Kid President

This little guy has wisdom beyond his years and some important words to remember as we speed through our daily life. Something to maybe share with your students when times are hard...

DY spk my lingo? (Do you speak my language?)

Communication is not effective unless it is relevant to both parties involved. It seems like a simple concept, but let's explore the word "relevant", do we mean the message is relevant or the method of communication is relevant? I would propose that it means both, I have to care about what you have to say and you need to say it in a way that makes sense to me. Here is my latest attempt at Teacher-Student and Teacher-Parent education, the sms message.

For those of us born before 1990, "sms" or short messaging services are what are known as "texts". We are all familiar with texts, texts are why students sit in class looking at their lap and laughing, it's not because they just wet their pants. Text messaging is seen by most teachers to be a scourge to the classroom but I've found one  point of redemption that I wanted to share.

Text messaging is not exclusive to cell phones. You can communicate using text messages between cell phones and email accounts. This means, as a teacher, if I spend one day setting up my email right, then I can spend the rest of the semester sending text messages about homework reminders and other important classroom information.

Step One: Getting the Digits - You would be surprised but most students love the idea of receiving text messages from their teacher. I had students fill out a card with their cell phone and wireless carrier and entered in numbers by hand, but since I have found an easier way! It goes like this...

• Teacher: "Get out your cell phones and compose a new text message."
• Students: "Really? Is this a trick?"
• Teacher: "No it's not a trick! For the phone number type in my email address that is listed on the board. For the body of the text type in your first name, last name, and period number, then send me the message."

Step Two: Organization - You will receive an email message for each text. Save each number as an email address using the name and period from the text. Now you can build groups of "all students" or "period 2 students" or you can go through and message all failing students that they need to come to tutoring.

Step Three: The Parents - At open house or parent night, invite your students' parents to do the same thing. Who wouldn't like to get a text from their son's teacher that he has a test on Friday and should be studying?

So please, try out this fun for of communicating with your students, and let me know what you think!

Here are email extensions for phone numbers by carrier...

• Alltel                @message.alltel.com
• AT&T               @txt.att.net
• Cricket             @sms.mycricket.com
• Nextel              @messaging.nextel.com
• Sprint               @messaging.sprintpcs.com
• SunCom           @tms.suncom.com
• T-mobile          @tmomail.net
• Verizon            @vtext.com
• Virgin              @vmobl.com
• VoiceStream   @voicestream.net
• Boost               @myboostmobile.com

For example: If my phone number was 1234567890 and my carrier was AT&T, then my email address is just 1234567890@txt.att.net