Communicating With Your Students' Parents

apps for teachers

Two things teachers never want to lose are, our keys and our cell phones. So it stands to reason that our cell phone would be the most convenient tool for communication. But, giving out your personal number is not the best idea. So, there is a better way.  You can still send out a text message but without giving everyone access to your personal phone number. 

Remind 101 is an app that will allow you to send (and receive) a text message to one or all of your parents without them seeing your phone number.  You can also it use on your iPad.  

Numbered Pencils

What a fantastic idea!  If you are familiar with educator Rick Morris, then you are probably already a big fan of the number system for your class roster. Whether you have 25 or as many as 36 students, this system is a must for a teacher's sanity.  So go ahead and just apply the number system to your pencils. Clear address labels work just fine.  Make a label for each student and number the pencils 1-36 (or however many students you have). Then when a student borrows a pencil from you give him the one with his assigned number.   This would even be an easy task for an at-home parent helper. 

Keep a numbered set for RTI or ELD rotations too.

Morning Work