Parent communication has been a huge learning curve for me this year. Being departmentalized, parents have five different teachers sharing about their classrooms and expectations for students. Finally, in February, I feel like I have really hit my communication groove, and parents have become very responsive- yay! 🙂
So, how do I communicate with parents? Of course I utilize and love the basics – emails, phone calls, conferences, Infinite Campus, and weekly newsletters. I’ve also spiced it up this year with a class blog that focuses on what we are learning in the classroom, as well as, showing exemplary student work. I use a class Twitter page to share small moments or victories from the day, and Remind 101 to share after-school reminders with parents. Today, though, I want to share with you my newest venture…video mini-lessons!
So many times when meeting and talking with parents I’ve heard “We never did this when I was in school.” Families that are genuinely interested in helping their students with homework or to review for a test just do not have the ‘content knowledge’ that we expect in our Common-Core world. Hoping to bridge that gap, I’ve started creating weekly content videos that I add to our class blog and email home.
Before this week, I had been uploading the video from my iPad directly into the class blog/email, but with today’s Snow Day (#9, by the way), I opened my own YouTube channel. Over time, I’ll go back and add my older videos, but for right now, my latest video – Point of View is up and running!
- If students get home and need a re-teach, they have immediate and easy access to me
- Parents always have the opportunity to learn with their child.
- Families know the ‘language’ we are using in the classroom.
- Eventually, these videos will become student-centered as students will take the responsibility for creating them! I am so excited as we transition to this step and students can show what they know!
- Mapping – I make a list of the most important things for my students to know about the topic. If they went home to share about Point of View, what would I want them to share? I make a list of the learning targets, vocabulary words, and any anchor charts I want to share.
- Visuals – What do I want families to see? Honestly, NOT my face – ha. 🙂 I take pictures of any anchor charts, printables, or student work I want to showcase. In the video above, you saw some mini-posters I created in A Beautiful Mess and a class anchor chart.
- Script – I make a brief outline of what I want included in my video. I actually do write the entire thing out, but you definitely could!
- iMovie – Then, I add in my visuals to iMovie, and record my voice.
- Upload to YouTube!
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What a great idea for any grade!
Absolutely, Kristen! Plus, I can see the videos being especially helpful with math. Our kids are learning REALLY different ways to 'prove' their mathematical thinking!
Wow, this is great!!! I love that we can make a video without it being a video of US! I'm with you- I don't want to be in the video! Is it kinds like a "move" with how you zoomed into the posters? Did you have a site that gave you directions on how to do this? I LOVE it!! Awesome idea!!! And, you'll have them forever! Thanks for sharing Catherine!
Amanda
Collaboration Cuties
kinds=kinda and "move" = "movie"
oops! I got too excited!
Hahaha – I LOVE your enthusiasm. Thank you, Amanda! And definitely – no staring in a movie for me -ha! 🙂 I actually did all of it in iMovie. When you upload videos you can choose where to start the focus on the picture and where to end it. I chose my starting and stopping points after I added the audio, so they were mostly synced. It takes a few minutes to fidget with, but after that it is not bad! 🙂
I have done this with subtraction to help the parents understand how we are learning certain strategies. Great blog post!
-Sarah
A Rocky Top Teacher
This is a fabulous way to show parents what is going on in the classroom. I think it would be very helpful for students who are or have been out ill as well. Very impressive! Thank you for sharing.
♬Kay
On the Trail of Learning
Great idea! I'll have to try that, if I have a bit of extra time!
This is what I was looking for. I want to make a movie now! I'm glad I don't have to be in it!:)
Barbara
Fourth and Goal in Fourth Grade
Looove this idea! How perfect- and I love to think that they could be reused year after year {although we all know that they will most likely get changed again and again to make them even better and differentiated for each class because that's how teachers roll} 🙂
XO!
Kelly Anne
What an excellent idea!! I love this and will have to experiment around with it!! Thanks for sharing!!
A Tall Drink of Water
Great idea! I am sure the parents love you! It might take the time now, but you will have these videos for years to come. I made something with sight words for my struggling readers.
Amy
Eclectic Educating
The directions you provided are so easy to follow…you students and parents are lucky to have you for a teacher! Super innovate and keeps parents in the loop! genius my dear.
Rock Stars At Work
Good job! I won't have to make any videos, just follow yours! lol.
You are amazing! I am so impressed with all of the ways you use technology to keep in contact with parents. Keep up the great work! You definitely give us all something to strive for!
Michelle
A New Day of Learning
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