6 Tips For Back To School Night

The start of the school year means that you probably have a to-do list that feels to be a mile long.  One of the tasks on that list is to prepare for the annual “Back To School Night” at your school. 

 

If this is your first “Back To School Night,” the thought of preparing can feel daunting.  Here are six tips to ensure that this first interaction with parents and guardians goes smoothly:

 

1.   Find out if there are must-haves

Talk to your supervisor and/or other teachers to find out if there is a particular format that needs to be followed during your informal presentation.  There may be must-haves, such as including specific criteria in a particular order, having a handout for the parents, etc.  Be sure you know what topics you must cover and what materials you need to have available.    

 

2.   Rehearse more talking points than necessary

Be sure to find out the duration of each time-slot during which the parents will visit you.  Knowing this will help you determine how much detail to include, especially if there are parameters you must follow.  That being said, plan more talking points than necessary.  If you have a tendency to speak quickly when you are nervous, you may run out of information to share.  This leaves time for parents to ask questions that you may not be expecting, hence, making you unsure of how to respond.  Have more talking points than you know you’ll need, and as the period comes to an end, encourage parents to email you with questions. 

 

3.   Create a slideshow

Visual aids enhance presentations, and the in-person introduction to your students’ parents is no exception.  Having a slideshow allows the parents to follow along visually and auditorily.  At the beginning of the slideshow, include your name, email address, and the hours you can best be reached.  Give the parents ample time to write down that information.  Next, include details about the curriculum, such as a brief outline of the units and types of activities the students will do throughout the year.

4.   Have a sign-in sheet and handouts

Place a sign-in sheet and handouts in a prominent space when parents enter your classroom.  On the sign-in sheet, include spaces for the parent’s/guardian’s name, student’s name, relation to student, and email address.  This will serve as a useful record for you to reference.  As far as handouts, you may want to create a small packet including the class syllabus and class rules.  These details, along with your short presentation, will inform parents about how you conduct your class and what the expectations are for the students. 

 

5.   Display student work

Parents love nothing more than to see work that their children have created.  The assignments you display can be anything from an “About Me” or “My Goals For This Year” activity to a written piece such as a poem or a short story.  This work not only adds life to your classroom but can occupy parents who arrive early and can serve as a time-filler in the event that you run out of talking points before the period ends. 

 

6.   Breathe, smile, and relax!

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, especially when the audience is parents who are putting their trust in you to educate their children.  Radiate the confidence that you are giving your best effort every day.  Remember to breathe, smile, and relax, and before you know it, “Back To School Night” will become a distant memory. 😊

 

What tips do you have for “Back To School Night”?  Leave a question, comment, or suggestion below, in the Comments Section!    

 

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Peace.  Love.  Reading & Writing.

 

💗 Miss M