Hello #pln365 I'm Lucy Villarreal, leadership ed consultant, coach and facilitator based in Tx...in the middle of dinner but still wanting to chat and learn a little w y’all tonight😆 I’ll be in and out ...
Hey Paul & #pln365! James from SC is here! Glad to be back this week after being out last week. Nothing like missing days 3 & 4 of the new school year :-/
For me I got to meet many of my new Ss to begin to build the relationship and many former ones stop by to catch up. So I guess welcoming them to the learning space. #pln365
A1: Back to school nights are a powerful night to create the most amazing first impression with students and families who might be new to the school!
Reconnect with return students and families too!
#pln365
A1: Family engagement, face to face interaction with people who will all be working together to make the school year successful. And celebrate! #pln365
A1: Back to school/open house/meet the teacher nights help families become familiar with the building where their child will spend the biggest part of each day! They can see faces, feel welcomed, & that is a big deal since they are leaving their greatest treasure with us. #pln365
A1 The main purpose of back to school night should be to connect and establish relationships with parents, guardians, and students and to communicate the idea of “we’re on this together!” #pln365
A1: If administered correctly, it is a terrific opportunity for kids with anxiety to settle in before the year actually begins. We have two in middle school that got to "live" their schedule and went back to school with eagerness and joy. #pln365
A1: Putting a face to a name for parents & teachers. Relating critical information between the two. It is NOT a parent-teacher conference night!
Schools should also showcase any organizations/activities that families may get involved with. #pln365
Back to school night is the first chance for students and parents to be welcomed into the school. It's the chance for them to know school is fun, safe, and a happy place to be! #pln365
Welcome back...I am just excited to see every parent, student, and community member. This night is not just about dropping off supplies. This night sets the trajectory of the school year and the future of our students. #pln365
A1: #pln365 I feel that it is the first step to developing a relationship between school/community, teacher/families, teacher/students. It's our way of saying "mi casa es su casa".
A1: It provides the opportunity for the families to meet the teacher and to see where their children will be spending most of their time for the next 175 days. #PLN365
A1: Back to School Night helps set the tone for the year. New teachers are introduced, traditions and expectations are quickly revisited, and families can meet their educator(s) for the upcoming year. Our theme is Inspiration Station. #pln365
Merissa from TX jumping in! Hello #pln365.
Back to school night is a chance for Ts to showcase S work and achievements allowing parents to get to know their child as a student.
It's a small window into our school world that can foster a love of learning and community.
Fran from NJ.
1) Back to school night is to meet students' parents, build a relationship with them, learn about their children, and let parents know what their students will be learning and experiencing in their class. #pln365
I set out some activities, grouped by course for ease, I use so there is something to play with while I’m in a conversation and it allows Ss to start engaging in the learning. They all play with everything. #pln365
Putting a face to the voice in the phone establishes a primary line of communication. It is critical to share your expectations with parents and have them know that you are available to them. If parents have questions you are there to provide answers. #pln365
A2: We gave each family a map with a trail on it. It had places for each stop they needed to make. At each station there were people to talk with and a purpose for stopping. They turned the card in as they walked out, and we draw for prizes. #pln365
I realize I confused back to school night with open house. lol.
Allow Ss to get to know you as an educator. You are more than the adult in the classroom you are the facilitator of knowledge. Create a welcoming environment in more than just aesthetics (but that too!)
#pln365.
A2: Have community organizations available, have an activity for P/S to participate in. SILENT AUCTION! Showcase particular groups (dance, band, theatre, athletics, etc). Make it more than a sit & get or meet & greet. #pln365
A2: Back to school nights need to be centered around students and families! THEY need to feel that everything we’ve done to prepare right up to that night, was ALL for THEM!!
#pln365
A2: Clear purpose and showcase what the students will be doing this year. Get them excited and make it about them. It’s more than meet the teacher. It’s here’s where you’ll learn some amazing things! #pln365
I realize I confused back to school night with open house. lol.
Allow Ss to get to know you as an educator. You are more than the adult in the classroom you are the facilitator of knowledge. Create a welcoming environment in more than just aesthetics (but that too!)
#pln365.
A2 The way we can make the B2SN more of an experience instead of just being an event is to allow for opportunities/time for parents to communicate w teachers and administrators instead of just having the Ts & administrators talk to them about school procedures #pln365
A2: Tough when you have 750 kids, but being authentic and present for the conversations and encounters that take place on that night. I look forward to these moments when I can cultivate relationships before curriculum. #pln365
A2: #pln365 Maybe by having activities for families to get to know the teacher and the school staff. Maybe a scavenger hunt or an activity that will allow them to have fun while learning about the building and rules for parents to be aware of.
A2: The classroom needs to be welcoming, especially with the little students I serve!! Parents need to feel comfortable leaving their precious little ones at school for the whole day. It's our job to demonstrate that the kiddos will be safe & cared for #PLN365
Have the classroom speak for you. Surround it with answers to things they never knew they needed to ask. Involve parents as a resource for success. #pln365
A2 Just like class. No sit and get. -- QR Challenge, Video intros in classrooms. Gallery walk done by the teachers. Get them in the building, looking around felling comfortable. #PLN365
A2: Instead of the typical, sit down and view a power point, Teachers could create an interactive activity, so parents can experience what their S do in the classroom, like a gallery walk, maybe. #pln365
I think maybe we need to rethink how we do things. Nothing says teachers can't load up in a bus and drive the neighborhood to introduce themselves. We split up and walked the neighborhood last year. It was great! #pln365
Hi, parent joining in after family dinner!
A3) Don't make it a sit-and-get. That's not your favorite kind of PD, so why would it be for us? Build relationships before the event so you're not dumping all of the info on us at once. Make it fun. #PLN365
A1) The main purpose of BTSN is for parents to see the classroom their kids are learning in and to meet the teachers and establishing an open communication policy with the parents to start off the year! #PLN365
A3: first ask the question “why do we want more parents/families to attend?” If we aren’t clear on our purpose we can’t communicate it. If we can’t communicate it, they won’t come. #pln365
A2: Instead of spending 10 minutes of rules recitation & curriculum coverage, play a game regularly played in class. Watch how the attention span rises. Share some exemplars that the students are producing, even if drafts are all you have. Also, tell about the yr. ahead. #pln365
Build up a hype as you would for a concert or carnival. Utilize technology & social media to invite and celebrate the event. Create signs in the neighborhoods or personally invite families. Enticing offers like popsicles with the principal or free school supplies drawing!
#pln365
A3 Make it an EVENT not a meeting. Have something for the little ones. Advertise and make it fun. Bring in the community. Provide for or clear the way of the things that usually keep parents away. #PLN365
A3 hold multiple sessions. If we always have back to school NIGHT, we are excluding our families who work the night shift or other obligations. We need to consider morning or afternoon sessions. #pln365
A3: Offer a dinner (low-cost, some options), door prizes. But as a T, it is me taking the time to call and/or email parents and personally invite them. I have seen it double the parents I see on B2SN. #pln365
A3: We do this too! It has become a tradition in my district, and thousands of elementary kids hang at their mailboxes the first week of August! #pln365
If students are psyched to be in your class they may imbue their parents with that enthusiasm and bring them to see for themselves. Develop rapport. #pln365
A2) One of my colleagues @nadia_whelchel "presented" her information through QR codes, similar to the way students are learning in the classroom w/ tech. I think that gave parents the chance to experience being a "student" in her class for the night rather than an event. #PLN365
A3: We need to MAINTAIN a constant communication and interaction with families...we can’t just be expecting them to show up to one event and not maintain relationships year-round.
#pln365
A3: #pln365 I think we need to really focus on marketing. Getting the news out there via social media, email, and even mail. Also by making this a grand scale event. This year at our school our principal came up with the idea of food trucks and it was a big hit!!!
