Bloomz

Bloomz is an organizational and behavior management app and website that provides teachers with a simple way to effectively communicate between school and home. From the dashboard, teachers can share information in a variety of ways by creating posts, events, activities, assignments, and photo albums. Parents can sign up to receive app, email, or text notifications, and teachers can control a wide variety of factors, including how parents and guardians communicate (for example, with each other or only with the teacher), what type of information goes out to families, and whether to communicate in a parent or guardian's preferred language. Note, however, that message translation is a premium feature. So, parents can set a preferred language and will receive class announcements and posts in that language, but direct messages from the teacher are translated only under the premium plan.

Among the site's many features are helpful tools such as those to schedule parent-teacher conferences, request and organize volunteer help, or send out visual updates of student activities. Photo, video, and file sharing, including through Google Drive or Classroom, mean that teachers don't have to spend a lot of time getting important information out to kids and their families. There's also a behavior management and reporting feature that allows teachers to award students points for good behavior and set class goals for tangible or intangible rewards. Finally, students can use the app or website to develop their own digital portfolio.

The sheer number of features Bloomz offers is impressive. Kids can check the feed for updates, assignments, and fun class photos while monitoring their personal page for behavior points and items for their portfolios. Having everything in one place makes it easier for teachers who want to keep families in the loop about what students are doing, how they're performing, and how families can be more involved. In terms of connecting families to schools, Bloomz provides a great deal of functionality and interactivity. The behavior tracking tool, if used mindfully and not punitively, can teach kids the value of teamwork and cooperation toward group goals as they work on their own personal behavioral goals. Bloomz also offers students the ability to develop organizational skills and enhance their digital portfolio by reflecting on behavioral goals and class activities, uploading digital work, and looking through class photos. 

For some, Bloomz's many features may also be its biggest downside. The sheer amount that the platform covers might work great for communities with very tech-savvy teachers and parents, but it could be a bit overwhelming for adults who don't feel as confident with technology. In those cases, trying to house everything in one place could ultimately be too much, particularly without training. There's also a fair amount of upselling with the free teacher version. Teachers will encounter features that, when clicked on, lead them to an opportunity to upgrade. And the fact that the message translation feature is only a part of the premium plan really hinders targeted communication to parents who might be reluctant to come to the school campus. So, depending on your district, school, or classroom community, Bloomz may cover everything you need and be an all-encompassing solution—or it may be too much.