Tips and Tricks for Back to School Night

All the Nerves

If you are anything like me, you don’t necessarily look forward to Back to School Night/Open House. Don’t get me wrong; I love meeting the parents/guardians and showcasing my classroom that I will share with their children. However, public speaking in front of adults is not my JAM. I know, I know, I have been asked so many times, “How are you a teacher if you don’t like public speaking?” Listen ya’ll, it is easy to sing and dance, be goofy, and completely embarrass myself in front of 100+ middle schoolers but put me in front of a group of 100+ adults and I get sweaty and anxious.

New Structure

Last year, my sixth-grade team and I had an idea to structure Open House a little differently. We proposed it to our colleagues and admin and tested it out. The response we received was overwhelmingly positive and I can honestly say I look forward to future Open Houses. Below is what we came up with:

All parents/guardians began in homeroom. Our principal did a brief introduction on the announcements and then homeroom teachers explained the schedule for the night and the expectations of AM and PM homeroom.
Then, parents/guardians moved through 3 rotations. One rotation was meeting the core team of teachers in the auditorium where we did a presentation. The second rotation was meeting the encore teachers who set up in the gymnasium (art, health and wellness, family and consumer science, choir, band, orchestra, etc.) as well as the guidance counselor, nurse, instructional support teacher, special education teachers, etc. The third rotation was walking through students’ schedules while teachers were visible in the hallways and classrooms.
The rotations were staggered so parents who have multiple children in the building in different grade levels could attend all the presentations.
We enlisted the help of 7^th and 8th-grade student volunteers. The volunteers explained student programs during our Open House presentations, directed parents/guardians around the building, and answered questions.
The cafeteria was open all night where we provided light snacks and beverages.

Old vs. New Schedule

I could not have felt more comfortable standing beside my coworkers as we went through our presentation. There is just something about “strength in numbers” that I prefer instead of being alone in my classroom. In the past, Open House was run where parents/guardians walked through their child’s schedule and teachers gave a 10-minute presentation for each class period in our classrooms. As a team, we were directed to be consistent in the content that was delivered, which made Open House rather tedious and repetitive. There were also more opportunities for parents/guardians to turn the event into a parent/teacher conference. The new way of running Open House was fresh, inviting, and limited the monopolizing of our time.

This structure may or may not work for you and your building. As always, do what is best for you! Below are additional tips and tricks for a successful night.

Tips and Tricks

Be prepared
Have visuals
Dress the part
Stay positive
Get students involved
Teamwork makes the dream work

Be Prepared

My worst nightmare (well maybe not my worst but you get the idea) is stumbling over my words or completely blanking out in front of a group of parents/guardians. To avoid this embarrassment, I practice my presentation a few times prior to the event. It sounds silly but verbally rehearsing my lines allows me to feel more confident and poised. It ensures that I have some idea of what I want to say. If you are winger, good for you! I am, however, far from it and have found this is one of the best ways to calm my nerves.

Have Visuals

I love having visuals at Open House. We always give out a handout and have a presentation that is projected for the audience to follow along. Having a handout and presentation projected allows us to stay focused and on track as we are limited on time. Parents like knowing what to expect and what they will be learning at Open House. Another perk of having visuals is that it takes some attention off you and is also a backup if you forget where you were going with the presentation. Grab the Editable Bitmoji Open House Handout (freebie) and the Editable Bitmoji Meet the Teacher Presentation that accompanies the handout.

Dress the Part

This one is simple. There are two times during the year where I put on my best, most professional dress; Open House and Parent/Teacher Conferences. Notice the pattern? Both events involve being in front of parents/guardians. To get their attention and attain their respect, you must look the part. The way you carry yourself is the first thing they will notice, so make a great impression right from the start!

Stay Positive

Keep Open House positive. Here is a list of things my team and I cover at Open House: contact information, supplies list, topics covered in each subject, expectations, grading guidelines, homework policy, work completion policy, online resources, and most importantly how parents/guardians can be involved and support their children. Notice, we do not cover our behavior policy. This is done at another time. It’s so important to focus on the positive as this is the first impression we are making on parents and we are working to establish a connection with them.

Get Students Involved

At my school, we try to get students as involved as possible in every event! Like I said earlier, we asked for 7^th and 8th-grade volunteers and Student Council members who would be willing to assist us in directing parents/guardians around the building, answering questions, and presenting about student programs at our school. It is so much more meaningful to see and hear from actual students in the building. Parents really seemed to appreciate student involvement in Open House. In addition, students helped us to decorate the building and make it warm and inviting.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

The best piece of advice I can give is to establish a home to school connection. Let parents/guardians know that you are a team and need to work together to support their son/daughter. Students who recognize there is a strong home to school connection tend to be more successful. Getting parents on your side is a great lead into discussing growth mindset and the power of making mistakes. I always tell parents that ultimately, we want their children to leave our classes feeling confident about our subjects. This will occur at home and at school by problem-solving, persevering, and having a growth mindset.

Concluding Thoughts

Open House/Back to School Night doesn’t have to be stressful! Remember, at the end of the day, parents/guardians are coming to Open House to put a name to the face. They want to get to know you and what to expect for the school year. Open House sets the tone for the school year, allows you to connect with parents, and establish a home to school connection.

Often at the middle school level, parents back off and want to see their children become more independent. Open House is the time where we remind parents that their children still need their support. Middle schoolers need help with time management, work completion, organizational skills, and social skills. We like to end Open House by thanking parents for their support and commitment to their child’s education.

What are some of your tips or tricks for ensuring a successful Open House/Back to School Night? Comment below!

Please follow and like us: