Platform #1- Parent Square
Parent Square is an app that allows parents and teachers to message each other on a safe platform. Parent Square makes it easier for parents to communicate parents and other school staff without having to call anyone. School staff can send out posts to parents showing what students have done that day or reminding them of upcoming events. Parent Square also has a translation feature that will translate what the teacher posts into the language spoken at home to help bridge communication gaps with ELL Parents. Open lines of communication help the school community and remove barriers that keep parents from reaching out to educators. Parents do need internet or cell phone service to use Parent Square on their phone or computer. (ParentSquare)
Platform #2 School Tool
School Tool is a website that allows teachers to take attendance, give referrals, look at IEPs, and put in grades. Allowing students to see their grades on the school tool gives them the ability to take responsibility for their grades. They can look and see what they are missing and need to either turn in or complete. It also allows parent to check their students' grades and help them see what they are missing, so it is not a surprise at the end of their semester.
Both of these websites I use a a teacher daily. I personally think that Parent Square has revolutionized how we communicate with parents. It can be a good and bad thing. I do see how boundaries can be a struggle while using these apps, but I also think it is a really good way to bond with families. I teach an 8:1:1 with only 5 students in it, so I usually have the extra time to communicate with parents and build that relationship.
I also struggled finding data on how these websites have impacted the education that did not come from the websites themselves, and we more of an ad than an actual study.
“School District Adopts Parentsquare to Eliminate Communication Disparities.” ParentSquare, 5 July 2024, www.parentsquare.com/case-studies/sunnybrook/.
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