TOP PICKS | 15 TOOLS
Best Messaging Apps and Websites for Students, Teachers, and Parents
Top Picks
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ParentSquare
Versatile communication tool fosters parent engagement and involvement
Bottom line: A convenient way to help schools streamline communication among administrators, support staff, teachers, and parents.
Remind
Teachers' text reminders keep students -- and parents -- up to speed
Bottom line: Well-designed, highly effective messaging tool has the potential to keep students and families connected with their schools.
SchoolCNXT
Stellar translation, speech features boost parent-teacher messenger
Bottom line: If your school or district makes the investment, this is a neat and accessible way to keep parents engaged.
Sesame
Portfolio and communication tool makes formative assessment a snap
Bottom line: A useful way for teachers, students, and parents to monitor progress and demonstrate holistic evidence of learning.
TalkingPoints
Basic multilingual texting tool enhances school-to-home communication
Bottom line: Easy-to-use tool for supporting communication and engagement with families in any of 20 languages.
ClassDojo
Handy management and portfolio tool can promote student growth
Bottom line: With thoughtful implementation, it can help teachers and parents support students' growth through goal-setting, feedback, and celebration.
Bloomz
Full-featured parent-teacher communication platform
Bottom line: Provided all parents have access, Bloomz can be a great way to get them involved.
ClassTag
Flexible user-friendly tool gets parents and teachers in sync
Bottom line: A fabulous way to coordinate the little sign-ups that make a big difference.
Heard
Parent communication and resource-sharing tool keeps families engaged
Bottom line: With a mindful onboarding process, Heard has great potential to be a go-to tool for parent involvement and community building.
Otus
Free LMS feels rich in offering data-driven differentiated instruction
Bottom line: This teacher-created site solves more problems than it causes, but it will take some up-front professional development to take full advantage.
Seesaw: The Learning Journal
Versatile digital portfolio appeals to teachers, students, and parents
Bottom line: A powerful multimedia learning and communication tool that demonstrates student progress over time.
FreshGrade
A fresh way to capture, document, and share student learning
Bottom line: Multimedia documentation tools help communicate learning and expand assessment, and the addition of a gradebook sets this tool apart; still, student experience could use some polish.
Schoology
Top-tier LMS for digital classrooms
Bottom line: To make the most of Schoology, you'll need some ramp-up time and great tasks and assessments, but it can offer rich learning and collaboration experiences.
Athena's Workshop
Texting platform for students, parents, has extra classroom features
Bottom line: With creative use, this robust platform could help close the gap between in- and out-of-classroom learning.
Teachers.io
Organizational tool helps teachers plan, communicate with students
Bottom line: Scheduling solution for teachers is at its best when used alongside student homework app.