A3: It's sad that it has to be this way, but extrinsic motivation helps. As a parent with four kids that have schedules that are maxed out, sometimes we have to be choosy. If you are going to give me pizza or a prize, I might be more likely to show up. Just being real. #pln365
A4: I'm going to have Ps interact with one of the activities that students do in class. Let them experience a little bit of what I expect their child to do. #pln365
A4: With my Ss, I made contact before the event, and I had 100% show. They knew I was very excited to see them and their families. Something small made a huge difference. #pln365
A4) Sharing that I didn't speak English until I was 10 and that I'm an ESL Specialist now gives parents hope that their kids can also learn to be a fluent English speaker too :P Being vulnerable and sharing relatable personal experiences go a long way with parents. #PLN365
A4: Not sure if it's a takeaway, but as we were chatting, I was thinking it would be great of you could somehow stagger when they come to visit. I don't feel like I get to touch base with everyone effectively. I make up for it over the rest of the school year. #PLN365
Wouldn't it be great if you had the kids explaining things, if the event is after kids come back? Scan that qr code and hear that set little voice? Sign me up! #pln365
A4: Again with the food, sorry. At our kids school, when they walked their schedule they built in a "lunch period" where you could pick up a cookie and socialize with other parents before the next class began. Made for a more authentic experience. #pln365
Bonus: When I do contact parents before B2SN, I do offer "student house points" for those who show up, but also those parents who return my email/call stating they couldn't make it out. Not all parents are available in the 90 minute window we offer. #pln365
Wouldn't it be great if you had the kids explaining things, if the event is after kids come back? Scan that qr code and hear that set little voice? Sign me up! #pln365
A2: Instead of the typical, sit down and view a power point, Teachers could create an interactive activity, so parents can experience what their S do in the classroom, like a gallery walk, maybe. #pln365
A4) I plan on burning a trail through the school and having my energy on full blast by walking the halls and welcoming back students and parents. #pln365
A4 Usually only 1 or 2 pull out Ps show up so I can talk to them 1: 1 for the reward minutes we have... Who I am, what I expect, tell me about your child...
In the ICR classes, we run the session like a class, playing off each other. #pln365
A3: One simple way to increase participation in Back To School Night: Increase the quality of Back To School Night. Instead of reading syllabii or rules sheets or time schedules, engage a model lesson or learning opportunity that inspires and galvanizes future engagement. #pln365
A2 Treat Ps as the Ss to demonstrate the tone. We get 7 minutes per class to make that impression. Ps follow Ss schedule at the HS, complete with passing time and HR. #pln365
A1: #pln365 I feel that it is the first step to developing a relationship between school/community, teacher/families, teacher/students. It's our way of saying "mi casa es su casa".
More about getting to know you than learning stuff. There are so many other ways to pass along the information families need to know. And that should be yearlong. #PLN365
A1: Putting a face to a name for parents & teachers. Relating critical information between the two. It is NOT a parent-teacher conference night!
Schools should also showcase any organizations/activities that families may get involved with. #pln365
A1- To begin/continue to build community. A visual comes to mind of parents, teachers, administrators, support staff hand-in-hand encircling the students ...it takes a village! #pln365
A3: One simple way to increase participation in Back To School Night: Increase the quality of Back To School Night. Instead of reading syllabii or rules sheets or time schedules, engage a model lesson or learning opportunity that inspires and galvanizes future engagement. #pln365
A3 - when all members are involved in the planning, greater buy-in (and attendance) follows. It would be beneficial to have parents and students involved in the planning and preparation for back to school night. #pln365
Wouldn't it be great if you had the kids explaining things, if the event is after kids come back? Scan that qr code and hear that set little voice? Sign me up! #pln365
Love this -- make EVERY family feel welcome. And if you didn't have such great experiences with school yourself? Relating that can help put parents' minds at ease if they're still intimidated by being at a school. #ptchat#PLN365
A4) Sharing that I didn't speak English until I was 10 and that I'm an ESL Specialist now gives parents hope that their kids can also learn to be a fluent English speaker too :P Being vulnerable and sharing relatable personal experiences go a long way with parents. #PLN365
Good point. Some of us go to Back to School night no matter what, but you've gotta PROMOTE the thing. You wouldn't motivate kids simply by making them feel like they're there out of obligation. #PLN365
A3: #pln365 I think we need to really focus on marketing. Getting the news out there via social media, email, and even mail. Also by making this a grand scale event. This year at our school our principal came up with the idea of food trucks and it was a big hit!!!
A3: We need to MAINTAIN a constant communication and interaction with families...we can’t just be expecting them to show up to one event and not maintain relationships year-round.
#pln365
