Journey Summary
This session focuses on using technology tools to enhance the lines of communication between a school and the families it serves, as well as improve and streamline the process of communicating outside the classroom. You will identify strategies to engage your students and their families in clear, professional communication.
Curriculum-framing Questions
Essential Question
- How might technology support communication?
Unit Questions
- How might teachers use technology to communicate and collaborate with students and their families to support students wherever and whenever they are learning?
Content Questions
- What are the basic purposes of communication?
- How does communication differ by grade?
- What are some basic features of your district’s communication or other forms of communication that you find important?
- How can teachers use Google Workspace for Education or other district tools to open lines of communication between home and school?
- What procedures and routines would be beneficial for students and parents to learn at the beginning of the school year?
Introduction
To be successful, today’s students need to have support at school and home. When teachers, schools, families, and communities come together to support students in their learning, it increases each student’s chance for success. Opening the lines of communication between schools and families is a great way to help develop the support systems students need. Advances in technology have revolutionized how people communicate and provide educators with efficient tools that make communication with families easy.
Theory Behind Practice
All eMINTS materials are grounded in research-based best practices in K-12 education.
Digging Deeper
Agenda
- Opener: Communication Has Changed
- Family Communications: eRound Robin
- Student/Family Communication
- Choice Board of Tasks
- Closer: Emoji Wrap-up
Classroom Visit w/Students
Assist teachers as they introduce students to the procedures and routines for communication. Help them explain the purpose of the routines and make sure students have experience following them. Alternately, support participants as they work with students to set up folders for assignments and/or communication with the teacher.
Classroom Visit w/out Students
Assist teachers on any district communications that they need help with. Revisit the district preferred forms of communication and assist teachers with any new tools they may want to implement. Collaborate and support participants as they consider using Google forms as a resource for student/family communication.
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