Embedded Files
Goal
Goal
By completing this module, teachers will…
By completing this module, teachers will…
Know the features of Google Classroom that will facilitate parent communication
Know the features of Google Classroom that will facilitate parent communication
Understand how families access information through Google Classroom
Understand how families access information through Google Classroom
Identify and plan strategies for building a home-school connection through Google Classroom
Identify and plan strategies for building a home-school connection through Google Classroom
Content
Content
Distance learning hasn’t been easy for anyone. Many of you play the roles of both parent and teacher. Even if you don’t, the experience of last spring taught us that the relationships we build, not just with our students, but also with their families, is vitally important.
Distance learning hasn’t been easy for anyone. Many of you play the roles of both parent and teacher. Even if you don’t, the experience of last spring taught us that the relationships we build, not just with our students, but also with their families, is vitally important.
A key component of building those relationships is clear, consistent communication. Feedback from families during and after Learning at Home resulted in a clear message that we had to streamline our modes of communication and how we push out instruction. It is for that reason that Grades 4 and 5 will now be using Google Classroom as their digital platform. Unfortunately, what we’re leaving behind with Seesaw is the family communication many of our parents have known for the last four years. Google Classroom is definitely not Seesaw when it comes to family communication, but in this module, we’re going to look at ways you can continue to keep parents informed and involved and build those relationships that we know are so important to student success.
A key component of building those relationships is clear, consistent communication. Feedback from families during and after Learning at Home resulted in a clear message that we had to streamline our modes of communication and how we push out instruction. It is for that reason that Grades 4 and 5 will now be using Google Classroom as their digital platform. Unfortunately, what we’re leaving behind with Seesaw is the family communication many of our parents have known for the last four years. Google Classroom is definitely not Seesaw when it comes to family communication, but in this module, we’re going to look at ways you can continue to keep parents informed and involved and build those relationships that we know are so important to student success.
To get started, please go to the Padlet below and add any thoughts, ideas, and questions you have about communicating with families in each of the columns. While you’re there, take a look at what your colleagues are saying.
To get started, please go to the Padlet below and add any thoughts, ideas, and questions you have about communicating with families in each of the columns. While you’re there, take a look at what your colleagues are saying.
Now that you’ve shared your thoughts and read what others are thinking, grab a piece of paper and jot down a few notes for yourself about what you want your family connections to look like in Google Classroom. This will be your guide as you review the resources below. As you watch, pause the video and make notes for yourself about what you want to try.
Now that you’ve shared your thoughts and read what others are thinking, grab a piece of paper and jot down a few notes for yourself about what you want your family connections to look like in Google Classroom. This will be your guide as you review the resources below. As you watch, pause the video and make notes for yourself about what you want to try.
This video is intended for parents. By viewing through the parent lens, you can gain insight into how you might structure your Classroom and what features you can use to enhance connection and communication.
This video is intended for parents. By viewing through the parent lens, you can gain insight into how you might structure your Classroom and what features you can use to enhance connection and communication.
Post Announcements to Your Students - You can use announcements in your Stream to share information with families. Set a routine for how you differentiate announcements that you really want parents to see. You could put FAMILIES in all caps at the beginning or maybe start all family announcements with an emoji of a house, or something. This will enable parents to quickly pick out announcements that are targeted to them when viewing their email summaries. Please note that only the text of the announcement will be shown in the summary. If you attach any documents or files, those will not be included. Here’s more information about the guardian summaries: Guardian Email Summaries FAQ
Post Announcements to Your Students - You can use announcements in your Stream to share information with families. Set a routine for how you differentiate announcements that you really want parents to see. You could put FAMILIES in all caps at the beginning or maybe start all family announcements with an emoji of a house, or something. This will enable parents to quickly pick out announcements that are targeted to them when viewing their email summaries. Please note that only the text of the announcement will be shown in the summary. If you attach any documents or files, those will not be included. Here’s more information about the guardian summaries: Guardian Email Summaries FAQ
Scroll back up to the Padlet and reflect on your new learning. Are there questions you can answer now? Do you have new questions you want to post? Add a comment to a previous note that you or one of your colleagues wrote or post a new note to share your new thinking or wonderings.
Scroll back up to the Padlet and reflect on your new learning. Are there questions you can answer now? Do you have new questions you want to post? Add a comment to a previous note that you or one of your colleagues wrote or post a new note to share your new thinking or wonderings.
Interaction/Try-out/Sandbox
Interaction/Try-out/Sandbox
Now that you’ve explored some ideas for connecting with families through Google Classroom, think about how you want to structure your family interactions. Establishing routines and communicating them clearly from the beginning will be important. Use this time to…
Now that you’ve explored some ideas for connecting with families through Google Classroom, think about how you want to structure your family interactions. Establishing routines and communicating them clearly from the beginning will be important. Use this time to…
Draft a message you’ll send to families explaining how to sign up for guardian summaries and what to expect from you in terms of regular communication. Feel free to send them the link to the video you watched above or, even better, create your own screencast to show them exactly how YOU plan to use Google Classroom to communicate with them. Include your face on the recording to start building those relationships.
Draft a message you’ll send to families explaining how to sign up for guardian summaries and what to expect from you in terms of regular communication. Feel free to send them the link to the video you watched above or, even better, create your own screencast to show them exactly how YOU plan to use Google Classroom to communicate with them. Include your face on the recording to start building those relationships.
Establish a structure for a daily announcement you’ll send via the Stream. This will give parents information on a daily basis (if they’ve signed up for daily summaries). Remember, you won’t need to include assignment information here because that will already be included in the guardian summaries.
Establish a structure for a daily announcement you’ll send via the Stream. This will give parents information on a daily basis (if they’ve signed up for daily summaries). Remember, you won’t need to include assignment information here because that will already be included in the guardian summaries.
Evidence
Evidence
Please complete this "What? So what? Now what?" summarizer and add it to your Individual Professional Learning Plan.
Please complete this "What? So what? Now what?" summarizer and add it to your Individual Professional Learning Plan.
What? Describe one thing you learned about building connections and communicating with families through Google Classroom.
What? Describe one thing you learned about building connections and communicating with families through Google Classroom.
So what? How will this new learning impact your efforts to build a home-school connection?
So what? How will this new learning impact your efforts to build a home-school connection?
Now what? What next steps will you take to implement your new learning?
Now what? What next steps will you take to implement your new learning?
Special thanks to Anne Reardon for creating this module.
Special thanks to Anne Reardon for creating this module.
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