Meaningful communication with parents is the best way to foster a good relationship, and as any educator knows, support from home is essential to give students the greatest possible chances of academic success. Teachers also know how hard it can be to get information to parents in a timely manner.
Thankfully, technology continues to advance at an exponential rate, including the ways we can communicate with each other. Ultimately, this can be great for teachers, but it can also be hard to keep up, making the establishment of any type of parent-teacher communication even more difficult.
Despite this obstacle, teachers will do anything in order to help their students succeed, so they are starting to learn more creative ways to get in touch with the student’s parents.
5 Creative Ways For Teachers to Communicate With Parents
Newer technology has helped bridge the gap between the lack of communication within the school system, and teachers are using their devices to improve parent communication. After all, getting parents involved in their child’s education is an essential part of their job.
Here is our list of 5 creative ways that teachers can think outside the box when it comes to reaching out and communicating with each parent.
1. Start A Classroom Blog
You probably read plenty of blogs, but you may not be aware that they can be a useful tool for teachers to communicate with parents too.
Educators are having a lot of success in integrating blogs into their teaching. You can keep parents up to date on what is going on inside the classroom and also what they can expect as the school year progresses. For example, they can post about any forms or permission slips that will need to be filled out and returned for their child in a timely manner. Online school forms and permission slips are one of the newest and most convenient tools that schools are starting to integrate into their systems. Posting these on a classroom blog is a great way to inform the parents and get these signed documents returned both faster and more securely.
2. Podcasts
Podcasts are similar to radio shows, except they are online, and on demand. You can listen to them whenever and from wherever you like! You probably already have a list of your favorite podcasts saved. This is another tool teachers can use as a way to keep parents up to date on current and upcoming events. Similar to a blog, teachers can update the podcast with the latest information about what’s going on in the classroom, without having to sit and type it all out. Also, if teachers are feeling extra creative, they can get their students involved with the production and writing, which can be both fun and educational. We all have those students who want to be professional podcasters!
3. Email Newsletters
This is a very simple, and more traditional, method of keeping parents informed and involved. All you need is a list of your classroom parents’ email addresses, which you can likely get from school enrollment forms.
The frequency with which you send these newsletters is completely up to you – they can be weekly, monthly, or even by grading period. Parents receive updates right in their inbox, and have the ability to respond if they have questions or want to make a comment. Also, this is another great way to send out any online permission slips for upcoming field trips or activities.
4. Social Media
Social Media can be a fantastic way to stay in touch with parents. For example, you can create a group on Facebook that the parents can join as a way to share news and even post the latest photographs from recent holiday classroom parties or school field trips. Of course, you’ll need to check with your district regarding social media policies and procedures, but if your school allows it, this is a very convenient way to keep parents informed and also give them a platform to interact with one another.
5. Virtual Meetings
There is no substitute as great as a face-to-face meeting, but with conflicting schedules and ever-mounting responsibilities, it can be difficult for a teacher and parent to find a good time to meet in person. Invite parents to meet with you virtually instead.
The last couple of years has taught us that we can find ways to be flexible and still accomplish what we need to accomplish. Offering virtual meetings can be a much more convenient way for parents to keep up with their child’s education without worrying about conflicting schedules. It also makes it easier to discuss more urgent matters about the child that may arise.
Reach Out and Make A Difference
Any dedicated teacher will tell you they are continuously looking for new ways they can help their students succeed. One of the best things a teacher can do is keep in touch with their students and parents on a regular basis, which has now become a little more convenient with the many different tools we can use to communicate.
Teachers no longer have to be stuck in the past. Check out our website for paperless solutions to modern problems in the classroom and updating your methods of communication so you can spend more time enjoying watching your students prosper!
Don’t just read about it, be about it! LINQ can work directly with you to help your school become more efficient. Setup a demo today and let’s work together to move education forward.