It’s time to take a new approach that will get parents actively involved in learning about the new school year. Do you really want to reiterate the same expectations that are explained in your syllabus and school handbook? Take parents on a little trip around the classroom.
Welcome Banner!
Hang a “Welcome” banner to greet parents and students. Find many EDITABLE BANNERS HERE!
OPEN HOUSE STATIONS
Turn your old PowerPoint presentations into stations that include all of the information parents need or the simple tasks that they need to do one this special day.
Create a Travel Guide:
Include a list of stations that the parents need to visit. As they enter the class, parents pick up a sheet and immediately know what they need to do.
Station Ideas:
Welcome
Parents sign in and pick up a “travel form” that lists everything they need to do.
Communication
- Sign up for Remind 101.
- Set up computers or parents use their phones to send you a quick email.
How to be Successful
Include a handout of classroom policies:
- homework (Free “No Homework” Assignment Click HERE)
- graded papers
- absences/make-up work Check out this “We Missed You” folder. Click HERE
- weekly newsletters
- student planners
- study tips
Curriculum
Include a handout that explains focus areas for each subject.
- Provide a list of standards for each subject
- Explain daily/weekly assignments
- Assessments
- Books and Workbooks
- Helpful websites
- Projects
Self-Portraits
PARENTS & STUDENTS LOVE THIS ACTIVITY! On the first day of school, students sketch and color a self-portrait. NOTE: Tell students to write their names on the back not the front. On Open House Night, post all of the self-portraits on a wall. Parents write their child’s name on a sticky note, browse the self-portraits, and post the sticky note on the portrait that they believe looks like their child.
Conference Sign-up Sheet
Print a calendar or list of dates and times available for conferences. Parents choose a time that works for them. BOOM! DONE! Your conferences are scheduled for the year!
Teacher’s Wish List
Hang a poster of class supplies that parents can donate. Make a sticky note for each item you would like donated. Parents choose a sticky note and send the items to school with their child.
If you need multiples, make multiple sticky notes for that item.
- candy
- index cards
- Clorox wipes
- Expo markers
Meet the teacher
- Create a quiz to see who knows you best.
- Write a little bio about yourself.
- Hang some pictures of your family and your favorite hobbies.
- Complete the same “All About Me” activity as your students.
Transportation Information
How does your child get home? Get this information ASAP! It is always an issue on the first day of school!
Student Information Cards
Yes, the office has this information, but it will save you so much time to have your own copy.
Supplies
Make a list of the supplies students keep and the supplies collected from each student. Label bins for the supplies you want to collect.
How to organize the stations
- Print and laminate signs and station instructions.
- Place signs, instructions, handouts, and/or activities at different stations around the room.
- Parents enter the room and use the “Travel Form” as a guide to each station. Once at the station, parents complete the task.
- Now you have time to circulate the room and talk to parents individually or schedule a time at the end to speak to the parents as a group.
OPEN HOUSE STATIONS