Teach Today for a Different Tomorrow
Reaching All
As a teacher we want to make sure we are able to help all of our students learn. That means changing our ways of teaching with is hard for most. One thing teachers need to rely on to help them use best practices is the research that backs it up. It is important for teachers to look at data and statistics to make sure they are using best practices to teach. One way to reach many students would be the use of technology, but it is important to make sure the technology is appropriate for the students.
Project Tomorrow Speck Up
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This organization provides an easy way for students, parents and educators to participate in decisions about their school. It offers free online surveys for your school or district.
I think most would agree that educators and parents feel that communication is important to ensure everyone is working together for the benefit of the students and their futures.
So, what is the best way to communicate with parents??? We need to remember as teachers that the parents of the students we teach are younger or possibly the same age as us. This quote was taken right from the website and I feel completely sums up why research is so important in learning which ways are best to communicate with our parents.
"Today’s younger parents are on the forefront of using social media for communications across all aspects of their lives. It is therefore important for districts to understand and appreciate how these new digital parents are leveraging these tools as they may represent the future of home-to-school communications."
After reviewing the data from the 2018 report a view things stood out to me.
- Over 70% of parents prefer personal emails about their students academic progress across high school to elementary education school parents.
- The school portal is not as important as text messages or personal phone calls.
- Elementary school parents like hand written notes and face to face meetings more than middle school and high school parents.
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This data surprises me because my principal always encourages parents to use the portal and for teachers to as well, when parents prefer email and text messages. I personally like to use text messages because there is also a record of the conversation and a text message for me is so much easier than typing an email, but after looking at this data, I am going to start next year by gathering phone numbers and emails from all parents and to try different methods of communication. Something that doesn't surprise me is that elementary school parents prefer handwritten notes and face to face meetings. As an elementary school teacher, I often send notes home but feel they just get tossed aside. It is good to know that parents do read them. I often use face to face meetings to address severe academic or behavioral concerns.
My View on Surveys
My district uses a survey called "My Voice, My School". The survey is given to parents, educators and students grades sixth to eighth. It ask questions like, "Are you safe in the hallways or on your walk to school?", "Do you feel your teacher cares about you or your student?", "Does you teacher communicate with you?" "Is the school organized?". My principal uses this data, picks out the most important things, compares it to last years scores and come up with an action plan the for the following year. This helps us focus and build on certain areas than trying to fix everything at once. The surveys are also anonymous and allows teacher and parents to feel safe in discussing the concerns they have.
I love how Speak Up talks about how the parents today are younger so their communication methods reflect that. It's something that we probably don't think of- that's why looking at research such as this is so important. We use My Voice, My School as well. For me, however I like many of the questions that are on the Speak Up survey better. When you spoke of reaching parents via text a platform came to mind. Have you heard of Remind.com? It allows one-way (or two way) communication with parents. They can opt to receive your messages via text and/or email. Remind keeps a running record of all of your posts that are never deleted. You can also embed your thread right on a class website.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried remind before! I will keep that in mind for next year!
DeleteI like how you provided how Speak Up helps with communication methods between parents and children.
ReplyDeleteThe three points you listed under= reviewing the data from the 2018 report. Its was interesting and stood out to me as well that the school portal is not as important as personal phone calls or texts. I find myself in my career on the computer more that I would be able to access the portal quicker. I never have my phone by me. Also I am counseling all day the last thing I want to do is talk to someone on the phone or thru text message after working 12 hours.
I also found the information on communication super helpful! I try to briefly talk to parents when they pick up their children to remind them of important events such as days off or field trips or to tell them information about their child's school day. I have found this kind of face to face meeting helpful. It us helpful to know that parents prefer emails and that they are young and connected to social media! Many of the students in my school are cared for part time or in some cases full time by grandparents. It would be useful to see if the grandparents prefer different communication methods or if they also prefer email.
ReplyDeleteMy school also takes the My Voice Survey very serious and does the same with comparing scores, taking the parents and teachers input into perspective and then we have an action team that collaborates and discusses how best to make sure that the staff, students, and parents needs are being addressed and met!
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