Back-to-School Night is often the first opportunity to meet many of the parents in your class. It’s crucial to provide them with all the information they’ll need to support their child’s success throughout the school year. Here are my top tips for planning an informative and stress-free Back-to-School Night
Create a Sign-In Sheet
Have parents sign in as they enter the room. This helps you track which parents were able to attend. For those who couldn’t make it, be sure to send home copies of the information shared during the event.
Showcase Your Students’ Work
Parents love seeing what their children have been working on. Consider having a bulletin board dedicated to student projects or displaying their work on desks for easy viewing. An interactive display can add excitement, allowing students to watch their parents engage with their work. For example, I created a “Guess Who?” Bulletin Board for Back-to-School Night, which was a hit with both parents and students!
Each student selects a cover that they feel best represents themselves and colors it. Then, they write 3-4 clues about themselves on the top portion of the paper. This fun activity not only allows students to express their personalities, but it also gives parents a chance to learn more about their child in a creative and interactive way.
After reading the clues, parents can lift the flap to reveal a photo or drawing of the student. This adds an element of surprise and excitement, allowing parents to connect the clues with their child’s unique personality and creativity.
If you’d like to use this bulletin board in your classroom, you can purchase the template in my TPT Store. It’s an easy and fun way to create an interactive display that will engage both students and parents during Back-to-School Night!
Learn About Your Students
Parents know their children better than anyone else, so I like to use Back-to-School Night as an opportunity to learn more about each of my students. Before they leave, I ask parents to fill out a short survey about their child. This survey includes questions about the child’s interests, hobbies, allergies, internet access at home, and any other special circumstances. If you’d like to use my editable Back-to-School Night parent survey, it’s available for download in my TPT Store.
Share Classroom Policies and Procedures
You don’t want parents to be caught off guard by any of your classroom policies. Use Back-to-School Night to share key information about how your class will operate this year. Be sure to cover:
- Parent Communication
- Office Hours/How to Schedule a Meeting
- Homework/Take-Home Folders
- Classroom Management/Discipline
- Birthday Celebrations
- Daily Schedule
Gather Volunteers
Back-to-School Night is a great opportunity to ask for classroom volunteers. Have sign-up sheets available for parents to choose the types of activities they can help with. I recommend separate sheets for field trips, class parties, volunteering to prep items at home, and assisting in the classroom.
Ask for Donations
If you’re still in need of classroom supplies, this is the perfect time to ask for donations. I like to create a display near my classroom door where I write the name of a specific supply we need on a paper cut-out. I often choose a shape that matches the theme of my classroom for the year (examples below). Parents who wish to donate can take a cut-out and return it with their donation. This method helps ensure that I get the right supplies and avoid receiving too many of one item.
conclusion
Back-to-School Night is a wonderful opportunity to connect with parents and set the stage for a successful school year. By providing clear communication, showcasing student work, and gathering input through surveys and sign-ups, you can create an engaging and organized event that benefits both parents and students. With a little planning, you’ll foster a positive classroom community and ensure that parents feel informed and involved in their child’s education.
