Starting a Classroom Newsletter Students Get Excited About
Classroom newsletters don’t have to be dry and boring. Classroom newsletters can be super fun and enjoyable. The Newsletter is the most classic way to engage and keep engaging your audience. The same goes for the Classroom Newsletter. It is a great way to give updates, remind of upcoming events, and have fun with kids and parents.
Here, I’ll show you how to get started with your newsletter and make it something students look forward to as much as they look forward to recess! The first thing you’ll need to do is choose a template to build your newsletter and a way to send your newsletter. .
Choosing Your Template Or Newsletter Platform
There are a few different options to make your template. Mailchimp and TinyLetter are a good place to start. The basic price plans are free, and they are super easy to use. You can put in links, videos, and pictures to keep your audience engaged. These platforms are also mobile friendly, meaning that when your students and parents check their email on their phone, they are easier to read.
Smore.com is another awesome Newsletter Building platform that gives all the templates away for free for
educators! There you can choose from tons of possible templates to keep things beautiful in the letter you end.
educators! There you can choose from tons of possible templates to keep things beautiful in the letter you end.
Getting to choose the template of the newsletter for the week could even be a reward for students, or it could be picked on a rotation in the class.
If you’re not interested in another platform or application, you can also use whatever mail client you normally use to make a template. Most mail platforms have the basic word processing and allow you to add in pictures, embed videos, and change colors and size of font.
Next, What Goes In Your Newsletter?
The key to a good Newsletter is eye catching simplicity. Too much to read, or difficulty navigating, is quickly going to end up in the trash. Those long, repetitive, too much emails are why Newsletters of all kinds get such a terrible reputation. But you know what your students want, you know what keeps
their attention, keep it fun and interesting and they will look forward to your amazing email!
their attention, keep it fun and interesting and they will look forward to your amazing email!
Here are some ideas on how to organize and sections of your newsletter.
Welcome Section.
This is a short and sweet hello, what has class been up to, and what is in this newsletter that matters to YOU. It might be quick update of upcoming events and links to what the students/parents need to do to prepare.
The Welcome Section could even be a quick video that you or a student puts together like quick announcements. Each week a different student could make the welcome video for the newsletter.
The Meat In The Middle
There are so many ways you can build the meat in the middle of your newsletter. Ask the students to vote on what goes into it. Here is a list of ideas where students can submit work and creative media:
– Jokes
– Memes
– Riddles
– Student of the week
– Sports section
– Comic section
– Special featuring student work–writing, poetry, art, music.
– A short story that is “to be continued” each week
– Pictures from past presentations, field trips, or events.
– Recommended reading, videos, or math extras
Closing
Since you made a rockin’ newsletter, I’m sure the kids have made it all the way to the bottom. Which leads to another idea: have a riddle or joke at the beginning and then answer it at the end!
Anyway, at the end of the newsletter, it’s important to reiterate important upcoming deadlines or events. The newsletter may be fun, but it is also business.
While the possibilities are truly endless with what you can do, still try and keep it short and sweet. Give your students something to show off and new ways to connect with each other creatively.
