The Best Family Communication Platforms for Teachers and Schools

Though TalkingPoints doesn't have all of the extras you'll find in some other tools, it delivers the essentials effectively and is 100% free. You can get started quickly by importing rosters with Google Classroom integration. The onboarding leads both teachers and families through each step, and participants can join via SMS or code. Translation is a core feature and you also can send closed-captioned videos. TalkingPoints also allows for up to five contacts per student, and the student themself. One drawback: there are only "male" and "female" gender options, which won't work for some students. Like most of the platforms we tested, TalkingPoints allows teachers to send messages to individuals or the whole class, send all types of media and polls, set office hours, schedule messages, and create templates. There's also an analytics section to keep track of family engagement data.

Like TalkingPoints, Remind focuses on messaging: It doesn't have a lot of event coordination or behavior management features. Though its onboarding process isn't quite as friendlyTalkingPoints, Remind Chat is free for parents and teachers and provides a 140 character limit on messages. The app also lets you send voice memos, which is handy for communicating with caregivers who prefer audio. The interface is clean and simple, and it offers translations for lots of languages. What sets Remind apart are some small, but very useful, features. For instance, there's a Files section which stores documents right on the platform. Also, there's a place to add a private note -- that's for your eyes only -- which is helpful for any accommodations or personalized information. Finally, like TalkingPoints, Remind feels age-neutral.

If your classroom or school needs messaging; coordination tools; student portfolios, behavior management features, and even a way to check kids' health, Bloomz might just be what you need. Though it overlaps with other platforms on many fronts, it has a look and feel that works for all ages while also letting older students take on more responsibility for themselves. Unlike most other platform -- Seesaw being an exception -- Bloomz also offers screencasting. Like ClassDojo, Bloomz lets teachers track attendance, create student groups, and set class goals. The biggest drawback is that some features are visible but only available if you upgrade to a paid account. For some, Bloomz will actually have too many features, but if you're looking for a comprehensive communication tool, look no further.

Seesaw lets you share students' work and progress in real time, alongside messages for families. Although Seesaw could feasibly work for all grades, it's best suited to the kinds of things students in pre-K through third grade do most often: shorter assignments or visual student work. Keeping parents in the loop and sharing students' work can spark important discussions, and students can share their learning via files, photos, videos, and drawings. Students can even add to their portfolios themselves, which can help them develop their ownership and agency.

Although other platforms have behavior management features, ClassDojo was the original in this category. Alongside elements like behavior reporting, class goals, and even student group creation, ClassDojo brings a few unique items to the table. While short SEL lessons might not immediately seem like they contribute to classroom management, ClassDojo's Big Ideas mini activities around topics like "teamwork," "goal setting," and "courage" offer great opportunities to reflect on your class's goals or behavior. In addition to the student-group creator, the app also includes music, a timer, a noise meter, and a random student selector, among other features. So, even if the idea of awarding points for student behavior isn't your cup of tea, the other elements might be helpful -- or even fun -- tools for your elementary school classroom.

ParentSquare is like the serious, more practical older sibling on this list. It's less about showcasing student work and personal messages, and more about managing communication at the whole-school level. In fact, individual teachers can't set up a ParentSquare account on their own -- everything has to be associated with a paid school-wide account. But, if this is the solution your school or district uses, you have a lot of options, including the convenience of sending and submitting forms through the app. Parents can fill out forms, submit payments, and take surveys all in one.