Four Ways Teachers Can Stay Connected With Their Students' Parents Using
Technology
A lot of emphasis has been given to getting parents involved in their child’s education, but with a teacher’s already full schedule and parents who are already stretched thin, this is not always easy to accomplish. Luckily, technology has intervened and come up with some very innovative solutions that make it quick and easy for a teacher to stay connected with parents.
Create A Class Website
Setting up a class
website is a way for parents to see what is going on at their own convenience.
It should feature a calendar that has highlighted all of the special events as
well as test dates and special assignment due dates. It should only take the
teacher a few moments to update the website and calendar weekly, adding in
daily homework assignments, special announcements and achievements.
SMS Text Messaging
Cell phones have
changed the way we communicate with everyone, SMS text messaging is a fantastic
way for quick communications with parents. You could use a school notification system that sends the same message to all of the parents in your class at one
time, or just one message at a time if necessary. This is a very flexible means
of communication that even allows for parents to be polled if you are looking
for volunteers for an upcoming field trip for example, or to message you back
if they are unclear about an upcoming assignment or meeting.
Phone Calls Home
Parents should
routinely have the opportunity for open conversation with their child’s
teacher. You don’t have the time to call or meet with every parent every week,
but you could manage a rotating schedule of one or two. Use text messaging to
set up a convenient time for you and the parent and then allocate that time to
answer any questions the parent may have, and to update them on their child’s
progress in class. This is the perfect time to discuss with the parent the
things they can be doing at home to help your students be more successful in
class.
Sending Emails
With the growth in cell
phone use and text messaging, emailing has lost a lot of its appeal as a way of
communication. It is still a great tool to use when you have a lot of news to
share, want to send permission slips for an upcoming event, or need to share a
list of names or assignments. Since everyone is not tuned in to their email
account every day, send a quick message with your school notification system
that lets the parents know to check their inbox for an important update.
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