Open House for Parents

Parents play an integral role in assisting student learning. Children's education is a shared responsibility. I want my students' parents to be knowledgeable and involved partners in their child's academic and social success. Therefore, before my first READ 180 session with students, I hold an open house for their parents. The first open house of each school year is an opportunity to establish a personal connection with my students' parents and foster a positive school and home partnership. Creating a good first impression is vitally important in gaining support for my READ 180 program and maintaining positive lines of communication throughout the school year. An open house gives parents the opportunity to become more familiar with the unique characteristics of a READ 180 program, learn about classroom policies, and ask questions.

Tips for a Successful Open House

• I consider an open house to be a social event. I prepare my classroom for company. My decorations are inviting and I get rid of clutter!
  
  
• I serve refreshments. Food always helps everyone feel more relaxed and welcomed.
  
  
• I want students and parents to know a little about me as a person-not just my role as a teacher. I design a bulletin board that highlights my hobbies and favorite things.
  
  
• I try to make a personal connection before I meet parents face-to-face. I call parents a few days before the open house to remind them about the event. I email more elusive parents.
  
  
• I design an invitation that can be mailed. (Important school notices tend to disappear in the dark recesses of students' book bags!)
  
  
• I have parents view the READ 180 introductory video and get hands-on computer experience. They are amazed at the sophisticated software support available.
  
  
• I don't want my presentation to be boring so I make sure that it is brief and enjoyable. I try to add a little humor by showing an educational cartoon on the overhead.
  
  
• I prepare an information packet. Since my school's open house is held in the evening everyone has already put in a full day at work…they don't want to be talked at! Parents can read through the fine details at their leisure. I highlight only the main points in my presentation. The information packet includes the following items in Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) format to maintain the look and integrity of the original documents:

Folder Cover Table of Contents Program Overview Classroom Guidelines Goals and Objectives Classroom Code of Conduct Lexile Reading Levels SRI Diagnostic Important Contact Information Parent Involvement Favorite Children's Stories Questionnaire Classroom Newsletter Apple Poem

Click the Get Acrobat Reader icon if you need to download the free program.

• I give parents a writing assignment. I explain that I want to know more about this unique individual that will be spending 90-minutes a day with me. I ask parents to fill out a questionnaire to furnish information that the last year's report card can't provide. The information that I receive from this questionnaire gives me great insight as I start the school year. I refer to the questionnaires during parent conferences and return them at the end of the school year.
  
  
• Before walking out the door, parents can grab an apple treat to take home. I fill a basket with Granny Smith Apples. Attached to the stem of the apple is the "Parents are Teachers, Too!"  poem, which I print on red paper.
  
  
• I keep a record of parents who attend the open house, and send a brief thank-you note after the event.