One of the most common complaints parents have is about the lack of communication with their children and teachers.
Classroom
What is SchoolNotes?
One of the most common complaints parents have is about the lack of communication with their children and teachers.
As a teacher, this can be frustrating. There are only so many letters and emails that can be sent, and many of these are ignored or forgotten, leaving teachers at a loss for improving communication with parents and students. Enter SchoolNotes. What is SchoolNotes? How does it improve communication? We answer these questions and more below!
Education resources
Why was SchoolNotes created?
Introduced in 1998, SchoolNotes began as a website that published free, original content for educators. In 2006, after a merger with Education World, SchoolNotes was developed into a highly effective and useful communication tool. The merger combined the databases of the two establishments, giving users access to a high number of quality lesson plans, educational resources, and other tools for teaching.
How does SchoolNotes work?
The free version of SchoolNotes is very straightforward to use. Through the SchoolNotes website, teachers can leave messages in a text box, post-school calendars, and links to homework assignments, ensuring all the information a parent or child needs can be found conveniently.
An overview of SchoolNotes features
- Free online storage for teachers to upload and store important documents and images
- A database of tools and learning materials
- Online calendar tool to keep parents updated with class events
- A notification system that alerts parents to any classroom updates
- Links to homework and assignments (so you never have to hear the ‘I forgot what it was’ excuse again!)
For teachers
A dedicated section of the website for teachers provides multiple communication tools and access to multiple resources. Resources include everything from lesson plans and classroom games to how to include technology in your classroom.
For students
Students can easily find relevant information using the ‘find your teacher’ search function. The student’s page also has fun activities and information targeted at students, such as math games and printable facts. The student resources can be great starting points for homework or other research projects.
For parents
Parents using the SchoolNotes website will undoubtedly find the page dedicated to parents extremely useful. The parent’s page is full of helpful information such as ‘parent pointers’, which are short parenting tips covering everything from communicating better with your child to getting more involved in your child’s education.
Advantages of SchoolNotes
- Reduce paper and physical resources, as information and assignments can be shared and completed online.
- It can be accessed from any device connected to the internet so all children/parents can use the website (e.g., families without a computer can access the website at their local library)
- Home to a certificate-building tool that can reward students for good behavior and academic success.
Any drawbacks?
The primary drawback of SchoolNotes is that although the website is predominately free, some features are only available for a $24.95 yearly subscription. Premium features include an ad-free website and a customizable banner.
Final opinion
SchoolNotes is a straightforward, easy-to-use website that offers easy communication between parents, students, and teachers and multiple users’ quality resources. Although some features are only available through a subscription fee, the main body of the website is free to use and, therefore, great value. Would you like to see better communication in your school or classroom? If yes, SchoolNotes may be the perfect tool for you! Let us know about your experiences with the website in the comments below…
