"If you aren't telling your story, someone else is."
I'm not sure who said it first, but I love this quote. It reminds me the importance of PR in the school and from my classroom. It is so hard to not take things personally and be hurt when a parent says something rotten about your school via social media. As the professional teacher, we most often can't say anything and must wait for it to blow over. Throughout the wait, we think, "If you only knew all of the great things that were going on at school every single day!..."
Well, that's our fault. That's been my fault. And I'm ready to do more to tell our story.
Parents want more than just a Friday newsletter with the lunch menu and upcoming events now. Today's young parents are used to having contact or almost 100% access with their kids since birth and then sharing everything they could possibly celebrate through social media. They don't remember a time without cell phones. They sometimes hit Facebook more than ten times each day. They tweet and Instagram while standing in the checkout line of the grocery store. Then, they drop their kiddos off at school, and the alienation begins.
Until recently, I've felt pretty good about myself with class wide communication. I have two teenagers that have kept me fairly up to date so I'm not the last one to know or try something out. I maintain a class website with updated information, photos, videos, projects, etc of my students. There are links for my students to use during free choice computer time at school or at their home. I've used Remind 101 for messaging. I have sent pictures or videos of individual students to parents via text, email, or Drive. But when it comes to sharing what my students are really doing, studying, questioning, and celebrating in our classroom, I barely mention it in my Friday newsletter.
Those newsletters used to be precious. I know the parents expected them, took them from their binders, and had them on their refrigerator before bedtime on Friday night. Over the past couple years I found more and more still in the backpacks on Monday morning, Tuesday morning, Wednesday mor..... Yeah, they didn't seem so valued. I finally got smart and had students just keep them in their binders in see through plastic sleeves for the week, so at least they would know where they are.
According to what I read, sixty percent of adults in America have smart phones. Some studies suggest 96% have access to social media sites, whether it is at home, on a phone, or somewhere else. Yet, less than half of the schools use anything on-line beyond a school website to promote their school and students. We are missing a great opportunity to show off our kids. Their kids! And tell some great stories!
I live in a very rural district. Our free/reduced lunch rate is 93%. I teach second grade. You'd think my young students wouldn't be too savvy about smart phones and social media. Think again!
We wrote this wonderful story as a class last Christmas that proves otherwise.
The Year Santa Lost His Smart Phone
One
Christmas Eve, Santa was loading his toys into his sleigh. He had his smart phone clipped to his black
belt. As Santa sat down, the phone fell
into his sack of toys.
He
called the names of his reindeer as he took off to deliver his presents.
Suddenly, Santa realized his smart phone was missing. He checked his belt. It was not there
He asked Dasher, “Have you seen my smart
phone?”
“No,” said Dasher.
“How will I play my games tonight?” asked
Santa.
He asked Dancer, “Have you seen my smart
phone?”
“No,” said Dancer.
“How will I find the children’s homes without
my GPS?” asked Santa.
He asked Prancer, “Have you seen my smart
phone?”
“No,” said Prancer.
“How can I call Mrs. Claus and tell her
where I am?” asked Santa.
He asked Vixen, “Have you seen my smart
phone?”
“No, said Vixen.
“How can I listen to Christmas music, like
Jingle Bells tonight?” asked Santa.
He asked Comet, “Have you seen my smart
phone?”
“No,” said Comet.
“How can I text the elves and tell them it is
okay to rest?” asked Santa.
He asked Cupid, “Have you seen my smart
phone?”
“No,” said Cupid.
“How will I know who is on my Naughty and
Nice List?” asked Santa.
He asked Donner, “Have you seen my smart
phone?”
“No,” said Donner.
“How will I check the weather?” asked Santa.
He asked Blitzen, “Have you seen my smart
phone?”
“No,” said Blitzen.
“How will I take pictures of all the
reindeer and all the places we visit tonight?”
Santa felt sad. He did not know where his smart phone was and
he did not know what to do.
Finally, he asked Rudolph,
“Rudolph,
with your nose so bright, Won’t
you find my smart phone tonight?”
Rudolph turned around so Santa could see the
sack in the dark. Rudolph’s nose glowed like a flash light. Inside the bag, behind a Jack in the Box,
next to an orange bike and other toys was Santa’s smart phone!
Santa took his phone out of his toy
sack. “Thank you, Rudolph for using your
nose! You saved Christmas!”
Santa got on Facebook and posted:
“Ho! Ho! Ho! Rudolph found my smart
phone! Merry Christmas!”
I've finally created a class Twitter account. I look forward to sharing the news with my students when we return to class after break. We will be excited to share "stories" with our families and other classrooms as we connect.
Who's telling your story?
