Twitter for School-Parent Groups
This is our third post in a series on building active school-parent communities using social media. Last week we shared great power tips for using facebook to engage parents. Today, we take on 140 Characters...Twitter!
One of the key goals of PTA is to cultivate involved and informed parents who understand the challenges schools face and become part of the solution. Twitter provides a real-time opportunity to engage parents and build community. If you're totally new to Twitter, please checkout these Twitter Basics.
10 Twitter Power Tips!
1. Personalize your group’s Twitter account.
Keep your Twitter handle as short and simple as possible - Twitter messages are limited to 140 characters and your Twitter handle counts. E.g. East Fielding High School becomes @EFHS or @EFHSPTA. {In the example below, @CedarElem would save 6 characters and still be very recognizable.}
Add a recognizable avatar (icon) such as the school mascot.
2. Invite parents to 'follow' your school on Twitter.
Once you've established a Twitter account for your school/parent-group, promote it in your school newsletter and website. Ask your parents to show their school sprit by following the school account on Twitter! Here's a terrific downloadable Twitter Information Handout for you to customize with your school account information courtesy of Teach Mama.
Add a ‘Follow Me’ button on your school website.
Post large signs with the Twitter address {and facebook address} at school events like football games, carnivals, and Open House.
3. Assign a parent liaison to tweet for your PTA/school.
Ideally this is someone who spends a good deal of time on Twitter already for fun or for work.
4. Ask parents to "Text to Follow" your Twitter account to receive important updates.
Parents can receive Tweets on their phone even if they haven’t signed up for Twitter. For example, let’s say you want to get Tweets from West Hills Elementary (@WHillsElem). Just text ‘follow WHillsElem’ to 40404 in the US.
Text to follow can be used by schools to alert parents of important information like bus delays and bad weather cancellations. Teachers with class Twitter accounts can notify parents of homework assignments and class happenings.
5. Follow parents and students back.
When someone from your school community follows your Twitter account, follow back. It’s a terrific way to keep a pulse on what’s happening in the community and you may pick up great feedback and ideas for the school or parent-group in the process.
6. Tweet school announcements but be mindful of privacy.
Twitter is a very public platform. It’s a great place to announce school events, school board meetings, share news and awards, and publicly recognize teachers and volunteers. Be mindful NOT to tweet sensitive information like locations of field trips, student names and photos, etc.
7. Make calls for volunteers and donations specific and actionable.
When asking for volunteers, use a VolunteerSpot signup link so volunteers make a formal commitment, e.g.:
We need helping hands to paint the stadium concessions stands on Saturday – please sign up! <link> #GetUrHotDogsHere! #GoReds!
We've almost hit r Spring Fundraiser Goal - please contribute 2day and help us buy 4 more interactive white boards! <link>
8. Follow local news and community groups.
This helps you keep up-to-date of important happenings (like weather, traffic alerts and community events), and provides good content to share with your community by re-tweeting (RT).
9. Be authentic and relevant.
Build your community by interacting with your parents online. Ask questions, share relevant content on parenting and education topics and have fun! (Always check a link before re-tweeting it from someone else and always give credit! EE.g. ‘via @PTAeditor’ or Thx @SchoolFamily!)
10. Remember, not all parents are on Twitter.
Use this community tool as supplemental communication for your school/parent group. Don't assume announcements are received or make big decisions based on the feedback of your school's Twitter followers.
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