Back-to-School Night is often the first time you get to meet your class parents and that night sets the tone for the year ahead. Although it’s a QUICK evening, it’s a great opportunity to build rapport and invite parents to become a team with you and their children in cultivating a positive and successful learning environment. Make your time together count with these six quick tips:
1. Be Energized: Grab
that extra latte before Back to School night and have pep in your step and a
smile on your face when parents come to visit your classroom. Convey excitement for the school year and invite
parents to become actively involved -- sharing ideas, and providing feedback and engaging in
learning activities. Demonstrate how your class learning environment will
operate by pointing our learning stations by using technology to share information that you would use in your daily routine. TIP: Parents
may not have experienced an interactive white board, document camera, iPad or
other new technology in action – using these devices during back-to-school night builds
excitement for how the new technology will truly benefit the learning
environment for their kids.
2. Be Prepared: Set a clear agenda for the evening with time limits on each topic you will cover and create an engaging Prezi or PowerPoint presentation to keep yourself organized and illustrate key points. Be sure to share both your professional background and a little bit about your personal interests. Have children’s materials posted so parents can glimpse initial school work and consider asking each student to write a note to his or her parents welcoming them to Back to School night. BONUS: Ask parents to write a note back to his or her child sharing their enthusiasm for the new school year.
3. Be Direct: Review school policies for homework and attendance, detail your expectations for major projects for the year, and preview fun times to keep in mind like field trips, performances and class parties. Tell parents how and when you prefer to be contacted (e.g. email, website, cellphone, notes) and when they should expect to hear back from you. Don’t get overwhelmed with parent questions; instead, share your contact information and ask parents who want to discuss their child’s specific needs to set up a time with you to talk at length.
4. Be Appreciative: THANK parents for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend Back to School Night. Acknowledge and thank them for the time they will be putting in at home helping with homework, reading to their kids, ensuring a good night’s sleep and getting their kids prepared each morning for a new school day. In addition, make sure to show appreciation for classroom supplies and technology that has been purchased with parent contributions and parent-group fundraising activities.
5. Be Specific: Make it clear how parents can best support YOU
in helping their kids learn and get them scheduled and signed up to help. Will you have weekly readers, classroom
volunteers or recess and library supervisors? Are there class supplies that you still in
need? Are you ready to schedule parent-teacher conferences so parents can plan ahead?
If so, ASK – you’ll be pleasantly surprised how many parents step up and
sign up!
TIP: Skip paper sign up sheets this year and use VolunteerSpot’s free Online SignUps or free iPad Clipboard app by VolunteerSpot to get parents signed quickly and easily. (no password is required and VolunteerSpot sends automated reminders!)
6. Be Social: Prominently post where and how parents can connect online with your classroom and school community – i.e. class web pages, class blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. TIP: Check out Pinterest for teachers and room parents for ideas on creating pin boards that engage class parents.
Remember, parents WANT their children’s teachers to be successful and have enthusiasm and ideas to share. Start the 2012-2013 school year off right with a fun and engaging Back To School Night!
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