Google: Gmail in the classroom.

I would like to try to add a chat feature to several early childhood teachers.  I'm a consultant and I think this would be a nice feature as the teachers I support look for new ideas to use in their classrooms, look for ideas on data collection for the GOLD assessment as well as just connect to one another on a daily basis.  Often, EC teachers are a single discipline in their building or district.  Getting together with others on a routine basis is hard to do.  Adding the chat feature could enhance the communication and connectedness we could feel, especially when the new ECOPD (professional development) is rolled out this fall.

I could use gmail with the parents of my students.  Using Gmail would give me a way to communicate with all the parents regarding common handouts, dates of activities and community functions.  It would also assist me in individually communicating with each parent to ensure we are communicating regularly and keeping track of activities to do through the use of the tasks feature.

Chat feature – I could use with the parents so they could easily contact me if/when they needed me.  The chat feature could also help me connect some of the parents with each other in a non-threatening manner.  This may be an easy way to get to know each other.