We chat every Tuesday night at 8:30-9:30 pm CST. All are welcome, especially EarlyEd teachers, leaders & experts. Co-founded & moderated by @techwnancy @JessicaCabeen & @VealHeidi
Hi #ECEchat friends! Heidi here, #EarlyEd District Program Administrator in North Texas. I'm passionate about all things #PreK, leadership, #CodingInPk & #STEAM in the Early Years!
Hi #ecechat! I've missed you! I'm Sara, a K teacher in Lake Tahoe, NV. Working on 2nd trimester report cards and excited to learn with you all tonight. https://t.co/eeveD3n6yQ
Hello! I am Amy from Saskatchewan, Canada! I will soon be a graduate from the University of Regina's Elementary Education program. I am so excited to learn from you all :)
#ECEchat
Welcome, Amy! I just met a new friend from Saskatchewan. I wish I could remember the small town where she grew up. Congratulations on being close to the end of your program. :) #ecechat
A1. We want to build those early parent relationships to foster a sense of community within our schools so the parents know they are always welcomed #ECEchat
A1: When I think about early ed as a math teacher, exponential change pops into the forefront in my mind. If we can establish strong relationships with families in the early years, we are setting up a community united for future success. #ecechat
A1: Ps are the third part of the equation: Ts+Ss+Ps. If you have all three then the power to educate the Ss monumentally increases. Ps are important in any grade. #ecechat
A1: primary Ts are often families first exposure to school as caregivers; we have the power to set the tone for their attitudes toward their child's education. Let's make it great one! #ecechat
A1 When parents bring their small children to school, we have an opportunity to rewrite history and change the trajectory for a child’s educational future. #ECEchat
A1: The relationship teachers build with families during the early grades is foundational for establishing school-home relationships of trust. #ECEchat
Yes! I think building this foundation is so important as we have the opportunity to develop trust and understanding in the family-school community relationship. #ecechathttps://t.co/vGI3ONtEeX
My next @ncte#NCTEVillage EVENT will be in the Cincinnati area on Saturday, April 28th!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS and SHARE WITH YOUR STAFF!!!! We are building a connection of colleagues collaborating together for KIDS! @OAESA@OHEducation#ohprinchat#ohedchat
A1: I think we need to create great relationships with parents in order to help in the success of ALL of our students, and technology is helping tons #ecechat
A1: To build positive relationships with parents is to create a bridge from the classroom to their homes! When working together as a team, we can create the best atmosphere and opportunities for our students. #ECEchat
A1: parents will know how much you care about their child and how invested you are. Modeling these relationships w parents is amazing for students to witness and experience. Parents will be more inclined to engage in their child’s learning #ecechat
A1~builds a foundation of trust &reciprocity which leads to greater growth and heightened learning in all academic&social areas ...early positive relationships set the tone for future success & all stakeholders feel valued& respected #ecechat
A1: Strong parent, student, educator relationships help boost student achievement and outcomes in every aspect of life. You are all a team for the child! #ECEchat
A1: Building relationships with parents in the early years is an honor as parents want so much for their kids. When they know we love their kids and care about their learning great trust is built. (PS, Kathleen, kinder, Hawaii) #ECEchat
A2. I like to create student portfolios so that parents feel like they are a part of their child's journey each day. I do this using edtech programs like @FreshGrade#ECEchat
A2: My class Facebook page has completely transformed how I communicate with families. I'm able to post short "teacher talks" about what we are doing in class as well live videos of what Ss are working on #ecechat
