The September 17 #NCed chat focused on the topic of Parent
Communication. Understanding how to
build partnerships with parents is such an important component of educating the
whole child. Although most #NCed Chat
participants are proponents of using technology to connect with parents, most
overwhelmingly agreed that face-to-face contact is best when possible. However,
during the chat Tuesday, some amazing online resources and innovative ideas
were shared. Here are a few of those
ideas:
·
Jessica Luby in Newton-Conover City
Schools uses Facebook to connect with parents, to
provide a platform for questions, and to address concerns.
·
Cheryl Rhea in Hickory City
Schools uses Edmodo as a secure platform that only
the teacher, students, and parents can access.
·
Dayson Paison in Alamance-Burlington
Schools uses Twitter, Instagram, and Vine to
connect with parents.
·
Chris Casal from the New York City
Department of Education shared he is getting ready to use Google Hangout for parent conferences
and does Twitter PD with parents.
·
Jeannie Smith in Jones County
Schools shared that one of her colleagues uses QR codes to share video podcasts (created with Voc-A-Roo) that her students record with
parents. She also shared Teacher
Kit app for iPad.
·
Angie Sigmon in Newton-Conover
City Schools uses Remind 101 to send text reminder to
the parents of her second grade students.
·
Jill Thompson in
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools shared this
resource which includes several digital platforms by which to connect
to parents.
·
Raymond Giovanelli is a
principal in Charlotte who does coffee chats, video records them, and uploads
them to YouTube for parents who cannot attend.
·
David Schouweiler in
Newton-Conover City Schools has created a Google Community for parents to
connect with him.
A variety of non-tech strategies to connect with parents
were also provided. Some participants
send greeting cards and letters to the homes of students to share positive
behaviors or notes of welcome. Others do
tea and cookies with parents quarterly. Jan King, Regional Lead for Regions 7 & 8 from the North Carolina Department of
Public Instruction shared that it is important to take the educational jargon
out of our conversations with parents.
The concept of building strong, quality relationships was prevalent
throughout the chat. Building trust and
compassion and following-through with ongoing communication are keys to
developing a partnership with parents.
If you would like to check out the Tuesday, September 17,
2013 full #NCed chat, click
here to access the archive.
