What is classroom messaging?
Classroom messaging refers to any digital communications between the teacher and parents of students within the classroom, as well as between teachers and the students themselves. Classroom messaging typically takes place within a dedicated piece of classroom management software or a more comprehensive educational software solution, like a classroom management software or a K-12 student information system containing classroom messaging capabilities.
Classroom messaging is widely used within the education sector, particularly within the K-12 environment, to provide an open communication channel between teachers and their students' parents. Classroom messaging may take place via text messages, emails, or parent portals.
Benefits of using classroom messaging
Teachers use classroom messaging solutions to give parents more information regarding their children’s activities, homework, assessments, field trips, and more.
- Improved communication: Improves communication between parents and teachers, allowing teachers to provide more insight into their students’ progress and give timely updates on developments within the classroom that a parent might otherwise not have access to.
- Real-time messages: Classroom messaging allows teachers to communicate with parents in real time, which is important for timely updates and notifications. Classroom messaging removes the communication barriers between educators and parents.
- Increased parent engagement: Parents with more real-time insight into their children’s progress will be more engaged in ensuring their child is successful in the classroom.
- Multi-platform message syncing: Classroom messaging allows teachers to write a message once and send it out across multiple communications channels.
Basic elements of classroom messaging
The basic elements of classroom messaging in an education environment can vary, but a complete classroom messaging tool will include the following elements:
- Multiple communication channels: Comprehensive classroom messaging involves multiple communication channels. These channels include email, text messaging, and push notifications direct to mobile devices. Most classroom messaging solutions also provide the ability to send multimedia communications instead of simple text-based messages.
- Parent portal: Most classroom messaging tools contain parent portals designed so that parents have a single place to communicate with the teacher. Depending on how a specific school or teacher uses classroom messaging, parents may have access to documents relevant to their children via the portal.
- Two-way communication: Classroom messaging allows parents to communicate with teachers and vice versa.
Classroom messaging best practices
In order to make classroom messaging work well, follow these best practices:
- Clear usage guidelines: When introducing a new line of communication in any environment, providing clear guidelines outlining the purpose of the communication channel and acceptable use is key, but it is particularly important when implementing classroom messaging. Classroom communications can go through various channels, so ensuring each party understands the right place for each type of communication is vital.
- Outline confidential information: Teachers and administrators using classroom messaging tools need to know what information they can and cannot share with the parties they communicate with. Be aware of the specific regulations laid out in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Classroom messaging vs. classroom management
Classroom management is a broader term that encompasses classroom messaging. Classroom messaging refers only to the communications aspect of classroom management, while the latter refers to everything that happens within the classroom. Classroom management is a concept (how teachers manage their classrooms) and a type of software (solutions that manage student devices, foster in-class discussions, provide real-time assessments, and a host of other capabilities).
Patrick Szakiel
Patrick is a Senior Market Research Manager and Senior Analyst (Fintech and Legaltech) at G2. Prior to G2, he worked in a variety of roles, from sales to marketing to teaching, but he enjoys the opportunity to constantly learn and grow that the tech industry provides. Outside of work, Patrick enjoys reading, writing, traveling, jiu-jitsu, playing guitar, and hiking.
