Getting Started With Remind

[Original Article - https://www.remind.com/resources/teacher-onboarding-guide ]

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the following steps:

Step 1: Set up your teacher account
Step 2: Set up your classes
Step 3: Send your first message
Step 4: Set expectations
Step 5: Get creative!

It’s a simple process, but we’ve put together how-tos, tips, and other resources for using Remind in your classroom—so let's dive right in.

P.S. In this guide, certain steps will depend on whether your school is rostering, or syncing Remind with your school information system. If so, no need to create an account and classes; just check your school email address for instructions!

Step 1: Set up your teacher account

[Estimated time: 15 min]

Before you hop on Remind, we recommend watching our short video introduction to teacher accounts. (We promise it’s worth the eight minutes.)

All about teacher accounts (video)

If your school is rostering, check your school email for instructions on how to log in and claim your account.

Claim your rostered account

Otherwise, create a new account—if you don't have one already—and link it to your school.

TIP: Two accounts aren’t better than one

If you’ve used Remind in the past and think you might have multiple accounts, make sure to merge them so everything lives in the same place.

Once you’ve logged in, go to your account preferences to choose how you’d like to get message notifications.

Set your personal notification preferences

And finally, don’t forget to set your office hours so students and parents know the best times to reach you.

Set your office hours

Step 2: Set up your classes

[Estimated time: 30 min]

Getting your classes up and running takes just a few minutes. If your school is rostering, keep an eye out for an email about claiming your classes.

Claim a rostered class

Otherwise, here’s how to create a class from scratch:

TIP: Not seeing longer messages or increased class sizes yet? Link your class to your school.

If you’re creating your own classes, make sure they’re linked to your school so you have access to the features that come with the Remind plan.

From your class settings, you can also update your class code to make it easier for parents and students to remember.

Change a class code

Step 3: Send your first message

[Estimated time: 5 min]

Now that you have your classes set up, you’re ready to send out your first message. When you’re composing messages, keep these guidelines in mind to make the biggest impact.

How to craft an effective message

Need some inspiration for your welcome message? We’ve put together some message templates that you can customize for your class.

Welcome message templates

After you send a message, you can always check the delivery summary to see who’s received—and read—it.

See your message delivery summary

Step 4: Set expectations for communication

[Estimated time: 1 hour to 1 week]

An important part of building a positive Remind culture is letting your class know what to expect, so take the time to think through what you want communication to look like for your classroom.

We’ve put together a few considerations to help you get started:

Create a positive Remind culture in your classroom

Depending on who’s in your class, here are a few tips and resources that might also be helpful to share.

If you’re communicating with parents:
Let them know how you plan to keep them in the loop, either in person or by sending materials home.

Letter to parents
Parent overview (video now available in English and Spanish!)

If you’re communicating with students who are 13 and older:
Make sure they’re getting your messages right on their phones—not as emails.

Add student mobile numbers to rostered accounts

Step 5: Get creative!

[Estimated time: 5 min]

When it comes to ideas for using Remind with your classes, the sky’s the limit. As other teachers can share, you can do a lot with the 600 characters that come with the Remind plan.

Sending messages is the best way to discover all the features you can use, but if you’re strapped for time, we recommend starting with these three:

And try some of these teacher-tested tips for increasing engagement with Remind:

Send a video introducing yourself to your families
Ask students to share an image with you for an assignment or for show and tell
Poll your class by asking them to react to your message
Send home questions that parents can ask their students about the day

Want more ideas? Check out our resources, including tips and strategies from educators all over the country.