A2 continued: I love creating videos of mtg w/ a student about something they are successful or struggling with. I then send the videos to the parents so they can hear/see what kind of language and strategies I am using w/ their child. #ECEchat
A2: I am sure this will be a common answer, but seesaw has been a great way to communicate with parents and show them the great things going on in your classroom! #ECEchat
A2 The use of apps like Seesaw and ClassDojo give parents a glimpse into our classrooms. This glimpse is a conversation starter around the dinner table. #ECEchat
My most critical connection is face to face, teaching is personal. I enhance my teaching by supporting our learning using technology. @RemindHQ , Twitter, and Facebook to share research, tips, and messages. #ECEchat
A2: Technology has open the opportunity to show projects, activities, and the work of the students to parents that sometimes do no have the chance to attend parents conferences #ecechat
A2: Twitter has been a great tool to share what happens daily in our classroom. Parents can ask on the drive home or at the dinner table: "I saw you did this today. What did you learn?" instead of "How was your day today?" combined with the "good" response. #ecechat
A2: Just today we used Remind to text parents a picture of their kids on a learning trip. Kids also share their learning on Seesaw. Teachers communicate with parents through email and our class website. #ECEchat
I have used Seesaw, so parents can see what their child is doing in the classroom. This helps to foster the home-school connection for parents. #ecechat
A2: We've used a variety of technology tools to reach families. One of our main tools is through an app called Bloomz. We can post videos, text posts, calendar events and more. It was a game changer for involvement. #ECEchat
A2~ we created a classroom twitter page that most of our families regularly view and we just started to use @Flipgrid to enhance teaching, learning and parent engagement...these tools provide a glimpse into our day and encourages dialogue between home&school 👍 #ecechat
During my internship practicum I used Twitter as a method of sharing what Ss did in the classroom. I am interested to see what apps teachers have used. Have any of you used Seesaw? #ECEchat
I use it all! We use Ss posting, activities, make digital journals and much more. Pick one aspect to try then move to another. @Seesaw has PD in your PJs to help with learning #ecechat
My most critical connection is face to face, teaching is personal. I enhance my teaching by supporting our learning using technology. @RemindHQ , Twitter, and Facebook to share research, tips, and messages. #ECEchat
I just use this account but have always dabbled with making a class account. Additionally our school has a hashtag parents can search as well! #ecechat
@AmyLearn does a ton with @seesaw! I've used it for digital student portfolios to share with families at conferences and some other extensions of books we've read in class #ecechat
A2 Rather than printing and sending home a newsletter with each student, I take a picture of the main events for the upcoming week. I post it to Seesaw and use a one minute voice recording to ensure parents are in tune with the classroom. #ECEchat
A2: I use @Seesaw to create and share Ss digital portfolios w their parents. I have used shadow puppet app to create digital read alouds to share w families and have had parents & Ss engage in projects together. I use @RemindHQ as well to communicate w families. #ecechat
My most critical connection is face to face, teaching is personal. I enhance my teaching by supporting our learning using technology. @RemindHQ , Twitter, and Facebook to share research, tips, and messages. #ECEchat
Thanks @JessicaCabeen for inviting me to #ecechat tonight! Great learning with you all! Need to bunker down & sleep before tomorrow's east coast weather!
