Tips for using email with students and parents

Hello, my first post and it's more classroom 1.0 than 2.0 I suppose!
I would like advice on how to setup an effective and secure email system with guidelines/rules for students to follow.

Both myself and my students have a school email address but I'm wondering how other members on this forum use email. I'm concerned that my class would expect access to me 24/7; clutter my inbox with jokes or youtube links; and elder siblings/or anyone may try to impersonate a student and cause mayhem.

As you can tell I'm a bit of a worrier! It holds me back to be honest.

Also, how about contact with parents does anyone use email and if so, do you have a system of checks (check it's the actual parent. check they have received it)?

Tags: email

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Permalink Reply by Evaggelos on March 27, 2009 at 8:04pm

Hello Lee,
Your first entry and no one replied yet?
You are a worrier. I would start by teaching proper etiquette. Explaining to students that the e-mail system is there mostly for homework and such instead of youtube links will help a lot. Don't worry about the few that will try to derail you. Most students will benefit from the experience and you will too.

Sending home a friendly letter to parents explaining how to use e-mail to reach you will help. Perhaps if you go away for a weekend or during a holiday you should have an "away" message that will say something like "I will reply to your e-mail in a few days." There are so many things to consider. Perhaps you should not tell anyone who send you an e-mail that you will be away for a few days because you may come back to an empty house.

Welcome to this forum.

Evan P.
Online School Data
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