Best Apps For Teachers To Communicate With Parents

In this article, we’ll be discussing the best apps for teachers to communicate with parents.

You might be surprised by how many platforms exist for teachers to communicate with parents. In fact, there are so many that it can be hard to figure out which ones work best for you. We’ve done our research and have compiled a list of the top five options available today. These are all great options for both teachers and parents alike!

Best Apps For Teachers To Communicate With Parents

It is best thought of in terms of purpose: Why do teachers and parents need to communicate? How can learning experiences be designed that require that interaction? What systems can be put in place to respond when the communication–for whatever reason–doesn’t happen?

Apps and technology are secondary in terms of design, but once that curriculum–and those learning models–are in place to really benefit from close parent-teacher communication, then apps like the following can come in handy.

5 Adjustments To Make When Communicating With Parents Through Apps And Online
Communicating with parents online–through apps, social media, text, etc.–requires a few adjustments on your part, including:

1. Be careful use of tone–nothing that can be misinterpreted.
2. Assume all communication will be screenshot or somehow seen by everyone in your district. (It won’t be, but this can be a good reminder that digital communication is public and permanent.)
3. Use clear and concise language.
4. Positive communication should be more frequent than negative.
5. Intentionally use a range of ‘reasons to communicate: celebrations of learning, communication of needs, and so on.
6. Maintain student and family privacy. Be aware of what is shared when, and with whom. This is probably obvious enough, but don’t share student info X with parent Y.

See Ten Tips To Connect With Parents Via Social Media for further reading.

12 Of The Best Apps For Teachers To Communicate With Parents

1. TalkingPoints
2. Remind
3. ClassTag
4. Klassly
5. ClassDojo
6. Bloomz
7. ParentSquare
8. Brightwheel
9. Seesaw
10. Kaymbu
11. SchoolStatus
12. Classting

12 Apps For Smarter Teacher-Parent Communication

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parent-teacher communication tools

Professional development

building relationships, parent teacher communication and engagement, technology

4 Communication Tools to Energize the Parent-Teacher Relationship

by Jill Eulberg, Veteran Educator, M.S. Special Education

One communication method might not fit for all parents.

Any teacher who has dealt with difficult parents knows the stress it can cause. Whether parents demand excessive communication or won’t even return your phone calls, there’s no denying that an unhealthy parent-teacher relationship can make your job a whole lot more difficult.

Luckily, building a positive parent-teacher relationship through proactive communication has never been easier. Here are four free tools to help build connections, reach more parents, and save you time.

1. Remind

Remind is a teacher favorite for parent-teacher communication. It allows teachers to communicate by text message without having to give out their personal cell phone numbers.

Further reading: Tips for Teachers on Dealing with Difficult Parents

According to its website, Remind is currently used by 2.5 million teachers in more than 70 percent of U.S. public schools. It is preferred by many secondary teachers who may communicate via text with both parents and students.

Remind messages can be simple text reminders, file attachments, or photos, and can be sent to an individual parent, a specific group, or the entire class. As a parent who had to leave her crying child at school on the first day of kindergarten, I am forever grateful to my son’s teacher who eased my mind by sending a picture through Remind of him happily playing with classmates later that day.

2. ClassDojo

ClassDojo is a more comprehensive tool that includes the ability to send text messages, utilize a classroom management system, and create a class story—similar to a Facebook page. Unlike Remind, ClassDojo’s behavior management system allows teachers to award or deduct points for positive or negative behaviors.

Many teachers keep ClassDojo visible on their interactive smartboards during class so students can monitor their points and behavior. Behavior reports are instantly available and can be downloaded and shared with parents. This report data can be helpful when you need to contact a parent with concerns, as it documents the child’s behavior in a clear and objective manner. Before contacting parents with concerns, it is always better to initiate positive contact first, and thankfully, ClassDojo offers plenty of opportunities to reach out.

3. Bloomz

Particularly popular with elementary teachers, Bloomz is a tool similar to ClassDojo. Bloomz also has a behavior tracking feature and allows teachers to easily and quickly communicate both positive and negative reports home.

Bloomz has a design similar to Facebook and offers the ability for parents to comment or like posts and images. Elementary parents appreciate that Bloomz offers the ability to communicate with both the teacher and other parents in the class. Some popular Bloomz features are the classroom calendar and volunteer sign-up tools, which allow parents to create and manage sign-up sheets and volunteer for holiday parties or classroom celebrations through the app.

4. ClassTag

ClassTag has many features similar to Bloomz and is also typically preferred by elementary teachers. Like Bloomz, ClassTag enables parents to sign up via the app to volunteer or help with classroom activities. ClassTag also allows teachers to create newsletters and schedule parent-teacher conferences.

While many teachers struggle to build relationships with parents for whom English is not the primary language, ClassTag offers the ability to send messages to parents in their preferred language and have their responses translated back into English. ClassTag boasts that its most engaged teachers connect with 96 percent of their students’ parents—and these teachers typically post at least one classroom announcement and 10 photos per week.

Further reading: Positive Parent-Teacher Communication

Frequent, positive communication is the key to building a thriving parent-teacher relationship. This school year, find the communication tool that works for you and energize your parent engagement.

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