One of my newest discoveries on the net that has me really excited is remind101.com! Remind101 is a site that offers teachers an easy way to send text message reminders to both parents and students. The service allows them to register for your updates, and keeps theirs (and your) cell phone numbers private. When you need to send out a reminder, all you have to do it log on to the site, and enter your text.
While I just discovered this service, I can see myself using it to remind parents about upcoming events at school. In terms of technology, it is more common for parents to have a cell phone that does text messaging than it is for them to have a computer with an Internet connection. It is our responsibility as educators to ensure that parents can get reminders in a convenient manner. Think of the up to the minute info you could share that a traditional newsletter doesn't allow you to do...
The other great feature that it offers is the ability to pre-plan texts to be sent on a specific day. The possibilities are endless for this feature! You could remind parents of field trips right before they happen, and you don't have to remember to send out the reminder.
It's simple, it's a very simple interface, and the best part is that it is FREE! Go check it out! I would love to hear how you could see this used in a classroom...
