G-Mail in the Classroom

One effective way I have used g-mail in the classroom is by having students send a weekly update to their parents. Each Friday students draft an e-mail which includes what they learned this week, how they were helpful, and how their behavior was. I have received many positive responses from parents. It puts the ownership on the students to be the lead communicator. I have also had students e-mail their parents when asking a question like, "Do I have soccer after school?"