Education Technology

Switching from Remind to Seesaw: A Practical Guide for Educators

Learn practical steps to switch from Remind to Seesaw and enhance student engagement with interactive classroom tools.

Short answer: Switching from Remind to Seesaw means moving beyond basic messaging to an interactive classroom platform that fosters student engagement through multimedia activities and real-time feedback. Seesaw integrates communication with student work, giving you tools to create, share, and assess learning in one place.

This article guides you through the process of switching from Remind to Seesaw, focusing on practical steps to migrate your communication channels and maximize Seesaw’s interactive features. You’ll learn how to set up roles, add participants, create engaging activities, share multimedia content, customize your app experience, and avoid common pitfalls during the transition.

Understand how Seesaw works and why it matters

Seesaw is more than a messaging platform; it is an interactive digital portfolio and activity hub designed to increase student engagement and deepen parent involvement. Unlike Remind, which focuses primarily on streamlined messaging between teachers, students, and parents, Seesaw offers a suite of tools to create, share, and assess student work in real time.

At its core, Seesaw allows you to build and assign activities that integrate multimedia elements like drawings, videos, and voice recordings. This promotes active learning by encouraging students to document their progress and express understanding in diverse ways. For example, instead of sending a simple text reminder, you can assign an interactive math problem where students submit a video explaining their solution. This interactive approach fosters deeper participation and provides richer insight into student learning.

Seesaw’s communication style shifts from one-way announcements to two-way engagement. Parents receive notifications not only about assignments but also about their child's direct responses and learning milestones. This transparent flow increases parent feedback and involvement, often resulting in more frequent and meaningful communication than typical messaging apps.

Many educators report noticeably higher student participation rates on Seesaw compared to Remind, with parents more actively commenting on and encouraging their children’s work. This reflects Seesaw’s design as a classroom ecosystem rather than a messaging tool, making it a strategic choice if you want to move beyond reminders to active, visible learning engagement.

To begin using Seesaw effectively, you need to access the platform through either the app or the web and select the correct sign-in role. This ensures the interface and features are tailored to your needs, whether you are a teacher, student, or parent.

Open the Seesaw app on your device or visit app.seesaw.me in a web browser. The login interface presents options to sign in or create a new account. Avoid attempting to sign in before choosing your role to prevent confusion or incorrect account setup.

Below the login fields, you will find three distinct buttons labeled I'm a Teacher, I'm a Student, and I'm a Parent. Click the role that matches your position. For example, if you are a teacher managing multiple classes, select I'm a Teacher, which will prompt you to enter your email or use single sign-on options linked to your school.

If you are a student, you will typically receive a class code or QR code from your teacher to sign in. Parents should use the access code provided by the teacher to link to their child's account.

If you see an error such as "Invalid code" or "Account not found", verify that you have selected the correct role before entering your credentials. For example, entering a student code under the teacher sign-in will trigger errors. Double-check that your internet connection is stable, and try clearing your browser cache if login attempts repeatedly fail.

When using single sign-on, ensure your school’s authentication service is active and that you use the exact email associated with your account.

Open the app or go to app.seesaw.me
Select the correct role: Teacher, Student, or Parent
Enter your email, class code, or access code as appropriate
If an error appears, confirm your role and credentials
Check your internet connection and clear cache if needed

Add teachers, students, and parents to Seesaw

Building your classroom community in Seesaw starts with adding the right people and assigning appropriate roles. To add teachers, go to the People tab in your Seesaw class, select Add Teacher, and enter their email addresses. For administrative control, assign roles by clicking on the teacher's name and choosing either Teacher or Co-Teacher. This ensures they can manage activities and communication effectively.

Enrolling students requires creating individual profiles. Under the People tab, select Add Students and choose between adding students manually or importing from a CSV file. Each student receives a unique sign-in code, which you can print or share digitally. For example, you might email parents a message like: "Your child’s Seesaw sign-in code is ABC123. Use it to access their portfolio and activities." This method simplifies onboarding and reduces confusion.

Inviting parents is crucial for boosting engagement. Within the People tab, select Invite Parents and enter their email addresses or phone numbers. Seesaw automatically sends an invitation with a direct link to join. Clear, concise invitations improve response rates; for instance, a message stating, "Join your child’s classroom on Seesaw to receive updates and see their work," encourages participation. Studies have shown that parental involvement increases significantly when they have direct access to student activities through platforms like Seesaw.

