Using Remind to Communicate with Parents and Students

Our school has a pretty big problem with parent engagement.  We were actually happy with the increase in attendance at parent/teacher interview night this semester to a total of 14 parents!  This was up from last year's total of 6.  Granted we only have 185 students, and our parents live in 5 surrounding communities, but this turn-out is pretty shameful.

What can we do?  I think if we all used the Remind App

 to stay in touch with parents, they would feel more comfortable coming in to speak with us.  We could promote the night effectively by sending the reminder directly to their phones, we could give them hints about what they could discuss with us, what we would like to discuss with them etc.  If they understood the value of coming in maybe they would make the effort.

My daughter's teacher just started using it and I already love being on the receiving end.  She sends photos of notes coming home so that we know to expect them, she let me know that my daughter was going to be getting the Student of the Month Award so that one of us could plan to be there, she reminded us that Friday was a PD day.  It's that little extra connection directly to my phone as opposed to on the Facebook page or on a missing note or a website that I have to remember to check.

Click the following link to see how one teacher uses Remind to keep in touch with parents and student and how she links it to her other digital communication tools such as class blog, class website, school newsletter, board website and more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya-Ft2BMNnQ

Teachers can message specific students with links to items of interest for their inquiry projects, or share a photo of board notes or brainstorming sessions students may miss when they are absent.  Much more convenient than uploading to a class website or blog or D2L.  It keeps everyone aware and accountable for what is expected in class and only those who need the information, get the information.

I can:

•  translate my messages to other languages using Google Translate.
• record a voice message for a more personal touch.  
• send a video or picture of class room activities (with permission of course)
• direct parents to our school Facebook page or Website to see videos, pictures, posters, sports day schedules that are posted there.
• and all of this without collecting or giving out any phone numbers or email addresses!

  I am excited to start using this amazing app with my students and parents.  I am thinking about challenging other staff members to see who can entice the most parents to come in for interviews next semester.

The biggest hurdle I can see is getting parents to sign up.  Secondary parents often do not read all of the paperwork sent home by the school and do not take as active an interest in their child's school life as they do when students are in elementary school.  It is also difficult to convince a teenager that it is a good thing for their parents to be informed about things going on at school!  If anyone has suggestions to get students and parents to "buy in" to the process, feel free to comment!