I am so excited about the changes I see in our school with regards to communication...especially school-to-home communication. The availability of technology allows us to communicate so easily outside of our school walls if we will only take the steps to do so. Yes, it is a new routine but it literally can take less than a minute if you have your systems set up!
The time it takes to set up Twitter, a webpage, blog, and/or Remind is so worth it when you realize that you can help parents feel a part of their child's education by allowing them a peek inside your classroom on a daily basis. Even if their own child isn't featured, seeing a video clip or a snapshot of an activity helps to reassure them that their child's time in class is a rich learning experience.
This year, I would like to ask all teachers at Lewis to take the following steps toward more comprehensive communication with families and the school community:
Some online resources we are currently using:
What are other user-friendly apps or resources that you have found good communication tools?
What are some of the ways you encourage parents to utilize the online communication?
Anxiously awaiting new ideas...
The time it takes to set up Twitter, a webpage, blog, and/or Remind is so worth it when you realize that you can help parents feel a part of their child's education by allowing them a peek inside your classroom on a daily basis. Even if their own child isn't featured, seeing a video clip or a snapshot of an activity helps to reassure them that their child's time in class is a rich learning experience.
This year, I would like to ask all teachers at Lewis to take the following steps toward more comprehensive communication with families and the school community:
- Create a professional Twitter account and tweet about classroom activities regularly, tagging @LE_ESSD40 and using the hashtag #essdexcels
- Send home a weekly printed newsletter from the grade level or the classroom-email it to any parent that you have email addresses for
- Create a Remind account for the classroom and encourage every parent to sign up for helpful announcements
- Build a grade level webpage or blog where parents can find pictures, videos, news and updates about school events and activities
Some online resources we are currently using:
- Facebook
- Twitter
- smore.com
- blogger.com
- weebly.com
- remind.com
What are other user-friendly apps or resources that you have found good communication tools?
What are some of the ways you encourage parents to utilize the online communication?
Anxiously awaiting new ideas...