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Back-to-school night

Tips for getting off to a good start

NYSUTEnding theAchievementGap

FOR TEACHERS

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For re-orders, e-mail orders@nysutmail.org and

ask for Item #203_10.

June 2010

This brochure was prepared in collaborationwith NYSUT’s Education & Learning Trust.

Make sure your room is well-organized, looksinviting and features student work.

Union course offersopen house tips

One of the most often-requested work-shops offered by the union’s Education &Learning Trust is “Parent-TeacherConference: Strategies for Success.”

In the two-hour session, veteran-teacherinstructors cover strategies and tips,including creating an effective environ-ment and gathering documents for meet-ings with parents. For more information orto check scheduling, go towww.nysut.org/elt or contact the Trust atELTmail@nysutmail.org.

If you are interested in having an ELTworkshop in your area, ask your localunion president to schedule one by callingELT in Latham at 800-528-6208.

203_10

You’re not alone.If you’re a little nervous about that upcom-

ing “Back to School” night or “Open House,”you’re not alone.

New teachers call it one of the scariestparts of their new career.

Truth be told, even some of the mostaccomplished teachers find it challenging.

“I’ve been doing it more than 20 years andI still can’t eat dinner that night,” confessedone longtime Long Island teacher. “It’s onething to deal with the kids. It’s quite anotherto face a roomful of parents.”

Maria Neira, NYSUT vice president, says it’simportant to view the “back-to-school” nightfor what it is: a fresh start and a perfect wayto kick off a productive and enjoyable year. Itprobably will be the first contact you havewith many parents. If you teach at the sec-ondary level, it may be the only contact youhave with them.

New York Teacher interviewed several expe-rienced classroom teachers, including ELTinstructors, for their strategies on how tomake the evening a win/win situation for youand the parents. Here are some suggestions tokeep in mind.

Send out invitations;let students help prepare.

Enlist your students to help you preparedisplays, select work for folders, write a shortnote to their parents, or act as hallway hostsduring the open house. ELT instructor DonnaChristmas, a longtime science teacher at SouthColonie Middle School (near Albany), saysteachers there work in teams to personallycall and invite parents. Others boost atten-dance by sending personal invitations or post-cards hand-addressed by students. Some dis-tricts arrange for older students to offerbabysitting so more parents can come.

Don’t ‘wing it.’Rehearse what you’ll say. Practice an open-

ing and a closing — many people don’t dothat. Prepare an outline or checklist of areasyou want to cover. Plan how you’ll keeptrack of time. Elementary teacher JulieBurnetter, a member of the Shenendehowa TAin Saratoga County, plays soft backgroundmusic, and when the tape goes off, sheknows she has five minutes to wrap up. Ifyou’re limited to 10-15 minutes, be sure totime yourself at home.

Meet parents at the door. Don’t sit at your desk. Make parents feel

welcome — be sure to thank them for com-ing, use a warm voice, make eye contact andremember to smile. To add a personal touch,you might display “day in the life” snapshotsor make a video showing students at work inthe classroom.

Outline your goals.This is the perfect opportunity to explain

your policies and expectations. Jay Krass, ateacher in North Salem, Westchester County,suggests explaining the curriculum and majorthemes, plus your expectations for homework,attendance and behavior.

Recruit parental support.Be sure to remind parents their support

and involvement is important. This is a greattime to recruit volunteers for various activitiesand schedule parent-teacher conferences, ifapplicable. Have sign-up sheets available.This will save you time later.

Allow time for questions.Dis courage ‘personal conferences.’

Give parents a chance to ask general ques-tions but be sure to firmly say “tonight is notthe time for personal conversations aboutyour child.” Kindly explain you’re still gettingto know the kids — and tell parents the bestway and time you can be reached to discussany individual concerns. This avoids that hugeline-up of parents at the end of the evening!

Give parents something to take home.

Be selective, whether it’s a brief course out-line, general district information or a unionbrochure on how to help children with read-ing. Several teachers suggested sending a fol-low-up letter to all parents, including thosewho were not able to attend.

NYSUTEnding theAchievementGap