Hi,

I am planning for my upcoming open house at my school & am trying to plan for it. I usually have cookies out for people to munch on, and give a speech.

This year I am making a power point slide show w/ some important facts on it, and would like to know what you would like to hear about if I was your child's teacher

Thanks!

What grade is this for?

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I assume this is 5th grade.

I like to hear highlights of the curriculum and the schedule (especially if it's one of those weird ones) , but not every little detail.
I like to hear what the teachers expectation of both the child and parents/guardian are.
I like to hear the hightlights of the grading system.
I like to hear how you would like to communicate with parents.
I like to hear if/how parents can be involved with the classroom and/or help you out.
I like to hear an overview of discipline process.


cj/

ETA: And the policy on cell phones!

Everything cjs said. And maybe have a question and answer time afterwards. I would think too that you should make your presentation precise and to the point so it won't be too long. (think attention span).

What a great post, airborne! I would be interested, too, in hearing what parents would like to see discussed at open house! I usually have a powerpoint and handouts of my schedule, classroom policy, etc...but I would LOVE suggestions. BTW--a friend shared this idea with me several years ago, and it works out great! Take pictures of the parents that attend (making silly faces, etc) and then put a PP show together for the kids...it's always a big hit and the parents love to think that they are embarrassing them! LOL. Looking forward to reading replies to your thread!--Marilou

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umm can I second this.... Perfect everything I would want to know!!

cj's list... it's great!

Also, be sure to tell them if you are expecting a baby and will to be out for a few months *wink*. Just kidding! LOL.

Amount of homework
Test days

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Explain any reward systems used in the class.

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I would LOVE to hear that the teacher uses schoolnotes.com to post assignments and notes for parents to have access too. My older daughter's middle and high schools used this system and it was a great way for parents to stay on top of what was happening. It also allowed parents to email teachers as it can be hard to get in contact with teachers when parents work, have other children, etc.

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Our open houses have always included an opportunity for parents to do an assignment, write a note, leave an essay topic, etc for our child to come into the next day. Kind of a cute idea, but I always wondered if it might leave some children whose parents couldn't attend feeling left out.....

cj/

When is your open house? I am still thinking summer.

In less than a month...

Thanks for all of the tips so far. I also do a bb w/ letters from my last years class with them telling my new students what fifth grade is like. Every kid and parent in the room gravitate there!

I am sure that you will do great and that your obvious enthusiasm and commitment will show through. I have been so turned off at more than one open house where the teachers spend more time telling us what they are not going to do rather than what they will do. For example, an English teacher who gives the kids 5 pop quizes during the marking period, but only grades one randomly for each student because of the time involved in grading them. Also said there would be no long writing assignments for the same reason.

When does school start in your area? I start Aug. 27. The students start the day after Labor Day. We don't have our open house until the middle of Sept. I usually have a hard copy of all that I say so that parents have something to look back to in case they forget.

We start back on August 9th, but are having back to school night (that is what I meant more than an open house) before school starts.

My open house is in September sometime. I wish that we started a little bit later, but it is nice getting out earlier!

We only have one open house/back to school night. We have 500 students in my Catholic school so the nights are broken up. K-2 , 3-5, 6-8 each have their own nights so that parents can meet all the students' teachers. I also teach 5th grade. Maybe the students could send letters to each other? I have mainly taught 4th and 5th grade science with either 4th or 5th grade homeroom. I have had 5th for the last 10 years. This year will be my 20th year in this school. I taught fulltime for 6 years before this school (we moved across country).

A list of supplies needed for the class.

How to get ahold of you, if need be. I always like to know how I can get ahold of the teacher.

One year, one of DS's teachers wrote the name of a supply on sticky note, and put them all over the black board. She then asked parents to take a sticky note or two , and bring in that supply for the class room.

P.S. You "may" want to change the title of your post,I thought you were referring to an Open House to sell a home until I opened the thread....almost passed it over, in fact.

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