I have never seen an easier to use website for teachers. You go to www.remind101.com and sign up for your free account. You can do this safely and it offers a way to text parents without giving them your personal phone number. The number you receive is an actual phone number but the parents can only sign up to receive your messages. Messages are one-way, so parents and students cannot reply directly.
Once you get your account set up, it even gives you a handout you can send home to get parents and students to sign up.
While many people still claim not to have a computer with internet at home, nearly all parents and many students have cell phones. Most people carry their cell phone at all times. This is why this is such a powerful tool.
Another great feature of Remind 101 is that you can schedule messages for a later date. I like to sit down and schedule several messages for the week and then I don't have to worry about doing it every night.
As a parent as well as a teacher, I love Remind 101. My daughters' school uses it and it keeps me informed of what is coming up. They also can sign up and get the messages on their own phone. I like it so much more than an email.
Finally, it is device friendly. It works on all cell phones that have basic texting. You don't need a fancy smartphone or computer to use it. There is an app available for iPad, iPhone, or Android. The parents don't need the app to receive messages, but it is handy for the teacher so you can send messages from your mobile device to them.
In conclusion, if you aren't using this service you need to start. Your parents will appreciate it and you will find your students more prepared than they ever have been. Check it out today!!