Parent Communication

This year I want to focus of parent communication. I work at a school where most of my parents speak Spanish so many times I am not able to communicate exactly what I want, whenever I want. that doesn't mean that I can't make a better effort not to communicate. I am all about technology and I can see that whenever I see parents or siblings, they always have their phones with them... don't we all? :-)

I came across this website:

It's an easy way for parents to get text message updates from you without giving them your phone number. You know that we all send out important reminders with students only to find it fall out of their backpacks a month later. With this website, you can also send a text reminder. That way you know parents will receive it. The best part is that they can choose to sign up or not. This website has a great flyer that you can print out for Open House or add in a newsletter. That way they can choose to be alerted or not. I also believe that they have an opportunity to sign up for email updates as well.

I forgot to mention another great option. There is a free app that you can download. That way you can create updates straight from your phone. If that doesn't make it even better, how about this... You can schedule reminders. I already have my first reminder scheduled for the day before the first day of school. Just a friendly little reminder about what time school starts and another one about school supplies. If hope you find this website/app useful this year. I'm going to use it sparingly so I don't annoy any subscribers. I am really excited to try it out this year. Let me know if you have ever used this in your classroom and how it works. Or if you plan on using it this year.

Another way That I plan on communicating with parents this year is through a classroom website.

Blogger is a great way to share information with other teachers so I decided to use it with my parents. This will be a great place to share what we are doing daily. I will be able to post pictures, videos, and even have my students write their own blog posts. I have tried a class newsletter, which I still plan on doing with larger updates. This is just a great way to add a little extra. Again, parents choose to look at it whenever they want, so it's convenient for them.

What are some ways you are preparing to communicate with your parents this year?

iPads in the Classroom

It's Friday night and boy am I tired. I'm writing this post as I eagerly wait for the pizza delivery guy to ring the doorbell. It's a pizza, movie, and pajama kind of night. I deserve it though because it was the first week back. I meant to write a post earlier in the week, I really did. As you guys know, I love DonorsChoose.org It has saved me so much money over my 5 years of teaching so far. I have received resources I would have never been able to afford on my own. Over the winter break I got eight projects funded!! I will be posting more about each one as they come. I want to share the most exciting one with you.

 An iPad 4!!! Well, I'm not sure if it's an iPad 4, but it's a 4th generation iPad and I love it. We already have three iPads in our classroom, but they have to be turned in at the end of the year. I was sad to find out that iPad 1's do not have the capability to connect to projectors so that's when I decided to ask Donors Choose for one. I love the fact that I have an iPad that I can use for instructional purposes and I can now allow my little darlings three iPads to use instead of just two. Update, this year we don't have any class iPads. Thanks to Donors Choose, by future students can still benefit from having technology in the classroom. 

Have you used iPads in your classroom? If so, what apps do you recommend; either for the class, planning, scheduling, anything you find most useful.

I also wanted to let you all know of an exciting giveaway over at Rockin' Teacher Materials. It's completely grade level appropriate. You get a chance to win a flash drive filled with resources specifically for your grade. I have donated a few resources of my own. For more information visit the link below.