 
  1. Think carefully about your choice of words.       

       E-Mails are easy to misinterpret because they can not show emotion.  

 
  1. Use appropriate grammar, capital letters and punctuation.                                                                    Use the capital letter “I” when writing the word “I”. 

May I teach my first reading lesson on Monday, September 11?

 
  1. Use spell check before sending an E-Mail.  The recipient may wonder, “If you can not spell correctly in an e-mail will this be an issue when teaching my students?” 

 
  1. Writing a word in capital letters is interpreted as strong emphasis or shouting.                                                          I JUST GOT A JOB!!!! is a great time to write in all capital letters. 

I DON’T like the way MY MENTOR TEACHER…  is not a good use of    

      capitals.   

 
  1. State in an E-Mail if you are sending an attachment.     

      Please see attached letter of introduction.   

 
  1. Sign your full name at the end of each E-Mail.                           

     The recipient may have many other professional or personal contacts with

      the same first name as yours.       Sign:

      Shannon Smith

 

 

 

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