Back-to-school night is so important not only for parents and students but also for teachers!
As teachers, we need to know our exact objectives for back-to-school night. Not only do we need to strive for our objectives but we also must come up with creative ideas to reach parents and ultimately, make them love our classroom.
Whether you're the coolest teacher or the first-year teacher, we want you to have a successful back-to-school night and make sure that parents feel comfortable with you and students are looking forward to the first day. Here are 22 ideas for a smooth-running back-to-school night!
1. Surprise Gifts to Students
Students will absolutely love receiving these adorable gifts from their classroom teacher. It'll be a great way to shake off those first school day nerves from the minute they leave back to school night. You can give your students something as simple as a small gift and a cheerful note!
Learn more: Kristieh Rindlisbacher
2. Parent CheckList
Back-to-school night can be a little overwhelming. Especially for those parents with more than one classroom to visit. Give your parents a feeling of relief and a feeling of trust in your organizational skills. With this checklist, you and the parents can both be assured to not have missed anything.
Learn more: The Primary Peach
3. A Perfect Chance for Parents to Give Encouragement
The first weeks of school can be very difficult and a bit stressful for our students. Have parents leave an encouraging note for each of their children and keep it on a bulletin board. Remind students of this board and allow them to read it throughout the day.
Learn more: The Lara Lab
4. Music Class Fun Presentation For Parents
Make a good impression on parents with this fun presentation of music class. The music table is a fabulous idea of a booth for parents to visit during their back-to-school night. It will get kids excited about music class.
Learn more: Gettin Jazzy with Caiti
5. Thanks for Poppin' By
Send students home equipped for some special activities the last weekend before school starts! Students' folders can be filled with classroom rules and a list of classroom expectations that parents can go over with students at home before school.
Learn more: Mrs. Gilmartin
6. Lend a Hand
Asking for things is never fun, but as teachers, we know how important it is to have parent support for classroom necessities. Here is a cute and fun way to do just that! Come up with a list of communal classroom supplies and have parents literally choose a hand to lend.
Learn more: Sparkling in Second Grade
7. Sign Ins
Make the following list with parents' signatures to learn which parents are willing to volunteer, and which students will be taking what type of transportation.
Learn more: Bonita Blooms
8. Parent & Kid Quiz
The parent night kid quiz is hands down a student and parent favorite. This will help the parents and kids feel more comfortable in the school community. It's a perfect way to bond with each in the classroom.
Learn more: A Word on Third
9. Guess Your Child!
Students and parents alike will love this super fun and exciting guessing game! Have your students draw these pictures in the first few days of school. Then put their real picture underneath. Students will love taking their parents around and getting them to guess.
Learn more: Teaching Takes the Cake
10. Back to School Steps
The back-to-school night might run much smoother with specific steps that parents have to follow. For first-year teachers, this is a great way to make parents feel confident in your organizational skills.
Learn more: Peace, Love, and First Grade
11. Class Wish List
Just like lending a helping hand, here is another way to get some communal supplies. Come up with a list of supplies and write them on apples or whatever sticky notes you have! Parents will take the supplies they can donate.
Learn more: Mrs. Cain's Creations
12. Adorable Back to School Gift
Simple notes to students like these stars are a great gift to send home at the end of the back-to-school night. Your students will love using their glow sticks on their last few nights of summer.
Learn more: Jo Ann Fenley
13. All in One Parent Information Sheet Stations
Collect parent's contact lists and other parent inquiries in an uncomplicated, quick, and easily accessible way like these bins for parents.
Learn more: School and the City
14. High Five From Mom & Dad
A super fun school door design is this high five from mom and dad! Have parents write loving notes to their children and post them on the door! If some parents don't come back to school night reach out in an email before making your door!
Learn more: Stacie
15. What Makes You Most Proud?
Opportunities for students to feel the love from their parents are so important for their development. A great way to help students feel this is to have a bulletin board like this set up on back-to-school night. Students will love to see their parent's notes!
Learn more: Happy Days in First Grade
16. Parent Handbook
Another flipbook that's a bit different than the aforementioned book is this parent handbook. It's perfect for both elementary students and middle school students. Giving parents an overview of teaching methods, grade-level expectations, and much more this is the perfect all-in-one flipbook!
Learn more: Mrs. D's Corner
17. Parent Snacks
It's always nice to have something for parents to munch on during the night. They are usually coming from long days at work and there's nothing better than a candy bar and printable note to get them excited about the upcoming school year!
Learn more: Jessica Younker
18. Positive Family Notes For Your Kiddos
A cute way to incorporate back-to-school night directly into the first day of school is this bag of compliments. Really this can be used throughout elementary grades. Whether it's morning meetings or after recess reading time students will love hearing these compliments.
Learn more: Blue Eye Life
19. Good Night & Happy First Day
Back-to-school night activities will eventually come to an end. Send your students home with a cute note that will get them ready and confident for their first day of school. Whether you type it yourself or find something online, this will ease students into their first day.
Learn more: The Primary Peach
20. Photo Op
A super cute back-to-school night activity is this photo booth! Students will absolutely love this and parents will love having these back-to-school photos to send to family members.
Learn more: My Teacher Style
21. Back to School Time Capsule
Everyone loves a food time capsule and there's nothing better than creating one with both parents and students.
Learn more: I Heart Crafty Things
22. Parent Resource Board
This is a great way for teachers to portray teaching at home to parents. Sometime's it's just difficult to know what and how to help their kiddos at home. Providing parents with resources like these will help them do just that, confidently and proactively throughout the entire year.
Learn more: Ciera Harris Teaching
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