Many teachers find it challenging to communicate effectively with their students and their families. Remind is a safe and straightforward communication and classroom management platform that makes it easy for parents to stay connected with their student’s classes or athletic teams and for teachers to effortlessly convey school updates to their classes and their families.  In this SmartSocial app guide, you will learn what the Remind app is and how it works, if there are any potential dangers to the app, and the important settings to configure within the app.

What is Remind?

• Remind is a communication platform that is designed for schools, teachers, or group leaders to relay information to their students and their parents through one app
• Teachers can send out a unique class code that allows parents or students to join the class or group through the app.  Users cannot join the groups without the code
• Although the app is free to use, there are additional features that require fees such as the Remind Tutoring Services or a Hub for administrators

What can parents & educators do?

• When a teacher sends home a class code, parents should join the class through the app to ensure they are able to communicate with the teacher
• Adjust notification preferences to make sure you are not missing any important announcements
• Advise students to make sure they recognize the class owner or teacher before joining a group.  If they join the wrong class by mistake, they have the option to remove themselves from the group at any time
• Discuss with your students that the messages are never edited or deleted and that any user can report another user on the platform for behavior that violates the Remind community guidelines or anti-bullying policy (Source: Remind.com)

Additional information about Remind

• Teachers or other group activity leaders can use Remind independently with their classes or an entire school can sign up for a Hub membership which allows school administrators oversight and expanded features (Source: Remind)
• Teachers, students, and parents can communicate without having to share personal contact information
• Users can connect with multiple classes, groups, or entire organizations within the same platform
• Users can select a language other than English and messages will automatically translate  into the preferred language
• Remind’s Terms of Service state that children under 18 years old must have their parent’s permission before using the app
• Users have the ability to message a single user or an entire class either allowing the whole group to view all replies, or only allowing members to see their own replies
• Remind allows users to share files, links, and photos and other apps, such as Google Drive or Canvas, can be integrated for collaboration

What is Remind rated?

Apple App Store: 4+

Google Play Store: E (Everyone)

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Available on iOS, Android, or www.remind.com

Privacy/Setting recommendations

How to adjust notification preferences

• Tap gear icon
• Tap “Notifications”
• Select the methods you want to be notified with new posts

What others are saying

Remind seems like such great idea. It opens the lines of communication between teachers and parents. Parents can be held accountable for knowing what is coming up such as due dates, quizzes and tests. Parents can also get involved in the academic experience of their children. Now that technology is literally in the hands of almost every student in some areas, sending reminders to each individual ensures that your reminder will not be unseen. This app is also a very safe way to communicate with students. A code is utilized which prevents individuals from sharing actual phone numbers. Also, conversations are saved which eliminates inappropriate usage of messaging! All in all, it is incredibly innovative and useful in any classroom setting! - Callum, Teacher, Common Sense Media review

Why do teens want to be on Remind

• Many teachers will set up a class group and send test and assignment reminders through the app
• Remind can be a great and easy way for students to send real time messages directly to their teacher
• Teens would rather check a text message as opposed to an email from their teacher or club

Conclusion

Technology can help teachers, students, and parents stay connected on important news and events.  Remind is a safe and effective communication tool that can be used by entire schools or individual teachers or coaches to stay connected with their classes or teams and their parents.