Description
At the start of the school year, open house night is the perfect opportunity to
make connections with parents that will last throughout the school year. With
a little planning, schools can improve open house attendance and make a good first
impression.
Learn More About Attracting Parents to "Open House" Night
Education World has published several articles about effective open house strategies. You can learn more by reading the following articles:
Open House: When First Impressions Matter
Good first impressions make a difference, and the first open house of the school year gives administrators and teachers a chance to gain parents' support and create a personal connection that will last through the entire school year. Included: Ideas to make open house a success!
High Notes, Hayrides, and Hot Dogs: Making Open House a Hit!
Most of today's parents and children lead very busy lives; schools need to make extra efforts to draw families inside. Some schools -- through games, food, student performances, extra-credit, and more -- have turned open house into a must-see event.
Time for Open House? Try a Hinky-Pinky
Stuck for ideas for encouraging students to create quality work in the first few weeks of school? Try hinky-pinkies. They're fun and they help students feel comfortable in a new classroom! And they make a great display for Open House!
Increase Parent Involvement With First Day of School Activities
Read how schools across the nation -- in urban, rural, and suburban areas -- are breaking down barriers between themselves, their communities, and parents by making the first day of school an exciting holiday with special activities that include everyone!
Schools Find Many Ways to Say "Welcome Back"
Will open house be before school opens or sometime after students arrive? How about holding an ice cream social? A scavenger hunt for new students? A meet-the-principal lunch? Included: Our "Principal Files" team shares many ideas for welcoming students.
A New Spin On Back-to-School Night
As educators re-examine the purpose, relevance, and appeal of Back-to-School Night, Brenda Dyck describes a new model where students take the lead and adults step back and follow. Included: Ideas for planning a student-led Back-to-School Night.
Back-to-School Night Rocks With PhotoJam!
"At Back-to-School Night, you really only have the attention of the parents, and the opportunity to interact with them, for approximately 10 to 15 minutes," said teacher Carolyn Beitzel. Beitzel made the most of that time!
Attracting
Parents to "Open House" Night