During my internship practicum I used Twitter as a method of sharing what Ss did in the classroom. I am interested to see what apps teachers have used. Have any of you used Seesaw? #ECEchat
I love @Seesaw It gives parents a window into their child's classroom and helps keep them connected to their child's learning on a daily basis. #ECEchat
In reply to
@vickyfarias7716, @Seesaw, @RemindHQ, @Seesaw
That's exactly how @Seesaw is for me. Reluctant sharers/talkers can be prompted by their family's informed questions and reminded with a visual. I used to take all the pics but Ss are taking more and more now #ecechathttps://t.co/NtBb3GQM4D
A2: Twitter has been a great tool to share what happens daily in our classroom. Parents can ask on the drive home or at the dinner table: "I saw you did this today. What did you learn?" instead of "How was your day today?" combined with the "good" response. #ecechat
A3. Playlists became my savior. I spent so much time on blogs and no one read them. When I switched to playlist for parents and students and @FreshGrade portfolios it all came together. If my Ss didn't have devices they looked at playlists when they arrived at school. #ECEchat
Q1: Relationship building in early grades is important because as a PreK student, this is often the parent’s “first impression” of school so it’s our time as educators to make them feel comfortable and most importantly, WELCOMED #ItTakesAVillage#ECEchat
A3: Weekly, and monthly letters. I also like to send links about activities they can make at home together- parents & students. Also parents like to see the projects of the students in seesaw #ecechat
A3. @ReadyRosie is a primary “send home” activity that we share with parents. It’s great b/c teachers can create their own playlists of activity videos to correlate with current curriculum & standards. #ECEchat
Q3: I share what we are doing in class then asking Ps to ask the Ss to explain the ______ they learned about today. Builds SEL and support to the learning in class. #ecechat
I think educators fear it will replace us, when really it's all how you use the devices and how they enhance your student's educational experience. They now have choice and drive their own instruction. #ECEchat
A3: Children read leveled books to their parents every night. We also ask parents to read to their children every night. We ask families to hike or explore parts of the island we are studying. We also ask families to play cards and board games. #ECEchat
A3: I once had a student who was very self conscious about reading aloud at school; I sent her home with an iPad so her mom could record her doing a cold read. This allowed me to gather baseline data on her reading level #ecechat
A3 I send research, community happenings, personal notes related to and supporting our work in the classroom. I want parents to know that I think about them beyond our class time. And funny stuff, I’m big on funny stuff. #ECEChat
A3: As a principal, one of the things I strive is to have opportunities for parents and teachers/school to have two-way communication. Not just informing. Focusing on student learning and celebrating has really helped. #ecechat
A3: As a classroom teacher I utilized Twitter. I would assign tasks based on our learning that day and ask parents to tweet the student’s evidence of learning. #ECEchat
Great idea! I used @FreshGrade voice recorder to record their beginning, middle, and end of the year reading levels. They were so proud to play their progress for their parents. #ECEchat
Where I am at, they can go to the public library and check out a hotspot or use one of the library computers to see their child's seesaw account. #ecechat
A3~ circling back to our class twitter page @MrsBemis44...we want our families to engage in conversation w/their children and this is a springboard for such...science experiments at home are always a bit hit #ecechat
A3: I send “home connections”- I recorded myself in a read aloud of the “Do Nothing Machine” and encouraged P’s to engage w their child in creating their own machine and bringing it to school to showcase- Ss felt so proud of their work! Also send QR codes for stories #ecechat
One BIG reason they’re ALL wiling to engage & connect with you via @Seesaw is b/c you 1st and foremost built trust and a relationship w/ them. #ECEchat
In reply to
@KLCseedtotree, @procm2, @orona75, @Seesaw
A4. Introduce the tech the right way, this ensures success. I often have them sign up for programs we will use throughout the year at the beginning of the year Open House. That way I can guide them through the sign up process. #ECEchat
Yes, I walk my Ps through signing up for @Seesaw at the home visit before school. Last year, Ps were contacting me before school started. Now thats having connected Ps! #ecechat
A4. Introduce the tech the right way, this ensures success. I often have them sign up for programs we will use throughout the year at the beginning of the year Open House. That way I can guide them through the sign up process. #ECEchat
Keep good boundaries for yourself! Use an app to communicate and be true to your own “office hours”. It is OK to keep your private life private. #ecechat
