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Send It Later

One small communication habit that can be very helpful for teachers is using scheduled emails.

Teachers send a lot of messages. 

Course reminders, assignment instructions, follow ups, announcements, check ins, and replies to student questions. Scheduling emails can help us communicate at the right time instead of only when we happen to remember.

For example, a teacher might schedule an assignment reminder to go out two days before the due date. 

They might schedule a Monday morning welcome message for a new module. They might even schedule a follow up after class with helpful resources while the lesson is still fresh.

Scheduled emails can also help when responding to student questions.

Sometimes, we do not need to reply immediately. A student may ask a question that they could answer by reviewing the instructions, checking the rubric, or thinking through the problem for a few more minutes. Giving them a little time can encourage independence and problem solving.

But here is the challenge.

If we wait, we might forget to respond later.

That is where scheduled email helps. We can write the response now, schedule it to send later, and give the student time to work through the issue first. If they solve it on their own, wonderful. If not, the support still arrives.

That small habit can help teachers stay organized while also helping students build confidence.

Sometimes, good teaching is not only about what we say.

It is also about when we say it.

Happy Teaching 😊

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