parent communication tools
Important TIPS!
Parent Communication is an important part of our jobs as teachers. When selecting the way in which you will communicate with parents, make sure to choose a way that is comfortable and manageable for you. It doesn't actually have to be a tech tool, but if you do choose to communicate via tech, keep the following in mind when selecting which tool works best for you...
Parent Communication is an important part of our jobs as teachers. When selecting the way in which you will communicate with parents, make sure to choose a way that is comfortable and manageable for you. It doesn't actually have to be a tech tool, but if you do choose to communicate via tech, keep the following in mind when selecting which tool works best for you...
- What is your primary purpose? There are so many digital tools out there offering a variety of different features. Weigh them out to see which one would best meet your primary needs.
- Will it be Private vs. Public?
- If posting student pictures, be aware of those without consent.
- Is there an App? Some parents like the easy access to information that some apps provide.
- Decide upon your frequency of updates. Whatever tool you choose, make sure it is manageable enough to keep up to date and you are able to maintain consistency with your distribution.
- Be mindful that some families do not have access to technology, so be prepared to make accommodations.
- Keep it simple!!
Click here for a great article with the Top 5 DOs and DON'Ts for creating parent newsletters! They share some great “before & after” visuals to help you improve your newsletter.
Social Media |
virtual communication |
Many teachers use Twitter and Instagram to share daily activities that give a snapshot of what is happening in the class. At the same time, connect with authors, scientists, astronauts & more. Partner with classrooms from around the world to collaborate on projects. Students can learn about different cultural backgrounds to gain new perspectives. Class Twitter accounts are mostly public, while Class Instagram pages are both public and private.
Learn more about using Twitter and Instagram to tell your class story, here. |
All three apps listed below can be used to communicate and coordinate with parents in real-time via a mobile app. Share photos & videos, school events, student work, instant messages, organize conferences, volunteer sign ups, class calendar, reminders & more.
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Create a classroom website / Blog
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Learning management systems
- If you are a Seesaw user, it has a great app for connecting families! Learn more here.
- Google Classroom Guardian Email Summaries
Digital newsletter apps
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graphic design apps
- Canva - Canva has ready-made education newsletter templates for teachers to personalize for their classroom. Drag & drop text, backgrounds, graphics, links & more. Create a free account and learn more here.
- Adobe Spark - Create free, beautiful newsletters using images, text, video, photo grids, icons & more. Use the web page format or create from a template. Create a free account and learn more here.