Shine for Back-to-School Night! - Brief Article

Instructor, Sept, 2000 by Debi Norris, Jeanne Cruz

Activities to help you involve your students and parents, make introductions easier, and encourage everyone to have fun on this special evening.

Classroom Discovery Scavenger Hunt

Add some excitement to Back-to-School Night with a classroom scavenger hunt. Students will love leading their parents through the clues and introducing them to the wonders of your classroom. This is your chance to highlight your student accomplishments and your classroom. As groups of parents and students arrive, give them your list of things to do and find in the classroom. For example:

* Find your child's name in three different places.

* Find our class pet. Ask your child how our pet got its name.

* Find our Special Assistant Calendar. What is your child's job this week?

* Find the classroom library. Ask your child to show you a favorite book and tell you about it.

* Find your child's desk. How many books are inside?

* Find our computer center. Ask your child to show you our latest research project.

The more you personalize it for your classroom the more fun it will be. The last item on the list should send parents to find the teacher! Encourage children to do the introductions and reward them with "welcome back" pencils! This discovery tour of the classroom will give parents a chance to formulate questions and you the opportunity for a few minutes with each child's parents.

Tracey Morton

Bryant Elementary School

Independence, MO

Classroom in Progress

Having trouble getting all your bulletin boards completed before Open House? Try this alternative. Hang bright yellow caution tape across your bulletin boards with construction signs that read "Under Construction" or "Watch this Space." Then, take your time as you work together with your students children to create bulletin boards that display their work or reflect what they have been learning.

Debi Norris

Shoal Creek Elementary

San Diego, CA

Message from Mom

Here's an activity that works well if your open house is a "parents only" event. Place a sheet of bulletin board paper and colored markers on a large table or group of desks. Invite parents to write a welcome back message to their child. Hang the paper on a bulletin board for students to notice the next day. Add your own special messages for students whose parents were unable to attend.

Jeanne Cruz

Cerbat Elementary School

Kingman, AZ