Giving a letter of reference for a student is important, not only for the student but for you as the teacher. It shows that you are more than just a voice at the front of a class, and that they were more than just a raised hand. Here is some practical advice for writing such a letter.

Remember to Be Professional
You are an expert in your field. You have had to undergo years of education yourself, so don’t give out letter’s left and right. This will take away your credibility as most universities or employers will recognize if you are blanketing out letters. Try to think about how the student has acted in your class, if they have shown the will to learn, and acted in a manner that you would want someone to act, as they are representing you.

Are They Strong In The Subject?
Regardless of why they are getting a letter from you, be honest, do they know the material you taught them? If the answer is yes, put that in there. If you are giving them a letter of reference because they actually learned something, put that in the letter with an example of when the student proved this to you.

How Will The Student Further Your Field?
If you are writing this letter for a student to get into a university or a graduate school, what potential do you see in the student? Are they someone who is good at getting by off what you teach them? Or do they take what you present and further it with research of their own? It’s important to make this distinction. Try telling whomever it is you are writing to whether or not this student will be an asset to your field of study.

Student Interactions
It’s one thing for a student to be smart and able to absorb information quickly, it’s another thing for them to interact with other students and have an intellectual discussion. As most educators know, advancement is made through intellectual discussion. Is your student able to handle discussions in class without shying away, or more still, without insulting another student? Interactions between students can help your letter of reference highlight that you know this student in more than just how they think academically.

Be Open To Further Questions
This is probably the most important part that many educators leave out. When putting contact information down for yourself, give them contact information that actually works. Employers and universities may be coming down to a split decision and may want to speak with you personally about the student. Therefore, writing down accurate information about the student and allowing dialogue over the phone to happen will further increase a students chance of getting what they need.