Welcome to a great open house! - parents' visits to children's classrooms - Cover Story

Make your next open house an awesome event with these tried and true preparation strategies.

You know what they say: "There's never a second chance to make a good first impression." For teachers, this is never more true than during your first open house. Parents are coming to see where and how their children spend their school days, and, even more, they're coming to meet you, the most significant other adult in their children's lives. This is your chance to instill confidence and build the all-important teacher-parent relationship.

No matter how your school organizes its open houses, there is one sure way for you to succeed in making a great first impression: Look at the event from the parents' point of view. Concentrate on how to present your room and your program in a way that will satisfy, excite, and involve them.

Of course, planning ahead is the key to success. And with the help of this article (complete with open house goals, interesting activities, and a get-ready 10-step checklist) your next open house can be your best ever.

The Perfect Open House Checklist

1. Clean your room!

A clean, orderly classroom gives parents confidence that their children are learning in a quality environment. Some classroom cleaning tips:

* Make space for your extra visitors by moving some things to the school storage closet.

* Have the children clean out their desks and wash the tops.

* A quick spray with a dusting agent such as Lemon Pledge will make the desks shine and your room smell great.

* Clean out all animal cages and spray room fresheners.

* Don't forget the teacher's desk and the chalkboards.

* Put away special science displays and small or breakable objects. Remember that many parents bring siblings to your classroom and you want it to be safe for your special projects and safe for the children.

* Stand in the doorway and sweep your eyes around the room. Are the posters up straight? Are the windows clean? Are the bookshelves neat? Are the computers dusted?

2. Display work from EVERY child

This should be the kind of work where every child is successful, such as self-portraits, writing about summer vacation, or an art project. Remember:

* Do not display graded papers unless everyone has an "A"!

* Save student work from the beginning of the year and display student portfolios on every desk. By saving from the very start, you can show student growth that has taken place already this year.

3. Show off your academic agenda.

* Set a table with sample textbooks and information about the order in which you cover the various chapters and which material you emphasize.

* Have your computer on and a favorite program running.

* Display samples of classroom newspapers, magazines, big books, or other teaching materials that you routinely use.

4. Prepare a sign-up table.

* Include lists where parents can sign up to assist on field trips, purchase small necessities for the classroom, or assist on special projects.

* Provide a separate sheet for parents to list any interesting hobbies or career information they might want to share with your students.

5. Provide your parents with handouts.

These can include:

* A classroom schedule.

* Phone numbers.

* Your e-mail address.

* Your grading system.

* Themes you will be studying this year.

* A homework schedule or homework policy.

* A list of field trips for the year.

* A calendar of upcoming important events.

* Rules about forgotten lunches.

* An explanation of your book club procedures and an order blank.

* An invitation to join your school PTA.

6. Accommodate diverse needs.

To make everyone feel welcome:

* Find out ahead of time if any of your parents will require a language translator, interpreter for the deaf, or other special accommodations.

* Provide a few adult-size chairs for your visitors. While most parents love sitting at their child's desk, many adults just won't fit or find it very uncomfortable!

7. Welcome parents as soon as they arrive.

* Set a small welcome and name tag table outside your classroom door.

* Provide markers and stick-on name tags on which you have already written "My name is _____. I am part of _____'s family."

* Don't forget to wear a name tag yourself! Some of these folks have never met you and they may confuse you with a parent.

* Provide name tags for any aides or helpers that might be attending too.

* Have up a welcome sign or bulletin board.

* At the very least write "Welcome to Room #_____ "on the chalkboard.

8. Great and stay available to everyone.

* Stand at your door and smile and greet each parent.

* Remember that some parents are not very comfortable entering a classroom and may not have stepped foot in one in several years.

* Don't expect parents to come to you. Step right up and say "Welcome!"

* Don't get sidetracked into a long conversation about any one child. Ask parents to sign up for private conferences because you are anxious to discuss their child personally. This is not a conference night!

9. Involve the students.

Parents will be appreciative and the students will be proud to have a part in this special night.