As an elementary teacher, communicating with parents is a really big thing for me. I want parents to feel connected to our classroom and in the loop. I communicate in a variety of ways several times a week, but wanted to share a new way I have been communicating with my parents.
I had always taken the time to send a weekly newsletter with important dates and upcoming objectives, but I started to wonder if the parents were actually reading it. So, last year I decided to switch from my digital newsletter that I was sending to a weekly VIDEO. It was intimidating at first, but I received a lot of positive feedback from parents. They loved being able to see and hear from me each week.
I used Screencastify in the past, but this year I am using Clips by Apple. Clips makes sending a weekly video super quick. I record right on my phone, add any text or emojis I want, and upload to my Google Drive. I then share the link with my parents so they are able to be informed. I also post on my class website and ClassTag. (This is not the only parent communication I do each week, but this is how I share weekly updates with all my parents.)
**Side note** ClassTag is going to be a game changer. It is super easy for me to post my weekly video to and any other pictures or updates I want to send. I love that I am able to see which parents viewed my post. Parents can opt to receive notifications as a text or email. Check it out here if you haven't!
Remember with any parent communication that you make you'll want to be...
1. Professional- make sure your are representing your school and yourself well
2. Consistent- make sure to keep up with your communication
3. Positive- make sure to be positive and upbeat
Sending a weekly video message to the parents helps me build relationships with them and allows them see my passion for teaching and their children first hand!
How do you communicate with your student's parents on a weekly basis? Have you ever tried sending a video?
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