Smartphones are in most pockets and purses, meaning teachers and administrators can meet students and parents where they are, putting valuable information about the school and classroom in the palms of their hands – literally. If a monthly newsletter is black and white television, tools like Remind, ClassDojo, and social media are Blu-Ray. In this session, Brent shares free, practical, and effective ways to connect students and parents to the amazing things taking place at school.

1. Beyond the Newsletter
Strengthening School -Home
Communication Using Technology
Brent Coley | @brentcoley | BrentColey.com

2. Principal
Alta Murrieta Elementary
Murrieta, CA

3. Yes, I’m aware I
married up.
Yes, I’m
aware the
boys are
going to start
calling.
Yes, I’m aware I
have a Mini-Me.
Yes, it’s
gotten more
gray since
becoming a
principal.

5. It’s been
said
everyone
has a twin.

6. Resources available at
BrentColey.com

8. Are you aware of your
job title?

9. Director of
Public Relations

10. “If you don’t tell your
school’s story, someone
else will. And it won’t be
nearly as interesting,
accurate, or authentic.”
- Matt Renwick
@HowePrincipal

11. The Planned Lifecycle of
a Newsletter

17. The Planned Lifecycle of
a Newsletter

18. The Actual Lifecycle of a
Newsletter

26. and the
final destination…

28. How many of you get your
news from a traditional
newspaper?

29. Photo by Abdullah AL-Naser - Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License http://www.flickr.com/photos/33685308@N00 Created with Haiku Deck
8 Free Tools
(plus one bonus)

30. Photo by B Tal - Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License https://www.flickr.com/photos/68634595@N00 Created with Haiku Deck

32. Social Media

33. How many of you use at
least one of these forms
of social media?

34. How many times a day
do you check for
updates?

35. Use of social media can
instantly put information
into the hands of students
and parents — literally!

36. Schedule Updates in
Facebook, TweetDeck,
and Hootesuite

40. Remind

41. A safe, free way for
teachers to text message
students and stay in
touch with parents
Remind

42. Messaging is one-way
and does not use your
personal cell phone
number.
Remind

43. Send photos,
documents, PDF’s, and
more!
Remind

44. Create separate
“classes.”
(e.g. Period 1, Period 2,
Parents, Leadership
Team)
Remind

45. Messages can be
scheduled!
Remind

46. “Chat” is coming soon!
The option of safe,
simple, one-on-one
conversations
Remind

47. App available for both
iOS and Android!
Remind

49. Text @brentc
to
81010
Remind

50. Class Dojo

51. Class Dojo
A real-time behavioral
management and skill
tracking tool.

52. Class Dojo
Reinforce positive
behavior and skills by
giving feedback points.

53. Class Dojo
Quick to set up, easy to
use, and completely
free!

54. Class Dojo
Share real-time data with
parents quickly and
easily.

55. Class Dojo
Send whole-class
broadcasts to parents or
individual messages.

56. Class Dojo
A great way to track IEP
goals!

61. Google Forms

62. Google Forms
An online form that
neatly organizes results
into a spreadsheet

63. Google Forms
Spreadsheet results can
be shared with others.

64. Google Forms
Forms for Feedback
(“Mini-Flipping”)

66. Google Forms
Parent Contact Log

68. Google Forms
Parent/Student
Feedback

71. Google Forms
Tutorial videos available
at BrentColey.com

72. Video Messages

73. Video Messages
Would you rather…?
A. Read an update
B. Watch a video update

74. Video Messages
Many students and
parents are more likely
to watch than read what
you have to say.

75. Video Messages

78. Video Messages
Prefer not to be on
camera? Use
Screencast-O-Matic to
capture a PowerPoint,
Keynote or Google
Slides presentation.

79. Blogging

80. Blogging
“What did you do at
school today?”

81. Blogging
“Nothing.”

82. Blogging
Roving Reporters
mrcoley.com/blog

85. Blogging
Are you blogging?

86. Google Voice

87. Google Voice
Don’t want to give your
students or parents your
personal cell phone
number?

88. Google Voice
Neither do I.
That’s where Google
Voice comes in.

89. Google Voice
Google Voice gives you
a phone number that you
can give to students
and/or parents in case of
emergency.

90. Google Voice
You determine which
phone will ring.

91. Google Voice
You can take the call or
let it go to voicemail.

92. Google Voice
You get a transcription
of voicemail (plus the
audio).

93. Google Voice
App available for both
iOS and Android!

94. Class Website

95. Weebly
Simple yet powerful
drag-and-drop website
creation

96. Weebly
Education version that
offers student accounts
education.weebly.com

97. Photo by hfabulous - Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License https://www.flickr.com/photos/14816925@N00 Created with Haiku Deck

98. iMovie Trailers

99. iMovie Trailers
Use built-in movie trailer
templates to promote
what you’re doing in
your classroom or
school.

100. iMovie Trailers

101. Slides and additional resources
available at:
BrentColey.com
@brentcoley