K-12  ·  Works on Any Device  ·  Free to Start

Never walk into a parent meeting
unprepared again.

Log a behavior note in a few taps. Track patterns over weeks. Walk into any conference, IEP, or admin conversation with the full story, not just what you remember.

Try the Free Demo →See How It Works
✓Use initials or nicknames·✓No-signup demo·✓No credit card required

Interactive demo

Try it: tap any student below

Pick a behavior, hit Save, and see how fast a note takes.

Log Notes

Tap a student to log a note

Practice with fictional students. Nothing is saved. App save times vary.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
“

The app was quick and easy to learn, even for a not-so-techy teacher like me, and it saves so much time.

Dana R., Elementary Teacher
Dana R.
Elementary Teacher

What brings you here?

I need parent email helpI'm replacing ClassDojoI need behavior documentationI keep forgetting what happened
What it does

Three things every teacher needs.

Capture what happened. Find it when it matters. Turn it into something useful.

ShortHand Quick Grid quick-note sheet showing behavior indicators, an optional note field, and a Save button
Capture It
Stop relying on memory.

Document behavior incidents, parent conversations, accommodations, interventions, and classroom observations in seconds while they're still fresh.

Learn more →
Parent communication log showing timestamped contact entries and an urgent follow-up alert
Find It
Walk into meetings with the full story.

See what was discussed, when contact happened, and what still needs follow-up, all organized in one place for conferences, IEP meetings, and admin conversations.

Learn more →
Generated parent report screen
Use It
Turn documentation into action.

Turn the notes you've already logged into a parent-ready draft. Review it, edit if needed, and send it straight from your own email. No parent account, login, or download required.

Learn more →
Sound familiar?

Before & After
ShortHand.

Before
✗ Scraps of paper shoved in a pocket
✗ Forgotten parent conversations
✗ 3 hours of SGO data entry on a Sunday
✗ "Which students haven't I documented lately?"
✗ Rewriting the same details for emails, reports, and meetings
After
✓ Tap the student, tap what you saw, saved.
✓ A full parent communication log with follow-ups surfaced
✓ Reports generated while you drink coffee
✓ Red rings show who may be slipping through
✓ Capture it once. Reuse it for emails, reports, and meeting notes.
Getting started

Demo, Free, and Pro.

Try it first. Use it free. Upgrade only if you want to.

No account

Demo

Open ShortHand with sample students and click through the app. No account needed.

Try the free demo
Free

Your classroom

Create a free account to use ShortHand with your own class. Core documentation stays free.

Create a free account
Optional

Pro

$4.99/month adds Ask ShortHand and Meeting Prep reports beyond the free core documentation. New Pro users get a 30-day trial, no credit card.

Explore Meeting Prep
Full walkthrough · 6 min

See ShortHand from sign-up
to finished report.

A real walkthrough from a brand-new account: importing students, logging notes with the Quick Grid, parent communication, accommodations, reports, and Ask ShortHand.

Try the demo →

No account, no credit card. Click through it yourself with sample students.

Data & Privacy

Your classroom. Your notes.

Use ShortHand with initials or nicknames. Read the full policy for storage, deletion, and AI processing details.

Use Initials or Nicknames

Full legal names and student IDs are not required.

No Data Selling

Your notes and student information are never sold or used for advertising.

Your Notes, Your Account

Your classroom records are protected with encryption and account-level access controls. You can delete your account and notes when you stop using ShortHand.

Read the Full Privacy Policy →
Gregory, creator of ShortHand
BUILT BY A TEACHER. FOR TEACHERS.

A Message from the Creator

I didn't build this app to give you more work. I built it because I was tired of drowning in paperwork while trying to keep my head above water.

20+ Years in EducationFormer RBTActive 3rd Grade Teacher

I have worked in education for over twenty years. Before I became a 3rd grade teacher, I worked as a one-to-one aide and a Registered Behavior Technician. I know exactly how loud, fast, and overwhelming a school day can be. This tool was created with love to assist my fellow teachers who are looking for a better way to track progress and bridge the gap between school and home.

Watch my introduction
“Good data shouldn't be a chore. It should be the bridge that connects a teacher's observation to a parent's understanding.”
Common Questions

ShortHand FAQ: Everything you need to know.

Is student data safe?+

Yes. ShortHand was built by a teacher, for teachers. We use enterprise-grade encryption and Row Level Security so only you have access to your classroom data. No selling data, no advertising, no surveillance. We use a limited set of service providers to operate ShortHand, and our Privacy Policy explains the providers that handle account, student, payment, analytics, and AI data. AI features are processed by OpenAI, with Groq as a backup. Both are bound by data processing terms, and neither uses your data to train its models. Just your notes, locked to your account.

Will this add to my workload?+

No. If you can send a text, you can use ShortHand. Logging a note takes about 2 seconds. It saves you hours of drafting emails, writing IEP updates, and trying to remember what happened three weeks ago.

Do I need to spend hours setting this up?+

No. You can import your roster from Google Classroom or a spreadsheet in minutes. There is no manual to read. Just open the app and start logging.

Can my whole grade level or school use this?+

Absolutely. ShortHand makes grade-level collaboration and transition meetings much smoother. If your principal has questions about privacy or implementation, have them reach out directly.

What is ShortHand?+

ShortHand is a behavior and parent-communication tool built for K-12 teachers. Log what happened in seconds, then turn those notes into parent emails, progress reports, and meeting-ready summaries whenever you need them.

Do I need to download anything?+

No. ShortHand works in your browser on any device, so there's nothing you have to install. If you prefer a regular app, you can get ShortHand from the App Store on iPhone or from Google Play on Android.

How does ShortHand help with parent communication?+

ShortHand keeps your parent communication history organized in one place, including dates, details, and follow-ups. When you need to reach out, it can turn an existing note into a parent-ready draft. You review it, make any changes, and send it through your own email.

Does ShortHand alert me if I haven't checked in on a student?+

Yes. Color-coded status rings glow red when a student hasn't been logged in 16 or more days, amber at 9 to 15 days, and green if you've logged in the last 8 days. No student quietly slips through the cracks.

Is ShortHand free to use?+

Yes. Try the demo with sample students, no account needed. Create a free account to use ShortHand with your own class. Pro is optional at $4.99/month, and new Pro users get a 30-day trial with no credit card.

From the Blog
How to Document Parent Contact as a Teacher (So You're Always Covered)
Because 'I'm pretty sure I called' is not going to hold up in a parent conference.

Learn how to document parent contact as a teacher so you always have proof when a parent claims they were never contacted about a grade, behavior incident, or IEP concern.

Read the post →
Get started

Try the demo.
No account needed.

Catch problems before they become calls home. Open the demo in your browser, then create a free account when you want to use ShortHand with your class. Pro is optional.

Open ShortHand →Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play