Welcome to #akedchat! First things first: Introduce yourself! 1) Where do you live, 2) what is your job title, and 3) Are you a parent of school age children, teacher, or both?
I teach 8th graders (English and Geography) this year at Dillingham Middle/High School. My oldest son just entered preschool a few weeks ago, so this is my first school year as both teacher AND parent! #akedchat
#akedchat PHEW! Scooted in at just 3 minutes late! Tammy Morris, retired elem T and Dist Tech Coord, enjoying "retirement" by providing PD to Ts and Admins all over our great state! Living in Juneau. I have 10 grandkids in public school systems, AK & WA, and a few more coming up!
Welcome to #akedchat! First things first: Introduce yourself! 1) Where do you live, 2) what is your job title, and 3) Are you a parent of school age children, teacher, or both?
Q1: What do parents want most from school communication?(Parents: tell us what is important to you! Teachers: tell us what parents have asked for most during your career.) #akedchat
#akedchat A1: As a parent, I wanted to know my child was seen and taught according to his/her individualities. As a teacher, parents always asked how their students were doing, but I know my concern as a parent was at the root of their question.
Q1: What do parents want most from school communication?(Parents: tell us what is important to you! Teachers: tell us what parents have asked for most during your career.) #akedchat
#akedchat I most want help knowing what open ended questions I can ask to guide conversation w my child that leads to more than one word answers. “How was school?” “Good.”
This is SUCH a great point. Parents want to be involved, they want to know about their children . . . but it is hard to know what to ask! I have found in my few short weeks as a preschool parent that a newsletter with the week's lesson topics is so helpful.#akedchat
Q2: When you participate in communication between home/school, what type of information is most often the topic? (ie Info like due dates and events, updates in the classroom, grade progress, etc) #akedchat
I usually have 3-7 grandies & neighborhood kids in my house after school for snack and play. The strategy that's worked best so far this year is to go around and share our "highlight" and "low point" of the day. I know it's a success when they pick up the terminology! #akedchat
good strategy! And the routine of asking for a reflection in a similar way each time may help littles form their thoughts and grow to analyze/verbalize their day as it happens. #akedchat
A2: mostly it’s a recap of what we’re working on, possible home extensions, and what’s coming up next. To be honest, split daily between 2 schools with double the caseload, communication is now my downfall. Need to improve in this area. #akedchat
Q2: When you participate in communication between home/school, what type of information is most often the topic? (ie Info like due dates and events, updates in the classroom, grade progress, etc) #akedchat
A2: As a middle school teacher, most communication intitiated by parents is grade-based inquiries. I am trying to do more proactive sharing about activities/curriculum this year, to balance the percentage of so many grade conversations. #akedchat
Wondering if you use an app like Remind? If so, at the end of the day you could be more efficient with cut & paste, etc. and schedule the messages to go out if necessary. #akedchat
A3: I'm using Weebly to house a classroom website, with embedded Google Docs that autoupdate lessons/resources/assignments. I want to add a password-protected blog feature soon, to share pictures and more detailed updates with parents/guardians. #akedchat
One of my schools greatly utilized ClassDojo to communicate with pics, stories, events, as well as behaviors. Parents appreciate easy contact via phone app. #akedchat
@RemindHQ has a new schoolwide option now (for $$) that is worth looking at, I think especially if many teachers in the same school use it. I know it is at the top of my list to try, but getting enough parents signed up always is my downfall. #akedchat
In reply to
@InspiredImpact, @Alaska_TOY2016, @RemindHQ
When a grandson was telling me about his "lowpoint" and it had to do with @ClassDojo I pulled out my phone and he said "You're on @ClassDojo too?!" Students knowing parents and Ts are communicating is #soimportant! #akedchat
In reply to
@Alaska_TOY2016, @MGundersonAK, @ClassDojo, @ClassDojo
I've only used the free version of @RemindHQ but I'll look at the new version. I'm working with some JSD MS Ts and we just discussed this last week. One had 100% parent participation; another had 4 parents out of all classes. There must be some tips to this! #akedchat
In reply to
@MGundersonAK, @Alaska_TOY2016, @RemindHQ, @RemindHQ
A4: Our school committed to sending a positive postcard to each student's home at least once a school year. We wrote them at the beginning of every staff mtg. It was WONDERFUL! Ss and Ps were so proud, and enjoyed the positive mail home about the success at school. #akedchat
A4: I also send Welcome Back to School postcards, and I am thinking about mailing home a monthly newsletter. Middle Schoolers are not big on Take Home Folders, so papers don't always get home in a timely manner unless I mail them. #akedchat
So important to use @ClassDojo carefully. I've seen some Ts use it very effectively, but I've been a part of a school where it was much more of a distraction and not used wisely so not motivating for the Ss. #akedchat Training and careful use is #soimportant
In reply to
@Alaska_TOY2016, @MGundersonAK, @ClassDojo
A4: I think invitations to come see student work, performance, etc, is always welcomed by families. It encourages conversations to extend and support learning. #akedchat
Q5: Does your school use social media for communication to home and community members? If so, what specific sites? What type of things are posted? #akedchat
You are so right....regularity is the most important thing! (Also, the thing I most struggle with.) I have to actually schedule time to write those newsletters/emails/good notes/blog posts, or they will be the first thing to slide of the To-Do list when things get busy. #akedchat
A5: both schools have a fb page and the district has a website. The district website in my opinion is awkward to find information on. The fb page has families and alumni who ask questions, share info. #akedchat
#akedchat I think it's important to survey parents at the beginning of the year to find out what communication tool/method they prefer, and then Ts should use their preferred method if at all possible. Text (@Remind), email, paper, website, etc. Ts who do this sometimes surprised
I created an image in Canva, downloaded the image, uploaded to @Vistaprint and ordered 500 (enough for a few years, unless we get postcard CRAZY). We had a promo code so the cost per card was minimal in comparison to the value of communication. #akedchat
Same for us. Website is okay, but not for 2-way communication or fast updates. Our school finally created a FB page, and so far it's been really positive. But it does take upkeep, like anything. #akedchat
Upkeep and avid attention is really important on social media sites. They can be huge helps, but if it gets away from them, really detrimental. Can't take it on lightly! #akedchat
Q7: Does your school/admin have policies for quantity, frequency, and/or type of communication between teachers and parents/guardians? If so, describe them! #akedchat
#akedchat A6: I've seen more and more parents going toward digital, even text over email. It's the way they communicate. My own adult kids prefer text. My teen granddaughters are preferring FB Messages. Important to know what they use!
#akedchat A7: Remember, I'm not from any one school, but what I've observed in several schools around the state is that most policies simply state what is NOT allowed to be used (often social media). Some Ts frustrated by this. A shame when ALL are banned cuz of practices by few.
Q7: Does your school/admin have policies for quantity, frequency, and/or type of communication between teachers and parents/guardians? If so, describe them! #akedchat
A7: I've worked at schools (in other states) that required at least 2 contacts per student each month, though the purpose and method were flexible. We had to document and provide evidence to admin each month (log, newsletter copy, etc). #akedchat
Q8: Last (and perhaps most significant) question: How does proactive home/school communication ultimately boost student accountability and achievement? #akedchat
A8: When students know the adults in their lives are proactively working in tandem to support goals and success, I think students are more likely to push themselves to give their very best. Giving your best seems more important when everyone around is supporting you. #akedchat
A8: student achievement and accountability both increase with staff and families are on the same page, working together as a team. We’re all in it to increase student learning. #akedchat
