open house

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Home : 2002 : April : 16

open house
By KT

At our school open house is for students to show off their work and friends and families to socialize. We do not hand anything out. If you have saved any work, now would be the time to put out writing folders, projects, etc.
If not (which I didn't think to save when I was a new teacher), simply have the kids create a simple art project for one board (spring flowers?), a writing sample on another board, and maybe a board to show off other work they are proud of. Sometimes I put up a working graph on chart paper (favorite kind of pizza) and let students and guests record their favorite for a little audience

participation. I let the kids be tour guides showing their folks around the room and telling about their day. Sometimes we role play this the day of open house. I am usually just the official greeter. For next year, you may want to make an art portfolio. I take the largest sheet of manila tag and fold it in half, stapling the sides. Each student labels and decorates it as their art portfolio. As we go through the year we file all art work, related writing projects, and some holiday things in the folder stored on a shelf. When open house arrives, just set it out for an instant display. It has made open house much easier and you'll be surprised how much accumulates in there. I feel Open House is mostly and opportunity for students to take pride in their classroom and some of their work.