Student Letters

Student Letters

Letters from students provide firsthand, often deeply personal accounts of effective teaching, offering insight into meaningful engagement, a supportive classroom climate, personalized assistance, and instructional strategies that led to positive learning experiences.

When incorporated into a teaching portfolio, these letters go beyond illustrating what was taught to reveal the broader, lasting impact an instructor has on students.

To make the most of this form of evidence, instructors can maintain a running file of student letters or emails—formal or informal—that comment on teaching effectiveness or personal impact; invite students to share their perspectives through a brief end-of-semester message; and, when students express gratitude verbally, encourage them to document their feedback in writing so that these valuable reflections can be included as part of the instructor’s professional record. 

QUICK TIPS FOR STUDENT LETTERS

  • Provide a brief annotation for each letter 
    Add 1–2 sentences explaining who wrote it, the context, and the main qualities they highlight. 

  • Extract key quotes to integrate into your teaching philosophy 
    Use short quotations from letters to support claims in your teaching philosophy or reflection statements. 

  • Place letters in an appendix and reference them strategically 
    Point to specific letters (e.g., “See Letter B in Appendix C”) so reviewers know exactly where to look. You can triangulate letters with other evidence by linking what a letter praises to artifacts like syllabi, lesson plans, or student work. 

  • Create a mini-table summarizing all letters 
    Include author, year, course observed, and strengths identified to give reviewers a quick overview. Avoid redundancy by identifying patterns when multiple letters highlight the same strengths. Keep the collection current and diverse. 

  • Include a short “Evidence Map” particularly if you prefer using images to showcase your teaching. Align your teaching claims (e.g., engagement, inclusivity, clarity) with screenshots of specific letters or quotes. 

Coming Soon!