Meet the Teacher Night is an exciting time, but it can also be a bit stressful. As a teacher, it’s so easy to stand up in front of a group of students and teach your heart out, but parents are a different ball game. I will be the first to admit that Meet the Teacher Night can give me jitters. There is so much to say and do in a short time.
I want to ensure parents feel comfortable and that I have answered all the questions about the logistics of the school day. But most importantly, I want to ensure that I set the foundation for building relationships with my students and their families. I am sharing a few tips and questions that help make your night go smoother while focusing on building relationships with your new families.
ASK YOUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THEIR PREFERRED NAMES
Ask your students and their parents what names they prefer to be called and how you pronounce them. Growing up, I somehow adopted the nickname “Cissy,” and it stuck. I liked to be called “Cecelia,” but no one ever asked me if I was ok with it. And it wasn’t until I moved away that I could adapt to “Cecelia” again. I know firsthand how important as an educator it is to ensure your students like the nickname their friends call them. Not only is knowing the name important but learning how to correctly pronounce it is of the utmost importance.
The same goes for our student’s parents. Ask their preferred name and pronunciation so that if you have to write an email or make a phone call, you use the correct name. Having this information gathered at Meet the Teacher checks one thing off your to-do list for the first week of school.
ARE YOU EXCITED FOR SCHOOL?
It’s a simple question, but it goes a long way. This shows students and families that you are invested in knowing if they are excited, nervous, or scared and, in turn, allows parents to feel at ease because you see if they need a little extra TLC during those first few days.
SHARE SOMETHING YOU WISH I KNEW
Give parents a piece of paper and allow them to share something they want you to know about their child, family situation, etc. This is huge for relationship building because you are establishing a line of trust. As a parent myself, these first graders are their babies, and they just need reassurance that their kids will be safe, cared for, and loved while at school. I have learned that asking this question for open discussion is too difficult because it’s personal and doesn’t give you the chance to capture each parent’s wish.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM ME AS A TEACHER
We have expectations of our students, as do they have expectations from us. Parents often answer this question, but I always allow time for the student to answer, too. Asking this question also facilitates a question-and-answer opportunity; most of the time, I have a system for their expectation. They typically ask about communication, behavior, and classroom management, and asking this question allows me to cover most of the information parents seek to know.
HAVE SIGN-IN SHEETS
I always use these sheets for parents to fill out during our time because it gives me more opportunity to build relationships with my families rather than asking questions I need on paper anyways. I include a dismissal routine sheet and a volunteer sheet, which I can keep on hand. You can download the sheets for free here.
DO SOMETHING FUN
I want Meet the Teacher Night to be fun and less of an informational session, so I always include something fun for parents and students to do while waiting to talk to me. I create a photo wall area with fun props for parents to take pictures with their children, and it is always a huge hit. And it’s a memory to look back on! You can grab these photo props from this Beginning of the Year Unit. I’ve always seen teachers do scavenger hunts, write the rooms, or have a station where they can play a classroom procedure game with their child.
COLLECT SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Nothing is worse than sending your kid to school with a backpack full of heavy school supplies. Will it make it to school, or will it get lost? You never know! I allow parents to bring school supplies during Meet the Teacher Night because it makes it easier for them and me. I have time to organize and put everything in its correct spot before the first day of school. You can have a designated area in your classroom where parents can either sort the school supplies or drop them off.
HAVE AN INFORMATIONAL SHEET
We cover a lot of things during Meet the Teacher, and I’ll be honest, I stress about missing something important, which is why I created this flipbook for parents to read through or read at home later that covers a lot of the basics. I always include my contact information, schedule, and an about me section. This flipbook is entirely editable, so you can customize it based on your needs. It can be found within this bundle.
INCLUDE A TAKEAWAY
And last but not least, provide a fun little takeaway for your first-graders. I leave Magic Streamers on their desks and a form for parents to fill out. I love using these to help ease any first-day jitters for my first-graders by allowing them to have sweet dreams the night before school begins. I always remind my kiddos that I use these, too, because, like them, I also get nervous before a new school year. You can also find these Magic Streamers inside my Beginning of the Year Activity Unit.
I know firsthand that Meet the Teacher Night can be overwhelming and stressful because you want to provide parents with all the necessary information while building relationships. But you’ll do great. It always helps when you have a plan and everything prepped and ready to go. I hope you found these tips helpful and a couple of new ideas you can implement in your classrooms. I love hearing some of your favorite tips, so feel free to share them with me!
