Back-To-School Night

Prepared by Pat Reis

1. Why is it important?
• Begins building the home-school connection.
• Allows you to introduce yourself and your educational program.
• Fosters trust and parent cooperation.
2. What is the format?
   Format varies from school to school. Possible formats:
• Parents report to student’s classroom for presentation.
• Parents are given a copy of student schedule and each class meets for an abbreviated period of time.
• Grade-level teachers sit in one room, such as in the auditorium.
3. What do parents want?
• To meet the teachers.
• To see a supportive, positive, and friendly environment.
• To hear your expectations so that they can help their child be successful in your class.
• To find out about their child’s daily routines.
• To learn about the curriculum.
4. Why is it so stressful for new teachers and veterans?
• A lot to prepare.
• You’re in the spotlight in front of parents.
• Will occur at night when you have already put in a full day teaching.
5. What should I do to deal with the stress?
• Don’t wing it!
• Preparation will help you present yourself positively, confidently, and clearly.
6. What should I do in advance?
• Talk to your mentor or grade-level colleagues about what is important and about age-appropriate activities.
• Plan and practice your presentation. Rehearse what you are going to say. Time yourself to get a rough idea
  of how long you will be speaking.
• Have students make and send home hand-made invitations as a reminder. Make name tags for desks. Write
  welcome notes. (Elementary)
• Clean up and organize your classroom.
• Decorate your classroom and hall bulletin boards.
• Display ungraded student work.
• Have copies of textbooks for parents to peruse.
• If possible, have extra adult-sized chairs.
7. What should I prepare to support the main points of my presentation?

   Use technology to support the main points of your presentation and to keep you on track. Make sure all
   equipment is working. Examples:

• Powerpoint presentation
• Digital photos of classroom activities
• Brief video tape of your students at work
• Transparencies on the overhead projector
8. How will parents remember the main points of my presentation?
• Prepare and copy a handout with pertinent information.
• Make a cover sheet.
• Have someone proof-read your handout before making copies.
• Make enough copies.
• Mail a packet to parents who were not able to attend.
9. What information should I gather from parents?
• Have a way of taking attendance. For example, use a sign-in sheet with a column for the student’s
  name as well as the parents’ name, since parents and students don’t always have the same last name.
• Include a column for parent e-mail addresses on your sign-in sheet.
• Have a sign-up sheet, form, or calendar for parent volunteers. For example, room parents, field trip
  and class party chaperones, guest speakers, career education day speakers, working on a play, reading a story,
  helping with a class Website.
• You may want a parent-teacher conference time preference list.
10. How can I present a professional image?
• Dress professionally. If you don’t have time to go home between school and Back-to-School Night, bring
  clothes to change into and to freshen up after a long day of teaching.
• Get enough rest for the long day ahead.
• Take a break between the end of the school day to eat and relax before the start of your open house.
• STAY POSITIVE.
• Be careful not to mention problems you are having with specific students. Protect the privacy of students
  and parents.
• Remain professional in your comments regarding your students’ past learning experiences.
11. How can I create a friendly environment?
• Smile
• Greet parents at the door
• Time permitting, allow parents to introduce themselves to you as they enter.
• Invite them to sit.
• Pleasantly greet any latecomers.
12. What should I include in my presentation and handout?

    Begin on time. Don’t Try to Do Too Much! Don’t plan more than you can present in the allotted time. Don’t set
    yourself up for stress because you’re rushing. Make your presentation upbeat, enjoyable, positive, and brief.
    If time is short, provide a handout with the details and highlight only the main points in your presentation.

• Introduce yourself: full name, educational background, experience you have had with children such as teaching
  experience, summer camps, tutoring, etc.
• It’s not necessary to state that this is your very first year of teaching. Don’t advertise your inexperience.
  A well-prepared presentation will advertise the fact that you’re confident and competent. If asked, you may say
  you’re new to the school, but not new to education. Or, a simple “yes” will do, and move on.
• Introduce assistants, aides or student teachers who are working with your class, whether they are present or not.
  These are people your students will be working with, and it’s important parents know them as well.
• overview of curriculum topics and standards.
• goals (ex: time management skills, study skills, responsibility)
• expectations (ex: respect, study using a guide)
• policies (ex: homework, grading, etc.)
• class procedures and routines (ex: Do Now, Daily Warm-Up)
• discipline plan
• schedules
• supplies
• important events and dates (parent-teacher conferences, report cards, major projects, term papers, trips, parties,
  science fairs, collection of box tops and soup can labels, book clubs, state/district testing)
• Encourage open communication to foster a partnership of support. Tell parents how you will keep in touch
  (ex: newsletters, progress reports, report cards, Website, phone calls as needed, Homework Hero). Hand out your contact
  information—school phone number and extension and e-mail address. Ask parents to contact you if a problem or concern arises.
  Avoid giving out your home e-mail or phone number.
• Explain how they can help their child be successful, ex: involvement in their child’s education, setting a good example,
  reading to their child, set a regular time and quiet place for homework, supporting school policies.
13. What if parents ask questions I’m not prepared to answer in a large group?
• Ask the parent to contact you to arrange an individual conference to discuss the matter.
• If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s okay to say that you’ll find the requested information and get back to the parent.
• Write the question down so they see their concerns are important to you.
14. What if parents want to talk about concerns they have about their child?
• This is not the time for individual conferences.
• Mention that it is early in the year and you’re still getting to know the students.
• Tell parents you welcome the opportunity to talk with them.
• Tell them the best way and time you can be reached to discuss individual concerns or to set up a conference.
15. How shall I end my presentation?
• Finish your presentation on time. Parents may have to get to another classroom.
• End on a positive note.
• Convey enthusiasm about your job.
• Stress the importance of working as a team.
• Encourage parents to review their children’s work and notebooks to get a good sense of how they’re doing in school.
• Thank parents for coming.
• Elementary teachers may want to allow time for parents to leave an encouraging note in their child’s desk.
• Be gracious if some parents linger afterwards. Suggest you walk out together.