Soooooooo...I found out about this amazing website through a fellow teacher. It's called Bloomz.net and it allows you to communicate with parents through its site and their app (so you can use your smartphone or tablet). I just started using it but it is great!
Last month a parent of one of my students was upset about her son not turning in his Science project. Although I sent out a letter/rubric about the project and reminded students daily about it, this student still did not turn in their project. So, the day of the project I made sure to write a note in his agenda book that he didn't turn in his project and that it could be turned in the following day but some points will be deducted due to tardiness. Needless to say the project still was not turned in.
Now you may say a phone call could have been helpful or an email. Well, the agenda book is one of the main lines of communication between teachers and parents. It allows parents to see what their child is doing for homework, the student's behavior for the day and if there are any notes from the teacher. In addition to that, if I had to call a parent about every project or assignment that was not turned in, I'll be calling parents every day! Seriously! So, I always make sure to contact my parents using students' agenda books. If it's something severe (such as a student getting hurt, being disrespectful or fighting), then definitely I'm making a phone call.
But back to the not-turned in project.
I spoke with the parent the following week about the project not being turned in and one thing she asked was 'Do you post assignments and homework online so I can see what he needs to complete each night?' I thought this was interesting because for the past two years I created a blog through my school's page that allowed parents to go online and see the homework and skills for each week. But this year I stopped because parents weren't using it. So when she asked I thought about how I could help the parent as well as the rest of my parents who need this assistance.
Then I remembered the Bloomz.net website I saw Lauren from Stickies and Sharpies mention in one of her Instagram posts! I checked the website out, completed the tours and some of the demos and knew that it was just what I needed. It's quick, easy and free to sign up (and I made sure to explain that to my parents).
Once you create an account, you receive a class code for parents to join. You can either email parents about signing up or print out the letter Bloomz automatically creates for you to give parents. Once parents sign up, they are able to view different assignments, photos, events, volunteering opportunities or just general information that you post. You're also able to schedule parent-teacher conferences through the site!
I've only been using it for a couple of weeks now, but since then I've already used it to schedule conferences, upload homework assignments, post files for parents and students to use and send quick messages to parents about any reminders.
Now of course I have to give you the negative about this, which really isn't too much of a negative. There may be some families who do not have access to the internet/computer or a smartphone. Unfortunately, these parents will not be able to partake in the awesomeness of this site. With this issue, I just continue to communicate with my parents through students' agenda books and by phone.
If you continue to talk to parent's about it, they may do their best to try and get internet access somehow. For instance, I told one of my parents about Think Central, which allows students to work on online activities in areas they have difficulty. Next thing I know, the student comes back to school some weeks later and tells me that they now have the internet. If you explain the importance of what you're doing, parents will not have a problem going over and beyond to help in their child's education.
So, if you're looking for a way to communicate with parents easily, quick and free, then Bloomz.net is the site you need to access. Check it out!
Last month a parent of one of my students was upset about her son not turning in his Science project. Although I sent out a letter/rubric about the project and reminded students daily about it, this student still did not turn in their project. So, the day of the project I made sure to write a note in his agenda book that he didn't turn in his project and that it could be turned in the following day but some points will be deducted due to tardiness. Needless to say the project still was not turned in.
Now you may say a phone call could have been helpful or an email. Well, the agenda book is one of the main lines of communication between teachers and parents. It allows parents to see what their child is doing for homework, the student's behavior for the day and if there are any notes from the teacher. In addition to that, if I had to call a parent about every project or assignment that was not turned in, I'll be calling parents every day! Seriously! So, I always make sure to contact my parents using students' agenda books. If it's something severe (such as a student getting hurt, being disrespectful or fighting), then definitely I'm making a phone call.
But back to the not-turned in project.
I spoke with the parent the following week about the project not being turned in and one thing she asked was 'Do you post assignments and homework online so I can see what he needs to complete each night?' I thought this was interesting because for the past two years I created a blog through my school's page that allowed parents to go online and see the homework and skills for each week. But this year I stopped because parents weren't using it. So when she asked I thought about how I could help the parent as well as the rest of my parents who need this assistance.
Then I remembered the Bloomz.net website I saw Lauren from Stickies and Sharpies mention in one of her Instagram posts! I checked the website out, completed the tours and some of the demos and knew that it was just what I needed. It's quick, easy and free to sign up (and I made sure to explain that to my parents).
Once you create an account, you receive a class code for parents to join. You can either email parents about signing up or print out the letter Bloomz automatically creates for you to give parents. Once parents sign up, they are able to view different assignments, photos, events, volunteering opportunities or just general information that you post. You're also able to schedule parent-teacher conferences through the site!
I've only been using it for a couple of weeks now, but since then I've already used it to schedule conferences, upload homework assignments, post files for parents and students to use and send quick messages to parents about any reminders.
Now of course I have to give you the negative about this, which really isn't too much of a negative. There may be some families who do not have access to the internet/computer or a smartphone. Unfortunately, these parents will not be able to partake in the awesomeness of this site. With this issue, I just continue to communicate with my parents through students' agenda books and by phone.
If you continue to talk to parent's about it, they may do their best to try and get internet access somehow. For instance, I told one of my parents about Think Central, which allows students to work on online activities in areas they have difficulty. Next thing I know, the student comes back to school some weeks later and tells me that they now have the internet. If you explain the importance of what you're doing, parents will not have a problem going over and beyond to help in their child's education.
So, if you're looking for a way to communicate with parents easily, quick and free, then Bloomz.net is the site you need to access. Check it out!
CURRENTLY FEBRUARY IS HERE! I, for some reason, always look forward to the Currently's! Do you? Listening: Well, I was listenin...
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