Classroom Communication....?

As we get closer to state assessment time, parents are extremely interested in what is going on in the classroom. They become more nervous than the students, who are still oblivious to the importance of the upcoming assessments. Nonetheless, Parents want a closer look inside the classroom, mainly to ensure that their student passes on to the next level. Therefore, communication is key....so what are the best ways of doing this while using technology? I thought you would never ask.

I'm finding no avenue is perfect for every parent, but if you try to differentiate with your parents, like we all attempt in the classroom, then here are a few areas to dabble in.

Class websites:
There are many website tools out there, but cost is a premium issue. Some I have used effectively are SchoolWorld and Wix. SchoolWorld is an easy website template that comes ready made with interchangeable designs that fit the need of your classroom. There are unlimited pages that you can create and the content is up to you. You also can import class list to create quizes, polls and games to make your site more interactive. The coast is $39 a year for the basis, $59 for the advance version which includes the quiz maker. However, if several teachers sign up at the same time, you can save money with the bulk discount SchoolWorld offers teachers, schools and districts.

The only thing I do not like about SchoolWorld is the inability to embed html. Therefore, no third-party video and sound.

Wix is a flash website building tool that is actually free. You would get basic layouts that are tailored toward certain industry genres, but can be manipulated to fit your style. You can add many animations and flash effects to make your site more engaging. It also works as a drag and drops platform, allowing for easy page building. You also can embed your own polls from third-party website along with video and audio simply by pasting the html code.

The draw back to Wix is that it runs slow for families that have low-speed internet connection at home. Also, the more animation you add, the slower your pages takes to load.


Blogs:
Another popular way to correspond with parents is simply by putting all your information in a blog. Blogger and Wordpress are very simple to use and parents can ask questions or provide feedback easily via commenting and emailing you through the blog.

With blogs you can also, post cool videos to go along with lessons, embed polls, and truly make it an interactive experience for the families that you need to keep in the loop.


E-Magazine:
Many teachers create weekly newsletters to print out and send home. Some make it, some do not. Therefore, I began uploading my newsletter into ezine creators like issuu. I simply create my newsletter using my favorite publishing tool; which Pages, upload to issuu and they publish my newsletter as an online magazine. Parents can rss to your issuu site to receive updates on when the next issue is available each week or whenever you publish a newsletter. You can now be as creative as you want without trying to fit everything on one page. Teachers can even create a grade-level magazine highlighting the weekly events. The best thing is, it's free!

These were just a few ways to keep the families in touch that you have an impact on Monday - Friday during the school year. The key is communicating so find you niche and get your class involved. I guarantee, the more your parents feel involved, the more support you will receive from them.