I ❤️ ClassTag because…

Parent & Family engagement is more important now than it ever has been before. With schools opening back up to students and families, as educators, we need to ensure that we are keeping our families in the loop. During the pandemic, families had no choice but to dig in often as the “co-teacher” in their student’s education. Due to this shift in education, parents got to know their child as a learner and they also got to know just how hard teachers have to work. This has allowed for the parent/teacher partnership to become even stronger than it ever has before. We want to keep that same energy. I ❤️ ClassTag because with them we can!

Use ClassTag to boost Family Engagement

ClassTag is a FREE app that connects teachers and families with one easy-to-use app for all communication needs! I ❤️ ClassTag because it knows the importance of building relationships with families through constant and consistent communication in an easy-to-use way! Teachers do not have a lot of time on their hands, especially with the previous year they have had. But they know and realize the importance of making time to communicate with their partners in education–the families of their students. With ClassTag, it allows for teachers and families to communicate in 60 different languages! That’s one of the many amazing parent engagement features. It’s perfect for connecting with families throughout the entire year.

Share Weekly Newsletters

I ❤️ ClassTag because teachers can send class messages sharing their weekly or monthly newsletters through ClassTag. Parents will be able to read and see what is happening in the classroom by the teacher sharing a newsletter through the ClassTag app! Newsletters allow parents/families to know what is being taught to their students. It also allows for parents to stay tuned into the day-to-day at school. ClassTag allows parents to respond or ask questions when the newsletter is posted and the teacher will be able to communicate promptly as well. This seemingly small communication piece helps to build connections and relationships with parents/families–the partners in education.

Share Learning In Action

I ❤️ ClassTag because teachers can also share videos of your class learning in action and photos of students learning! Especially with students being out of the building this past year, parents/families want to continue to be a part of all things education. With ClassTag you can continue that partnership! It allows teachers to continue to build a bridge with families. Using ClassTag to engage families in their child’s education helps to create and maintain that partnership. 

One Stop Shop for School Supplies

I ❤️ ClassTag because creating supply lists with your favorite brands is so simple and helps teachers throughout the year! It helps parents streamline their back-to-school shopping and get the exact supplies needed without overspending! It helps teachers to choose their favorite brands and it makes a difference because every purchase made by a parent will be rewarded with a donation to a children nonprofit! 

With ClassTag it allows for communication with parents/families to be done easily and seamlessly. We want to ensure that we continue to allow parents to be partners in education. I ❤️ ClassTag because they make building relationships and communicating with families easier.

Call me cray cray 😜! The teachers at my school know I can be a little cray cray about my passion—teaching, learning and coaching. But it’s all good! I 💜 what I do!

One of my many joys in education is hosting an annual book study at my school. I pull out the bells and whistles for this because:

🐝 I get excited about being in community with mixed grade levels & specialized jobs at our school. We don’t get that chance often.

🐝 I 💜 learning and growing together in community.

🐝 It’s optional AND it’s after school. So teachers choose to learn more even on their own time. However, there is NEVER any judgment if teachers opt out. That is their business and they have worked hard during their work day (even pre-COVID). I get it. Saying no is a full sentence. I respect that.

🐝 So I live for a good room transformation from time to time. So I’m excited to do a mini-book study transformation with a few snacks, lots of chocolate and soda, juice and water. I mean what is a book study with those items?

I’m pumped. The theme is sweet as honey 🍯 to go along with the bee/honeycomb theme 🐝 of this book by @jenniferserravallo! We are ready!

🍯 Plus, this book has a book study guide that goes with the book created by Molly Wood who is on @jenniferserravallo ‘s team. She’s awesome and the study guide provides deep thought and discussion that s can an help with the study. I usually have to create my own. I will link it in my stories in case you are interested. 🐝

-LTB 🖤🐝🍯

This is my it’s okay, Nita face. 😜 I had some unrealistic goals set for myself yesterday. I wanted to finish 20 feedback forms for teachers in 4 hours. 🙂🙃

Backstory:
If you haven’t been watching my stories here’s the deal. I’ve been training part of last year and all this year on the F&P Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) which is a running record, along with assessment of fluency, reading rate, comprehension , etc. We have practiced with kiddos and I’ve gone in some classrooms with teachers & students and coached alongside them as well.

Now I’m giving some feedback on the forms completed at first glance as if I’m next years teacher opening up the folder and getting them. I had a lofty goal. BUT It wasn’t very S. M. A. R. T. 😜😂

S-Specific ✔️ I was very specific in my goal setting.

M-Measurable ✔️ Yup. I had my feedback forms and the number of teachers I completed and didn’t. 🤷🏽‍♀️

A-Attainable ❓Now here come the question mark. There are times when I’m juggling a few balls in the air. I had to prioritize and I had to push the pause button on the forms to juggle something else that took precedence. Not that one was more important than the other, but I had to prioritize. That happens. 👍🏽

R-Relevant ✔️ Most definitely relevant. However, if I want the feedback to be meaningful and helpful to teachers, I have to slow down a bit and take my time to provide meaningful feedback for them to take away with. Not just a rush job. Feel me?

T-Time-Based 🧐 I definitely had a deadline, however, it had to be altered because it wasn’t realistic. It was a lofty goal, but not realistic with everything else I had going on.

Lesson here is this:
Make your goals. Set them. But many, many times we have to readjust, replan, think through it again, & alter them—and that is OKAY. Give yourself GRACE, adjust your goals—then CRUSH them—CRUSH them MEANINGFULLY! 🙌🏽

You got this!

-LTB 💕