Remember, a common misstep is neglecting to assign permissions properly—double-check that parents have Family Member access, not teacher-level permissions. This controls what they can see and share.

Navigate to People tab to add teachers and assign roles
Add students manually or via CSV, then share unique sign-in codes
Invite parents by email or phone, ensuring clear instructions
Verify role permissions for each group to maintain proper access levels

Create and post activities on Seesaw

Unlike Remind, which focuses on messaging and brief updates, Seesaw centers on creating interactive activities that actively engage students. To start, click on the green “+ Add” button in your Seesaw class dashboard and select “Create Activity.” You can choose from a variety of templates such as drawing, video response, or journal entry, or build a fully customized activity by adding instructions, media, and assessment criteria.

For example, you might create a math activity where students solve problems by drawing their answers or recording a video explanation. This hands-on approach contrasts with Remind’s message-based format, which typically limits responses to text or simple replies. After you finalize the activity, post it to your class by selecting “Assign” and choosing the appropriate student groups.

Seesaw tracks submissions automatically, allowing you to see who has completed the activity and review their work in real time. You can comment directly on student responses, fostering a feedback loop that Remind’s format does not support. This engagement deepens learning and provides a richer picture of student understanding.

To make activities accessible, use clear, concise language in instructions and include visuals whenever possible. Incorporate Seesaw’s interactive tools like voice recording or annotation to cater to different learning styles and encourage creativity. Avoid overloading activities with too many steps; instead, break complex tasks into smaller, manageable parts.

Click “+ Add” then “Create Activity” from the dashboard
Select a template or customize your own activity
Add clear instructions and multimedia elements
Assign activity to students or groups
Monitor submissions and provide individualized feedback
Use interactive tools to boost engagement and accessibility

Seesaw’s multimedia tools let you capture audio, video, and annotated work directly within the platform, enriching your communication and enhancing student portfolios beyond text-based messages. To record audio or video, open an activity or student portfolio, tap the green plus (+) button, and select either the Record Video or Record Audio option. This enables you or your students to narrate explanations, demonstrate processes, or share reflections in a personal, engaging way.

Annotation tools are accessible by selecting Draw from the same plus (+) menu, allowing you or your students to mark up images, PDFs, or drawings with a finger or stylus. This feature supports clarifying thoughts visually and providing targeted feedback directly on student work.

When sharing multimedia, Seesaw automatically notifies linked parents and teachers, ensuring immediate access to updates. For example, recording a short video walkthrough of a math problem solution lets parents see how their child approaches challenges, fostering transparency and support. Educators report that these rich media posts boost parent engagement and help students articulate learning in varied formats.

Consider a science teacher who records a video demonstration of a lab experiment for students to watch at home, then asks students to submit their own video observations. This approach deepens understanding and creates a dynamic portfolio that tells the story of learning over time.

Tap the green plus (+) button in an activity or portfolio
Select Record Video, Record Audio, or Draw
Capture your content or annotate work directly
Post to student portfolios or class activities for automatic sharing
Use multimedia to clarify concepts, provide feedback, and engage parents

Change the Seesaw icon and customize your app experience

Personalizing the Seesaw app can improve your and your students’ comfort and efficiency when using it daily. Customizing the app icon helps it stand out on crowded devices, reducing confusion especially for younger students juggling multiple educational apps.

Changing the Seesaw icon

On iOS devices, you can change the app icon by going to Settings > Seesaw and selecting App Icon. Choose from the available options to replace the default icon. Note that this feature requires Seesaw app version 3.50 or later. For Android devices, Seesaw does not natively support icon changes; however, you can use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher to customize app icons by long-pressing the Seesaw icon on the home screen and selecting Edit > Icon. Remember, using third-party launchers may change other aspects of your device’s interface.

Other customization options

Within the Seesaw app, you can adjust notification settings by navigating to Profile > Settings > Notifications to control alerts for student work submissions or messages. Customizing notification tones helps differentiate Seesaw alerts from other apps. Additionally, you can switch between light and dark modes under Settings > Display Preferences, which some users find reduces eye strain during long periods of use.

For example, an elementary teacher reported that after changing the app icon to a brighter, more colorful version and enabling dark mode, both she and her students found it easier to quickly locate Seesaw on tablets used throughout the day. This small change helped reduce login delays and improved workflow.

