At the beginning of the year, I ask parents for an email address to send a weekly email with spelling words, upcoming events, and general information. Sometimes I wish I had a phone number to send texts to, like: How is your child getting home today? Do you request emails and/or phone numbers from your parents to communicate with them throughout the year? I know that if I request a number for texting, the parents will have my number to text me as well. Has that been a problem for anyone? BTW, I teach first grade. TIA!
I use Dojo to send messages for things like that. My team mate uses Remind. It’s great. I can also post pictures of class happenings, links to my class newsletter and sign up genius for conferences and I can message one parent, a few parents or my whole class.
You can also do the messaging to the parents' phones from your school computer or tablet.
I try to keep my personal phone separate from my work. Principals and Vice principals are issued district phones. My thinking is that if they want me to use a phone for my job, I shouldn't have to provide it.
I do not like parents having my personal phone number. I like to use Dojo for whole class reminders as well as quick personal messages (for more involved topics I use email).
I do get emails AND phone numbers from parents, but typically only call from the school phone.
The whole class, or groups. I love it. It’s important to set limits though, I don’t answer texts after 4 and I don’t answer before 7:15, and not on the weekends.
Almost my whole building uses the remind app as do most of the coaches. Love it. You can also set office hours that will send an auto reply so you aren’t bothered Day and night.
We do a Remind Update from our whole middle school team. One or two people have the code to type it and send it out so they're not overloaded with various messages.
I don't do last minute notices and I don't take them from parents.
I use email for my notices, newsletters, and whatever. I don't even keep my phone handy at school most of the time unless something personal is going on and I need it.
This year I am going to try and get my parents all on Seesaw.
I know I am the weirdo here on this topic, but my cell number is on my school web page. I encourage parents to add my number when we first meet and send me a text so I can put them in my phone. It's so much more convenient for me and I have never ever not once had a parent abuse this. I teach K and many of my parents need some hand holding and that's fine by me.
I also give my cell phone to parents, a good majority of teachers at my school do as well.
It’s just much more convenient for myself and for parents. I don’t have email on my phone and rarely check it at home so texting is easier. Sometimes things do come up last minute on either my end of the parent and I like being able to send a quick text. I understand it’s not for everyone but it works for me.
Remind. I do not use my cell phone for communicating with parents. I don’t want to open a can of worms with open records laws. I don’t have anything bad on my phone, but I don’t want that picture with my friends at a restaurant where you can see a margarita turned into a big deal and used against me. A riled up enough parent and it doesn’t have to be something bad to come back and bite you.
I used dojo last year and liked it for that reason. I could "text" without giving away my number. I do have the phone numbers for some parents that I'm closer with or know I will need to talk to regularly. None have abused it so far.
One additional consideration that I didn't see mentioned in the comments... whatever system you use, will you have a permanent record of your communication? That could be important.
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08-05-2018, 01:11 PM
