Back-to-school night is a time to meet families, the tradition of welcoming parents to join educators as partners in the educational process, and more. This is an opportunity for parents and teachers to meet and connect. I’ve gathered ideas and materials to help plan the evening, ideas to encourage participation, as well as tips to help you make the most of back-to-school night and set the tone for a successful school year.
Tip 1: Be Yourself and Breath During Back to School Night!
Even if this is not your first year of teaching, I am sure you are nervous or anxious. I know I am! I just wanted to remind you to be yourself. You are an amazing teacher. Do you know how I know that?! You are taking the time to read blog posts like this to better yourself for your students. Your students are so lucky to have you!!
BREATHE! Your student’s families are just as nervous and anxious as you are…believe me. Their child is starting a brand-new school year with a brand-new teacher. They are about to hand over their child to you for most of the day for the whole school year. They are nervous! It is ok to level with them and let them know that you are nervous/anxious too. Then you can let them know how TOTALLY excited you are for an amazing school year and how much you have been awaiting their child’s arrival!
Tip 2: Have prepared slides!
Not only will having slides make you look super prepared for back-to-school night, but it will help YOU! Since you are likely to be anxious and/or nervous when all the families come piling into your room, having slides prepared ahead of time can help with this! Whether it is a slideshow of information that plays while the families walk around or a formal presentation led by you, having slides will help you feel more prepared and ready to speak about everything you wanted to speak about.
In my TPT store, I have this set of editable slides specifically designed for meet the teacher/open house/back to school night! The editable PowerPoint comes with 300+ slides that you can add text, shapes, and images to.
You can also easily use these slides in Google Slides:
- Drag the editable PPT file into your google drive
- Double click the file
- Press ‘open in google slides”
- File, save as google slides
If there is a heading or slide that you would like added please feel free to let me know what you want to be added, and if I have the clip art and ability, I will add it within 1 week. All you have to do is email me at rachel@engagingearlylearners.com!
Customers are LOVING this product so far:
Check out the editable back-to-school slides today!
Tip 3: Have a takeaway for the parents and/or students!
Lastly, have a takeaway for the parents or students. This will help them remember you, the experience, and all the information at back-to-school night! You might also like this parent-teacher conference blog post.
Here are some examples of adult takeaways:
- A copy of your presentation
- A copy of your class schedule and other important information
- I have some FREE schedule templates for you!
- A contact card with your information on it
- If you are having a back-to-school night for parents to gain information, have that information for them to take away in a packet/folder.
Here are some examples of student takeaways:
- A small toy or ‘prize’ for the students (maybe they have to complete a scavenger hunt around the room and then they get a prize)
My Back to School Night/Open House Setups in the past:
2017
-I made everything
2018
-Open House kit from Teach Create Motivate
2019 was the same setup as 2018 plus these additions
Back To School Night, Meet The Teacher Night, or Open House is an exciting night where teachers open up their classrooms to share with their new students and families. Use these tips to make the most of the back-to-school night.
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