5 Ways to Get Families Engaged in the Classroom

Evidence shows that families want positive news about their children’s schooling. Positive, encouraging messages are key to fostering family engagement, which in turn boosts student attendance and performance. Frequent, yet unobtrusive, communications can keep families up to speed —and excited— with classroom activities.

This blog explores five strategies to keep families engaged at the classroom level.

1. Send a Meet-the-Teacher Message at the Start of the School Year

First impressions matter. Sending a friendly, introductory message at the start of the school year sets a positive tone for communication with families. Teachers can use this opportunity to introduce themselves, share how to get in contact, and outline expectations for the year.

• Why it works: It establishes a direct line of communication from the get-go and helps build trust.
• Pro tip: Use SchoolStatus Connect to send personalized messages via SMS, email, or phone calls in the family’s preferred language.

2. Share Updates on School Activities and Assignments in the Classroom Feed

Keep families in the loop by regularly updating the Classroom Feed with information about upcoming activities, assignments, and classroom news. This keeps families informed and makes them feel like part of the learning process, and prevents miscommunication headaches.

• Why it works: Regular updates keep families engaged and aware of what’s happening in the classroom, making it easier for them to know how to support their children.
• Pro tip: Use SchoolStatus Connect Classroom Feed for seamless updates that can be easily accessed by all families.

3. Create a Class Newsletter with Smore

A monthly or bi-weekly class newsletter can be a great way to summarize recent activities and inform families about upcoming events. Tools like Smore make it easy to create visually appealing newsletters that families will look forward to reading.

• Why it works: Newsletters provide a comprehensive overview of classroom happenings and can include photos, student highlights, and important dates.
• Pro tip: Include interactive elements like links to digital sign-up forms to make the newsletter more engaging. Smore newsletters make it easy to add interactive elements to your newsletter.

4. Make Volunteering Sign-Ups Easy with Digital Forms through Forms & Flows

Encourage family involvement by simplifying the process for signing up for volunteer opportunities. Piles of paper sign-up forms can take up time and and attention. Automating reminders and confirmations ensures volunteers are informed and ready for their roles.

• Why it works: Simplified sign-ups remove barriers to participation, increasing the likelihood of family involvement in classroom activities.
• Pro tip: Digital forms can simplify school tasks beyond permission slips. Use SchoolStatus Forms & Flows to streamline processes like equipment and facility requests.

5. Stay Connected with One-to-One Conversations

Sometimes, direct outreach is the most effective way to engage families. Regular one-to-one conversations can address specific concerns, celebrate student achievements, and build a strong partnership between educators and families.

• Why it works: Personalized interactions show families that you care about their child’s success and are willing to invest time in their education.
• Pro tip: Use SchoolStatus to keep a digital log of all communications. This ensures consistency and allows you to reference past conversations as needed.

Build Connections Around Your Classrooms

Engaging families in the classroom is essential for student success. These five strategies can help you build a strong connection with families, making them active participants in their child’s education. With tools like SchoolStatus, you can create a school environment where communication is seamless, efficient, and impactful.

Ready to take your family engagement to the next level? Book a call with one of our SchoolStatus experts today to learn more about how our solutions can support your classroom communication goals.