Preparing for Back to School Night
Learning Objective: Teachers will be able to (TWBAT) prepare their classrooms and themselves, for a successful Back to School Night.
Back to School Night can cause a lot of anxiety, especially if you are a new teacher. But, have no fear! In this blog post I will share, from my experience, 1) what families are expecting from teachers at Back to School Night and 2) how can you not just meet, but exceed those expectations.
From my experience, it really boils down to three things. Families want:
1. A positive environment where they can see their child grow. Put colorful student work up! Have students do “About me” projects to show you don’t just care about your students’ grades, but for the students as individuals as well.
2. A teacher who is organized.
+ Sign-in’s on every table: Instead of having your parents bottleneck by the door, plan ahead and have sign-in sheets on multiple tables. Congratulations, you appear organized. Check!
+ Handouts: Most parents aren’t going to come into your classroom with a notepad and pen. Provide a few pens and any helpful handouts (i.e. your syllabus or an info sheet) to help families process the information. Organized again, check!
3. A teacher who appears fair and easy to work with. A simple presentation can give a clear understanding of who you are and what the school year will be like. Here are some things to consider including:
+ About you: In my presentation I like to include where I grew up, my educational background, teaching experience, and a little about my hobbies and family life. By including a little information about yourself, parents view you as a real person they can approach and connect with. Additionally, if parents are running late, they can easily catch up.
+ Give an overview: Here is your chance to get your parents excited about what their child will learn in your class. Don’t just introduce the topics, but include any fun labs and projects you plan on doing.
+ Break it down: This is the part of your presentation that will reduce the anxiety for most families. Take a few moments, without overloading them with too much detail, to explain what your daily/weekly schedule will be like. How will topics generally be taught? For example, will there be a lot of lecturing, reading, small group instruction, stations, or hands-on-learning? When will you be assigning homework and when will it be due? Will you have weekly quizzes? Gold Star Tip: Use photos of kids working or props to keep everyone engaged, or ask a class member to explain how something like stations are used in your class.
+ Grades/Expectations: This is another topic parents are eager to learn about because how you deal with grades and behavior determines if you appear fair and easy to work with. If you have an out-of-the-ordinary grading/behavior policy, such as allowing or not allowing test retakes, take a moment to explain it and provide a rationale for how your policy benefits the kids. Remember, it is all about how you “sell” it.
+ Methods of Communication: Taking the time to walk parents through your class website and methods of contact show that you invite and are open to communication. Show them how to contact you, schedule a meeting, or sign-up for class updates or volunteer opportunities. Gold Star Tip: Remind is a great tool to keep your parents in the loop. Parents can sign-up for text updates to promote discussion at the dinner table. Don’t worry, parents don’t have the ability to text you back :P
4. A teacher who cares. It is important that your first parent contact is positive. Make an intentional effort to connect with your parents and make them feel valued and appreciated. Gold Star Tip: Use your sign-in sheet to determine which parents did not show up. Then, call and casually introduce yourself, adding a positive comment about the student. Yes, it may seem like a ton of effort, but remember, building positive relationships is the most powerful classroom management tool and it can make more difficult conversations in the future easier.
So, if you are a new teacher who is still anxious about talking to parents at Back to School Night, remember this: Not all parents are going to love you, but if you really give your 100% and genuinely care for the kids, most parents can get behind you, support you, and respect you. Back to School Night night is just the beginning of a whole school year of working together as a team. Start off right and succeed all year long.
Please share any Back to School Night tips you may have in the comments below. I'd love to hear what you guys do! Here is your inspirational quote for the week:
“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.”