A4: Make sure whichever tool you choose that it is secure and safe. Sometimes with links, parents share those with other family members and it can snowball from there. #ecechat
A4: Bottom line, it's about building relationships. There isn't one perfect tool, so keeping variety is important. Listen to parents/families. Keep the end goal in mind, whatever goal that may be. #ecechat
Yes, I walk my Ps through signing up for @Seesaw at the home visit before school. Last year, Ps were contacting me before school started. Now thats having connected Ps! #ecechat
A4. Introduce the tech the right way, this ensures success. I often have them sign up for programs we will use throughout the year at the beginning of the year Open House. That way I can guide them through the sign up process. #ECEchat
@ECEchat A4: One caution I would give is to ensure that the site is listed on your District’s “safe” list. Also, preview/use the site to be sure it’s user friendly and will provide the outcome you desire. #TrialAndError#ecechat
My kids goto a title 1 school and the admin said they couldn’t stop sending home papers versus doing email because not all parents have smart phones or internet
I totally agree. When we feel frenzied trying to keep up with too many platforms, imagine how the families feel chasing our news and updates around! #ecechathttps://t.co/NhqSq3Xt1Y
A4: I would say that introducing the parent tech at a parent engagement event is definitely worth it. You would be able to help them join, create an account if needed, troubleshoot... it is so much better than just sending home an instruction sheet. #ecechat
I’m seeing the truth of this first hand this year. Parents are engaging more with me and their Ss work via @Seesaw than take-home folders. #edtechchat#ECEChat
Having meeting w parents and show them how to use any specific app or technology, and talk about the benefits for the whole class- and how this will increase the relationship between families & school #ecechat
Yes, I walk my Ps through signing up for @Seesaw at the home visit before school. Last year, Ps were contacting me before school started. Now thats having connected Ps! #ecechat
A4. Introduce the tech the right way, this ensures success. I often have them sign up for programs we will use throughout the year at the beginning of the year Open House. That way I can guide them through the sign up process. #ECEchat
A4~ encourage & support families w/what works in modeling the traits of good digital citizenship and be available for ongoing conv. on continued growth in tech ~share! #ECEchat
Very important-setting boundaries helps parents understand that you want to work together-but that you also need to have time to recalibrate (and be with your own family also) #ECEchat
Super Important! Just because I have the @Seesaw app on my phone doesn't mean I look at it at home or on the weekends. It's a bit of a during the school day only kind of communication with me. #ecechathttps://t.co/YJklbOzfpj
Keep good boundaries for yourself! Use an app to communicate and be true to your own “office hours”. It is OK to keep your private life private. #ecechat
I teach Head Start too. I think our parents embrace tech because we do. Might be something you could talk to the admin. about at your kids' school. #ecechat
A4: Do not let the technology be the only form of communication. Make sure to continue to make phone calls and have face to face interactions. #ECEchat
A5: Keep parents updated with online work of the students, it doesn't matter if is with seesaw, remind, dojo class, or twitter. Parents like to see progress of the students and ss engaged learning about apps #ecechat
Go ahead and get this on your calendars NOW. #2ndchat is talking about gamification in elementary school. Join us on March 14th at 7pm CST with host @mr_watkin ! See you then!
A5: The best resource we have found is Bloomz, Peachjar (electronic newsletters), phone calls and emails. All of these enhance the partnerships we strive to make with parents and families. #ecechat
Q5 If I have said it once, then I have said it a million times.....@Seesaw! It is awesome for Ps to connect, but it offers so much more to Ss and Ts. At 3/4 yrs it is the only app that allows my Ss voice. They take the ownership for our classroom and their learning. #ecechat
A5 I love @DoInkTweets for green screen. We use it every single day to showcase our students. Simple. Easy. Families love seeing their kids. ❤️😀#ECEchat
A5 And remember, there are parents who trust what we do in schools and do not feel an urgency to know what is happening minute by minute or day to day. #ECEChat
A5: the key for me as been using multiple modalities--email, positive notes, phone calls, Facebook group updates, individual Remind messages... I want families to know that I am will meet them where they are comfortable #ecechat
A5: @Seesaw has been my fav and a great tech tool to connect w families. We also share through twitter and remind. This triangulation of tech keeps us all informed and feeling connected. #ecechat
A5 I love @DoInkTweets for green screen. We use it every single day to showcase our students. Simple. Easy. Families love seeing their kids. ❤️😀#ECEchat
