Does your school have an Open House before school starts? Amazingly, after 35 years of teaching, I still get nervous for these things. However, Iāve found if Iām well prepared, Iām not quite as nervous.
I think about what my visitors really want to see when they visit my classroom.
The children want:
- To meet their teacher.
- To see where their desk is.
- To see if they have a friend in the class.
The parents want:
- To meet their childās teacher.
- To know what sort of things their child will be doing this year.
- To know their child will be safe and happy.
I want:
- To get to know a little something about the children.
- To make a positive start with their parents.
- To make sure everyone knows my classroom is a happy, safe place to learn.
Successful Back to School Open House Tips
In my school district, the Open House is shortly before school begins for the year. Everything is clean and shiny and in place. The pencils are sharpened. The bulletin boards are up. The nametags are on the desks, and the names of the children are displayed in a variety of places in a variety of colors all throughout the classroom.
I like to prepare something for the children to do. Iāve used various forms of āscavenger hunts.ā These are some examples of tasks Iāve had the children do:
- Choose a book to leave on your desk so youāll have something to read the first day of school.
- Write one of your favorite things to do on a sticky note. Leave the sticky note on your desk.
- Take a stuffed animal from the shelf and put it on your desk. This guy will keep you company on your first day of school.
I also have a packet for the parents. Itās an introductory letter from me, telling my background, my education, my experience, my philosophy on teaching, and some personal information. I also include a questionnaire about their child, a form for classroom volunteers, a daily schedule with a few words about each subject, and a book order. Iāve learned to write each childās name on a packet so I can keep track of which parents took their packet, and which I need to send home that first week of school.
I take the same information from my āparent packetā and put it into a Power Point presentation on one side of the room with my presentation system. I set it up so that it keeps cycling through. Not only are they learning something about the teacher and the classroom, it also gives them an idea of some of our technology.
To create the right atmosphere, I want the right kind of music playing when my visitors arrive. I play an assortment of music through the school year, but for Open House, I want to give the feel of a happy place, so I put on upbeat music. You know, the kind of music that makes you smile when you hear it. Some song examples: I Feel Good by James Brown, Iām So Excited by the Pointer Sisters, Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles, or Celebration by Kool and the Gang. I have a couple of CDs with many songs of this quality, and they never fail to put smiles on the faces of visitors in my classroom.
Now that Iāve set up the classroom, Iām ready to greet my guests. I make sure Iām dressed professionally, and I make sure Iām wearing a great big smile. My classroom is a warm, inviting environment, and I make sure the guests see that in my personality as well.
About the Author
Sally DeCost has taught almost every grade between Pre K through 8th grade, but has settled into second grade for the last 12 years. Besides gardening and musical theatre, Sally has a passion for brain research, which she often blogs about on Elementary Matters.
Jana says
Great ideas!! I really like the idea of having the students pick a book and putting on their desk so they have something to read the first day of school. I also love the idea of having upbeat music playing to set the tone.
Katie says
Great post Sally! The beginning of the school year when the classroom is all new and fresh is my favorite time of the year. I’ve done some of the same things for our open house as well. Additionally, we add a wishing tree or something like it asking for small donations such as stickers, anti-bacterial wipes, etc. I like the idea of adding music. I saw a Pinterest idea, where the teacher had balloons at each students’ desk with their name written on it. It was adorable.
Mary Ellen says
Great ideas! I also like the one about selecting a book. The post-it is a wonderful way to begin to get to know your students as individuals.
Marie Madden says
Really good ideas!! Like the one about picking a book to read and leaving it on the desk.