Meet the teacher night is an important part of back-to-school season. Typically, it is when parents, and sometimes students, come to school to meet the child’s new teacher, see the classroom, etc. Sometimes, it is called Back to School Night, while other schools may have a separate night for that.
I remember being a new teacher and being nervous about meet the teacher night. It can be a lot of pressure, especially if you are in the beginning of your teaching career. All eyes are on you- not just the students, but their families, too!
Read on to learn some tips and tricks for making this night positive for both you and your classroom families.
Provide information about yourself
The purpose of this night is for families and students to get to know you. If you teach a lower elementary grade, especially preschool or kindergarten, families may be anxious about meeting their child’s teacher. Parents of students with IEPs may also be rightfully anxious. They want the best for their child and want to make sure their needs will be met at school.
This event is a great way to provide some information about yourself. I always like to give out a simple handout with some background information about me. Information such as how many years I have been teaching, where I got my degrees, etc. is nice to know. I like to also include a picture of myself so that families can put a face to the name before they even meet me.
Also, include some fun information that help families see you as more than just a teacher! I include a “favorites” section where I list some of my favorite things. These include things like food, drink, candy, hobbies, etc. Not that gifts are ever expected, but if families are ever looking for gift ideas for you, this gives them some ideas.
Simply Special Ed has a free meet the teacher form you can download here.
Learn about your new students- both fun things and practical things!
Learning about your new students is just as important as them learning about you. You can use this night as a time for parents to provide you with some helpful information about their child.
You will get to know them in your own way throughout the year. However, having parents fill out a simple form can be beneficial.
This form can include sections for them to describe their goals for their child for the school year, their child’s interests, any health concerns, etc. As seen above, I have given parents the option of filling it out at meet the teacher night, or returning it with their child the first week of school.
In addition, I have parents fill out a transportation form. This is where parents provide information on how their child will be getting to and from school. This is an easy way to save yourself a headache on the first day of school where you are scrambling at dismissal trying to figure out how everyone is getting home!
SSE also has free back to school forms that you can find here. These include parent contact information, getting to know your child, and more.
Give an overview of the curriculum
Your school may not have a separate back to school night or a curriculum night. If this is the case, meet the teacher night can be a good time to give an overview of what students will be learning.
This does not have to be super detailed. You can provide a handout to parents with the subjects broken down into bullet points with the major topics/standards you will cover. If you are showing a Powerpoint, it can be included in that.
It is also helpful to provide a list of what standards you will teach during the school year. This can give families a good idea of what their child will learn, as well as give them a framework if they want to reinforce the skills at home.
You can also have curriculum resources posted in or outside the classroom for parents and families to easily reference and see what their child is learning. This is shown in the picture above.
Establish a parent news space
You may want to set up a space right outside of your classroom that is a central location for parents to find helpful information. This is helpful if you teach at a daycare/preschool setting where lots of parents are coming in and out of the classroom daily.
The bulletin board can feature lesson plans, the classroom’s daily schedule, a link to an amazon wish list for supplies, etc. Some things on the bulletin board can be updated throughout the year. This includes lesson plans, field trip information, etc. Others will stay throughout the year, such as the daily schedule, contact info, etc.
Starting at meet the teacher night, you can introduce this to parents, so they know where to access it. You can explain to parents that if they have questions during drop off or dismissal and you are not available at the moment to answer, checking the parent news board would be a good place to start.
Make your classroom welcoming
It may sound obvious, but families will want to walk into your classroom and feel welcomed. They will want to see a neat, organized space that promotes learning for their child.
Take the time before meet the teacher night to make sure your classroom is clean and set up for the school year. Parents will love to see the areas where their child will be sitting, reading, learning, etc. Your classroom does not have to be a “Pinterest classroom” or include expensive materials. As long as parents can tell their child is safe and welcomed in the classroom, they will be happy!
I always like to have a bulletin board for future student work. Including signs that say something like “amazing work coming soon” conveys the message that you are looking forward to helping your students take pride in their future work. If their child is with them, this can get them excited about their learning as well.
Talk to other teachers
Whether you are a new teacher in general or new to a school, it can be helpful to talk to other teachers. Find teachers that are veterans of the school. They may be able to provide you with ideas and resources for what they make sure to include.
My first year of teaching, my 2nd grade teammate shared her meet the teacher Powerpoint template with me. It included general school information that would be helpful to parents, so I didn’t have to search for that information myself. I was then able to tweak the rest of it to match me and my classroom. It saved me a ton of time, and I used it for many years!
Meet the teacher night can be overwhelming, but also fun if you approach it the right way! Remember, it is a chance for you to get to know your students and families, and for them to get to know you. Establishing those relationships is key for a successful year.
Have a great school year!
Leave a Reply