About This Daily Classroom Special
Back to School Night was created by former Teachers Network Web Mentor Kristi Thomas, Band Director at William F. Halley Elementary School, Fairfax
Station, Virginia.
Essentials
- Be sure the children's names are clearly marked on their desks. Have parents sit at their own child's desk. Parents enjoy experiencing your room like their children do,
and it will help you to remember who is who!
- All of us had a variation of this next tip on our lists! Have an index card or sheet on each desk for the parents to tell you anything that they would like
you to know about their child - interests, fears, concerns, anything they feel is important. This information is invaluable - we have all gotten some very important input
from these cards or forms.
- Have the children write a letter to their parents during the day, welcoming them to the class. Brainstorm the activity with
the children. Leave these letters on the desk for the parents to enjoy when they arrive. Have the parents respond, leaving the letter on
the desk for the children to find the next morning.
- Have the math book or other books which the children will
be using during the school year on each child's desk for the parents to
view and ask questions. Have the students leave their journals, portfolios,
or other work on their desk for parents to review.
- Write
a
homework
policy
letter
for
your
classroom.
Put
a
copy
of
the
letter
on
each
child's
desk
for
the
parents
to
take
home.
This
same
letter
will
be
included
in
the
take-home
envelope
sent
the
first
week
of
school.
It
should
include
when
homework
is
due,
how
it
is
checked,
what
evaluation
method
is
used.
If
you
are
a
new
teacher,
ask
several
colleagues
to
show
you
copies
of
their
policies
to
give
you
ideas.
This
will
help
you
have
a
bit
more
scope
when
you
create
your
own.
- Write
a
discipline
policy
letter
for
your
classroom.
Put
a
copy
on
each
child's
desk
for
parents
to
take
home.
Explain
how
your
classroom
discipline
policy
works.
Be
familiar
with
the
school's
discipline
policy,
and
how
that
might
affect
their
child.
Inform
parents
of
available
information
on
district-wide
discipline
policies.
The Presentation
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