Ideas for a successful open house night for parents
open house
Posted by: KT #26126
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 offi...
Our school has Open House before school starts also. Ours is set up a little different. All of the teachers have a table and they are set up around the circumference of the gym. The kids and their parents come in, find their table (which is decorated kid-friendly), and meet their teacher. I give them a little certificate, goodie bag, or balloon to get them excited about the year. After about 1 hour, the kiddos stay in the gym and there is some sort of "show" (musician, magician, dancers, etc.) and the assistants and specials teachers stay to supervise. The parents then go to the classroom with the teachers and have an introduction and year overview "session". It actually works well this way. The parents get all of their "office forms" and I get a chance to talk with them and introd...
Open Houses have always been fun for me and my students. Unfortunately, I think they are being replaced by parent curriculum nights this school year. I'm really disappointed about this!
Here are some things that I have done at open house:
A Scavenger Hunt - when completed is worth a pass for NO Homework. I write a few things on the list and the children add a few ideas of their own to have ready before the families arive.
My Summer Vacation Books- Kids write about their summer vacations ,but they are encouraged to stretch the truth a little. They are lots of fun!
A graph station can be available for families to visit.
We have made life size kids that sit in our school desks. All you have to do is make the head and neck and dress the "kid" up with some clothing broug...
At the very beginning of the year, our journal entries involve some copying from the overhead. Then we finish sentences I have written on the board, then we ease into writing on our own.
For open house, I put the following on the board:
Dear Mom and Dad,
This is my little desk, My home away from home. It is where I do my best to do my work with zest. I hope you've enjoyed your visit to my learning place. Neat, isn't it?
love, child's name
After the parents read their child's journal, I asked them to write a note back to their child, and the note was on their desks the next morning. They were thrilled. I know in most places, children attend open house. Ours is parents only, so this was a good activity. I ho...
Here's a fun and EASY project for Open House! I take pictures (shoulders and up) of each of my students. On white construction paper, I have the students draw a large picture of the front of their own houses paying close attention to the details such as their yard, trees, swingset, etc. The pictures are outlined with a black crayon and then painted with watercolors. The front door of their house needs to be big enough for their picture. The door is cut open on 3 sides and the picture is put behind it. They are so cute! On Open House, the parents have to come into the room and find their own house on the students' desks. The kids love it and it's a great keepsake for the parents. I do this in 4th grade but I think it could be done in all grade levels. Have a great year!
open house
Posted by: mrsb203 #59235
For our open house, the note that is sent home very clearly states that this is NOT conference time, but you still have the few that don't listen. We've purposly schedule open house early in the year before we have a chance to really know the children. We have 3 blocks of time. 2 of those times we are scheduled to be in the room and speak about rules, regulations, expectations, etc. The principal makes out the schedule and this goes home so that parents with multiple children can arrange their schedules. The 3rd time slot is our "break". We can go to the cafe and socialize, bathroom or "hide" in the teachers room. It's up to you. In the 20 minutes presentation you have to take into consideration questions that will be asked. I usually have a packet that covers FAQ's and other helpful...
At our open house, it is difficult to get all the parents in the classroom at one time to give a presentation. So I have little displays around the classroom. For example one will say "Sample Assignment Notebook", and I will have one laying there so the parents can see how it is supposed to be filled out. To encourage the parents to attend, I will ask the parents to sign in and put their name into the drawing. The next day I will draw out two names of students to receive a homework pass or even just a pencil. They love that. The other 3rd grade teacher and I at my school put together a 3rd grade handbook. This explains our procedures. It tells how we give the students conduct grades etc. Then when report cards come out there really isn't a question. One more idea is to as...
My schools open house is very similar. Ours is called Curriculum Night. The parents meet in the Gym and our Principal speaks to them and introduces the staff.
Then we go to our rooms. We have 2-20minute intervals. The parents come in and I briefly go through the curriculum/textbooks. I also review my class procedures and the various ways we can communicate.
On each student's desk, their is:
*a district core curriculum booklet *a packet of info. from me-- I put together a little packet of info. about each academic subject, and various things about my classroom. Such as: class expectations, class behavior policy, homework policy, parent-teacher communication, etc. *a letter from the students: Earlier that day, the students write a letter to the pare...
Here's what I just did at our Open House. I prepared a checklist for parents and put it on each child's desk. It said things like: Look at math and writing journals on desk, fill out information sheet on your child, look at computer, math, and reading centers, check out the Giving Tree, meet Mrs....(me), visit also with (and I listed the other two teachers that have this child), go see the band teacher about your child playing an instrument this year, stop for snacks in the gym. Then on each desk I put a note explaining book order procedures, the handbook, and a sheet telling exactly what I expected from each child with his daily planner. I also prepared a business card with my school address, phone number, planning times available, and email address that I put on a magnet. When parents...
