One lesson I learned very quickly when I became a teacher was the importance of the home to school connection. Parents want to know what is going on in your classroom when they aren't there and most importantly that you care and their child is having fun while they are learning! Another benefit of having technology is that this allows us to be able to let parents have that sneak peek into the classroom they are hoping for. There are two resources I strongly recommend that are great ways to strengthen and build these family relationships. They are Google Sites and the Remind App.
Lets start with the Remind App. This is a very simple app that allows parents to get texts sent to their phones with little reminders. This is great for homework, upcoming tests, important notices from the office that you want to make sure parents see. There is even a photo option that I use sometimes to take a photo of school notices and send an extra copy digitally to parents. Parents can like the posts and also follow up with a quick question if needed. There are flyers you can print to send home for parents but I usually try to get the parents to sign up the night of open house just so they know how it works and I can answer any questions while they are there. Taking the time up front definitely saves time in the end! :)
Next is Google Sites! This is something I really tried to branch out with this year and am really happy I did! Since the new update Google Sites are really user friendly and fun to make! The layouts are friendly and cheerful. This isn't something you need to have done before the school year starts either. I like to build my site as the year goes on so the parents can see what we are learning about. If you want to learn more and see step by step how you can do this yourself click the video links below to learn how!
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