Open House Resources

This useful list of resources for educators will help make your next Open House Night a success. Being well prepared to meet students' parents for the first time can make a huge difference in how well the rest of the year goes. These printables will give you ideas on how to plan your event, introduce yourself to parents, and foster positive parent-teacher relationships. You'll also find helpful skill building tips to distribute to parents and great decorating ideas that showcase students' work. These resources will help you prepare for your next Parents' Night, Open School Night, or Back-to-School Open House.

Advice & Ideas for Teachers Getting Parents Involved Encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom year round as an important positive step in improving their child's education. New teachers, who are trying to build solid relationships with parents, will find this resource particularly valuable. Parent/Teacher Relations Handy suggestions for creating and maintaining positive parent/teacher relationships. Getting to Know Your Student: Parent Form Send this letter home to parents to help you know your students better. Getting to Know Your Students: Classroom Activities Get to know new students through icebreakers, name games, and first-day celebrations. Our activities and advice will help teachers develop classroom community and establish positive relationships. Bulletin Board Tips Use these helpful hints to improve your classroom bulletin boards. This content is free for a limited time to Special Offers for Teachers subscribers. Not a Special Offers for Teachers subscriber? Visit our Newsletter Center and subscribe today. Parent Volunteering Survey Have parents complete this form at your Open House to get a better idea of how they can volunteer or help throughout the school year. Positive Descriptions of Student Behavior An extensive list of verbs and phrases that will help you to prepare positive, descriptive statements about a student's behavior. New teachers will find this resource particularly valuable when they're writing their first report cards and progress reports. Parent-Teacher Communication Advice from Veteran Teachers Communication with parents is an essential part of teaching. Here is a list of helpful suggestions from experienced educators. Tips from Veteran Teachers on Dealing with Parents Enlisting parents in their child's education is one of the hardest yet most rewarding undertakings for teachers. Here are some practical tips from veteran teachers on managing these challenging relationships. New teachers will find this resource particularly valuable. Preparing for the First Day of School Discover great ideas on how to introduce yourself to your new middle/secondary students and their parents. First Day at the Elementary Level Prepare yourself for your first day teaching at the elementary level with these ideas, including getting to know your students and discussing classroom rules. New teachers will find this resource particularly valuable. First Day at the Secondary Level Get ready for your first day teaching at the secondary level with these tips on everything from outlining the syllabus to starting a fun and hands-on project. New teachers will find this resource particularly valuable for back-to-school. Advice for Parents Parental Help at Home A list of suggestions to give parents who ask about how they can help their child at home. This is an especially useful resource to give parents at an open house or a parent-teacher conference. Organization: Advice for Parents Offer these tips to parents to help them teach their children to become more organized. Help Parents Deal with Homework The strategies outlined in this article will help parents work successfully with their children to finish homework. Discuss these methods with parents at teacher-parent conferences or on the phone. Homework: Setting the Stage Advice to parents on setting some homework parameters. Stages of Development (Grades 1-12) Learn about the developmental stages of children from first grade through twelfth grade. This information will be of great help to parents. Building Skills: Handouts for Parents Give these reference sheets to the parents of your students. They provide useful information about skill-building in each subject. More Advice for Parents

Preparing for the Open House Hosting a Successful Open House Your students' parents are powerful allies and can make your job much more manageable. Learn some tips on how to foster a positive relationship with parents and host a successful open house. New teachers will find this resource particularly valuable. Invitation to Open House: Sample Letter When you start with this sample letter, it's easy to develop your own Open House Night invitation to parents. Welcome Parents Sign Hang this sign on your classroom door or blackboard to welcome parents to an open house or conference evening. Kindergarten Open House Prepare for Open House with these ideas about making refreshments, setting up the classroom, and creating activities for the parents to do. First-Grade Open House Prepare for open house by decorating the room with your students' work, making refreshments, and planning activities for the visiting parents. Second-Grade Open House Print a worksheet that describes various ways to prepare your classroom for open house so that parents can see what their children are learning. Third-Grade Open House Use this printable to come up with activities and refreshments to demonstrate your students' progress for their parents. Fourth-Grade Open House Prepare for Open House with these activities for you, your students, and their parents. Fifth-Grade Open House Prepare for Open House with these activities for you, the students, and their parents to demonstrate what is being done in the classroom. Sixth-Grade Open House Prepare for Open House with these ideas for bulletin-board displays, student-provided refreshments, and activities for their parents to complete. Create a Meaningful Open House Your students' parents are powerful allies and can make your job much more manageable. Learn some tips on how to foster a positive relationship with parents and host a successful open house. Showcasing Student Achievement Creative Writing Teacher Resources Build solid creative writing skills with our extensive collection of printables, graphic organizers, and lesson plans. You'll find poetry activities, short-story writing exercises, journal topics, and more! Art Resources for Teachers Emphasize the importance of art education across the curriculum with TeacherVision's art lesson plans, printables, activities, quizzes, and references, for grades K-12. Music Resources for Teachers Bring some music into your classroom with lessons and printables! Celebrate Music in Our Schools Month in March, or enjoy music on a regular basis with your students. Working Portfolios Working portfolios contain work a student is currently involved with. This lists suggested items for this type of portfolio. Additional Resources Back-to-School Headquarters Return to school this fall prepared to conquer any questions you or your students might have about the school year. Our resources range from teaching students the school's layout to assessment tips. New Teacher Resources Discover everything a beginning teacher will need for a successful school year, from tips for your first day, to classroom-management advice, to printables and lesson plans that will support your curriculum all year long.