How to Hold a Back-to-School Parent Night

Parents are often as anxious and nervous about their children going back to school as the children are themselves. Parents have questions about qualifications of the teachers, what will be covered in the curriculum and what technology their children will be using on a regular basis. A back-to-school parent information night can provide answers to these questions and more. This is different from an open house as this parent information night will most likely occur right before school starts or the first week of school. It is a chance for the parents and the teachers to talk as a group about the upcoming school year.

Things You'll Need

• Flyers
• Envelopes
• Stamps
• Students' home addresses

Instructions

1. Schedule the date for the back-to-school parent night, and create flyers to send to all the parents of your students. Mail flyers to the parents, or send them home with the students the first day of school. It is best to hold an information night like this before school starts or the first week of school.

2. Decide if babysitting will be available or if students should attend with their parents. However, this back-to-school night should be an opportunity where parents and teachers talk to each other as a group about curriculum, technology, expectations, homework policies and so on. This is not a meet-the-teacher night for students or an open house.

3. Make a schedule for the back-to-school parent night. Usually, parents start in the classroom of their oldest child. The teacher should prepare about 15 to 20 minutes of remarks about the subjects mentioned in Step 2. She should also prepare a hand-out with additional information or highlighting the main points of her presentation. Leave about 10 to 15 minutes for questions. Then there should be about a 5-minute break for parents to go to the next room. Parents will either visit the classroom of another child they have at that school, or they should visit one of the specialty teachers, such as PE, Music or Art.

4. Schedule about two hours for the back-to-school parent night. This allows three 30 to 35 minute sessions for parents to meet with three different teachers with small breaks in-between the sessions. Teachers could be available at the end of the evening for about 20 more minutes for any parents who have questions or who didn't get to attend a session earlier. Although this is a long evening for teachers, administrators and parents, it is important for the home and school connection to be established early in the year, and a great way to do this is with a back-to-school parent night.

Tips & Warnings

• In the invitation to parents, the principal can write a small note that explains to parents that back-to-school night is for teachers and parents to speak as a group. If parents have individual concerns, then they can call the teacher or send an email.