www.familyengagementlab.org | @familyelab WELCOME TO FASTalk! www.familyengagementlab.org | @familyelab NOTE: Speaker notes are included with suggestions for sharing with families, but feel free to customize for your needs! Hi Families! Our school is participating in a new text message program called FASTalk (Families and Schools Talk)

You: “What did you do in school today?” Your child: “Nothing.” Sound familiar? Too often do parents and caregivers get a “nothing” or a shrug when you ask your child, “what did you do at school today?” All families want to help their children with learning, and know it’s important...but don’t always know how to help!

reading and writing at home! FASTalk is a text messaging tool with easy tips and fun activities to help your child’s reading and writing at home! That is why this year, we will be using FASTalk in our class! FASTalk is a text messaging tool with quick & easy tips to help your child’s reading and writing at home. These fun activities directly support the knowledge and skills your child is learning in the classroom.

Available in 100+ languages Parent-teacher two-way messaging FASTalk Features Quick and easy weekly learning activities coordinated with what your child is learning in class Available in 100+ languages Parent-teacher two-way messaging The FASTalk text messages are sent weekly by text. The activities are short and simple for busy families, but can have a big impact on the conversations you and your child have about school. FASTalk helps students and families in over 100 languages. It’s also a way to communicate with me (your child’s teacher) if you have any questions about your child’s learning. You’ll get a weekly poll to let me know how the activity was for you that week. Your support at home is so valuable!

First Week of FASTalk for Families From Ms. Lam: Welcome to FASTalk! Your child’s teacher will send you weekly activities from this number. Before we start, please click www.bitly.com/1234 to answer X short questions. Thank you! MONDAY WEDNESDAY From Ms. Lam: You'll get 3 texts/week with simple at-home activities tied to classwork. Check out this video to learn more: www.vimeo.com/4532. If you need to cancel, txt 'STOP' From Ms. Lam: I’m counting on all families to partner with me & do the activities! You can also reply by text (all messages are translated!) & I will get the message the next day. FRIDAY Other than completing the initial sign-up, there is no work on the part of you as the parent or caregiver to begin receiving these messages. Messages are SMS text messages so families don’t need a smartphone and there’s no app to download. You will receive a text message on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: On Mondays, you’ll receive a message that provides some information about what your child is learning in class On Wednesdays, you’ll receive a message with an easy activity or conversation starter that you can do together with your child. You don’t have to buy extra materials for these activities. You can do it in the car, at the bus stop, anywhere! On Fridays, you will receive a quick poll question to respond to provide feedback and in response to the poll. I know parents are super busy and may not have time to respond, but I would really value your feedback even if you didn’t get to do the activity with your child! You can also text me questions you have about your child’s learning in your preferred language. I will get the message the next day. The messages you send will only come to me and not to the entire class. Parents can reply, “STOP” at anytime and they will be unsubscribed and will no longer receive the messages. Available in 100+ languages!

Elementary Parent, Jefferson Parish “When I know what’s going on in class, then I can confidently support my child’s learning. If I have no idea what’s going on, it’s hard to make that connection. But if I know or have an inkling of what they’re talking about, then I can bring in our own activities.” Elementary Parent, East Baton Rouge Parish “It made me more knowledgeable of what my child was learning in class so that I can help her at home.” Elementary Parent, Jefferson Parish Here’s what parents have said about their experience with FASTalk. For parents, it’s fun and engaging and doesn’t feel like homework. Gone are the days of “how was school?” and just getting a “fine.” At the end of the day, your kids will be excited to share information about what their learning when you know what’s going on in class.

Connect through FASTalk! You will receive a welcome text message from my FASTalk phone number: [INSERT TEACHER’s FASTalk #] 1 Complete the permission form and return it to your child’s teacher to sign-up for FASTalk! 2 Do the easy activities with your child and support his/her learning at home! Complete the brief surveys you receive via text throughout the school year. 3 4 FOR OPT-IN ENROLLMENT SCHOOLS: [NOTE: INSERT YOUR FASTalk # in the slide] Your phone number and personal information will never be shared. While there is no cost to sign up, data & message rates may apply. If you want to unsubscribe, you can text ‘STOP’ at any time.

Questions about FASTalk? Ask me or contact: info@fastalk.org If you have questions about FASTalk, feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or contact info@fastalk.org. Thank you for partnering with me to support your child’s learning!