On iOS, go to Settings > Seesaw > App Icon to select a new icon
On Android, use third-party launchers to edit icons via long-press and Edit
Adjust notifications in Profile > Settings > Notifications
Switch between light and dark mode in Settings > Display Preferences

Avoid common mistakes when switching from Remind to Seesaw

The transition from Remind to Seesaw can stumble if you overlook critical role assignments and permissions. For example, a middle school team once assigned all staff as "Teacher" by default without adjusting permissions, causing confusion when some educators couldn't access parent communication tools or student portfolios. It was corrected by revisiting the "Manage People" section, assigning precise roles such as "Teacher", "Student", and "Family Member" to match responsibilities.

Another pitfall is neglecting thorough parent onboarding. One elementary school sent invitation links without explaining the shift in communication style, leading to parents expecting simple messaging notifications rather than interactive activity updates. Address this by using Seesaw’s "Family Communication" feature and setting clear expectations in your first welcome message.

Finally, many educators fail to leverage Seesaw’s interactive features fully, sticking to basic messaging as they did in Remind. This limits engagement and defeats Seesaw’s purpose. For instance, a teacher initially posted only text reminders instead of using the "Add Activity" button to create multimedia assignments. After attending a brief training on Seesaw’s activity tools, the teacher increased student participation significantly.

Review and assign correct roles in "Manage People" to avoid permission issues.
Communicate clearly with parents about Seesaw’s interactive nature using the "Family Communication" settings.
Use "Add Activity" to create multimedia assignments and encourage student responses.
Provide brief training or tutorials to staff to maximize feature use.
Test parent and student access before full rollout to identify permission or navigation issues.

Frequently asked questions

How to change seesaw icon?

To change the Seesaw icon, you need to update it on your device's home screen manually since the app itself does not offer an internal setting for icon changes. On iOS, create a shortcut with the desired image using the Shortcuts app, then add it to the home screen. Android users can use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher to customize app icons directly.

How to use seesaw?

Start by logging into Seesaw and selecting your role—teacher, student, or family member. Navigate the dashboard to add classes, students, and activities. Use the interactive tools like journals, drawing, and video to engage students. Explore the Activity Library to find or create assignments tailored to your classroom needs.

How to post on seesaw?

To post on Seesaw, open your class journal and tap the green plus (+) button. Choose the type of post—photo, video, drawing, text, or link. Add any instructions or comments, then select the students or groups to share with. Finally, tap 'Post' to publish your content directly to the relevant audience.

How to create an activity on seesaw?

Go to the Activities tab and click 'Create New Activity.' Enter the activity title and instructions, then add prompts using text, images, or multimedia. Select the appropriate grade level and subject tags for organization. Save the activity, then assign it to your class or specific students for completion.

How to record on seesaw?

Within the Seesaw app, tap the green plus (+) button and select the video or audio recording option. Press the record button to capture your content, then stop when finished. You can preview the recording and add captions or drawings before posting it to the journal or attaching it to an activity.

Quick checklist

Confirm your Seesaw account role matches your responsibilities (Teacher, Student, or Family).
Invite all relevant participants using email addresses or class codes within the Seesaw "Add People" menu.
Create your first activity in the "Activities" tab, choosing templates or custom options.
Use the "Record" button to capture and share photos, videos, or voice notes directly in student journals.
Customize the app icon and notification settings under "Settings" > "App Appearance" for easier identification.
Review common pitfalls such as not syncing contacts or forgetting to adjust notification preferences after migration.

What this advice does not cover

This guide does not cover district-wide IT policies or data privacy compliance, which vary by region and institution. Before full deployment, you should consult your school administration or IT department to ensure adherence to local guidelines and secure handling of student information.

While this guide focuses on hands-on steps within Seesaw, larger technical migrations or integration with other systems may require specialized support beyond these instructions.

Starting with a clear participant setup and familiarizing yourself with Seesaw’s interactive activity tools offers the most immediate benefit. Begin by setting up a test activity and inviting a small group of students or colleagues to experience the platform’s engagement features firsthand. This practical step reveals opportunities to tailor communication and learning workflows effectively.

Switching from Remind to Seesaw: A Practical Guide for Educators

Understand how Seesaw works and why it matters

Add teachers, students, and parents to Seesaw

Create and post activities on Seesaw