How to Increase Student Success With One Simple Email

The title of this article immediately caught my attention:

She sent 1 email. Grades increased 25%. (Here’s the link: https://www.eab.com/daily-briefing/2018/08/20/she-sent-1-email-grades-increased-25-percent?

As someone who likes to produce results in simple and efficient ways, I was engaged immediately.

To summarize the short article, if you email students in an encouraging and non-judgmental way after doing poorly on their first high stakes assignment/assessment, their final grade that semester will be better than if you hadn’t emailed them.

I’m sure it’s a strategy that comes as no surprise, and maybe you’ve even tried some version of it with your own struggling students, but I think the main takeaway from the article is that this instructor’s email included 3 key things that may have made all the difference. I believe these 3 things can have a positive impact on student success and outlook for the rest of the semester.

The 3 keys things are that the email should be..

1. Sent to students individually (not to a group of students or the whole class), so they feel cared about, and a responsibility to work harder and/or reach out if needed during the semester
2. Encouraging and optimistic
3. Sent early in the semester so students don’t feel that it’s too late to improve

I do wish the article had included the instructor’s email that she uses, since it could potentially help other instructors to reach out in a productive way to struggling students.

However, I’ve created my own email that you’re welcome to copy and paste for your own students (it turned out longer than expected, so feel free to make changes or make your version shorter if you decide to use it!):

Hi ___,

I’m sorry to see that you didn’t do well on our first major assignment this semester, but don’t give up! There’s still plenty of time this semester to improve your grade.

First, were you aware that you didn’t do well? I ask because many students aren’t aware that they can keep track their individual assignment grades, as well as their overall standing in the class using the Grades feature in Canvas (this is where you can also see the feedback I’ve left for you on assignments, which can be very helpful in improving your future grades).

I highly encourage you to check the Grades feature every 48 hours to see how you’re doing and if you need to make changes in your study habits.

Remember, some of the best ways to maintain a good grade in this class, or any online class, are to connect with your online classmates (you’re welcome to reach out through the ungraded CyberCafe discussion forum or by contacting some students through the Canvas Message feature- many students I’ve taught in the past like to touch base with each other during the semester using WhatsApp, to create study groups, ask questions, encourage each other, and just offer moral support, so you’re welcome to start up something like that with your classmates!), or you can always send me an email to express your concerns or ask questions. Many students email me weekly to be sure they’re completing assignments correctly, and I’m happy to answer any questions you have, as often as you have them. I always respond within 24 hours.

I hope this email helped to provide a little bit of guidance, and if you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to send me an email or Canvas message- I really am here to help you succeed.

Prof. Ebanks

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I hope the above email helps you and your students to have more success in future semesters!

Happy teaching and learning!