We have been using Storypark for the last three years, and it is the most comprehensive and easy to use program I found (I looked and tried lots before deciding). The site
storypark.com offers a free trial for anyone wanting to test it. We are able to publish stories with photos and videos for families, who are also able to post their own photos and stories from home. The parents have full ownership of all of the posts, and even after their child leaves they can keep using it as a family diary. Parents can invite any of their family members to view and have access to the posts of their child. We post stories and then anyone who the parent decides can view it and comment, this leads us to receiving feedback not just from immediate family, but also grandparents, some who live the other side of the world. You can label each post with tags that you create to help you search, and use relevant ones in teacher/parent conferences.
The administrator can make it so all teachers stories get approval first by admin (handy to check what is sent before parents read it), and it has planning features for teachers to use to communicate among themselves. There are many more useful features such as planning and whole school communications. Parents can also post to the school community if they have something they want to share. We have had nothing but excellent feedback from all of our parents and their relatives who all get to feel a little closer to the school because of it.
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Michael Knuckey
Children's House Preschool
Boulder CO
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-30-2017 08:15 AM
From: Fran Simon
Subject: Tell me about what you use for family communications and cngagement software and apps
Hello colleagues!
I'm working on one of my routine scans of early care and education software products, especially those that focus on family engagement and communication. I'm eager to learn what products you all use.
I have compiled a very comprehensive list of products specifically for early education, but I want to hear from users about what you use and like. If you like or hate the software you use, I want to hear about it! Any products that help you improve your work with families and children or help you be more efficient and productive are of interest.
It would be very interesting to hear about experiences with Google or open-source products.
Thanks for your input.
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Fran Simon, M.Ed.
Engagement Strategies, LLC
Early Childhood Investigations Webinars
Early Childhood Investigations Consultants Directory
Washington, DC Metro
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