Welcome, teacher friends, to that time of year when we all gather our materials, take a deep breath, and try to keep our wits as we dive into classroom Open House prep! But have no fear, my fellow educators! With a little bit of strategic planning, some caffeine, and some deep breathing, we can whip our classroom into shape before Open House. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee (or something stronger), and let’s get ready to roll out the red carpet and showcase all of our students’ hard work!
Getting your Classroom Open House Ready
Preparing for your classroom open house can be a busy time for teachers, but it is an important opportunity to display all the hard work and progress of your students. With some planning, you can make your open house a success.
7 Tips for Getting Your Classroom Open House Ready
1. Start Early and Backwards Plan
The key to a stress-free Open House experience is simple: plan ahead. I know this may sound crazy, but you should start planning a few weeks or even a month ahead of time. Hear me out. This will allow you time to look at what you will be teaching and spread out any projects you want students to complete. For example, if I know I’ll be teaching about animals in science and geometry in math, I can plan out the activities students will do and when we should get them done.
2. Plan Your Classroom Open House Setup
During Open House, students are invited to come to school with their family and show them the progress they have made. You’ll want to arrange your classroom to create a welcoming environment for parents and students. Think about the flow you want students and their parents to take as they move around the room. For example, I find that having desks set in groups rather than rows makes it easier for everyone to move around the room.
3. Showcase Student Work
Think about how you will display student work. Take a look at the usable space in your classroom such as boards, windows, desks, and even cabinets. Display student work throughout the classroom to show parents the progress their child has made. I like to have a work sample for each content area I teach. Additionally, you can create a portfolio or memory book of student work to share with parents.
4. Have Students Organize and Clean
Let’s face it. We could all use a little help when it comes to cleaning up our classrooms. Who better to assign these jobs to than our students? I don’t know about yours, but my first graders love helping out! A few things students can assist with are:
-Making sure desks and chairs are tidy and materials are organized (I always tell them that their family members will probably peek inside their desks)
-Straightening up the classroom library, computer cart, cubbies, etc.
-Wiping down desks and counters (I only let my students use baby wipes for this as they are approved by my district)
-Organize classroom supplies such as manipulatives, papers, art supplies, etc.
5. Engage Students and Parents
The last thing you want at Open House is for a parent to use the event as a chance to have a conference about their child. One way to avoid this is by engaging students and their parents in an activity. Consider giving your students a “Thing to See” list or tour guide activity. Other activities include having parents scan a QR code to access a digital assignment students have completed. You could also have families participate in a live poll during Open House.
I like to tell my first graders that at Open House, they are going to be tour guides. When students arrive, I give them a “tour guide list” of things to find around the room and share with their family. For example, it may say something like, “Show your family your Statue of Liberty and tell them what your favorite American symbol is.”
Lastly, try to take a picture of each student with their family. This is a proud night for them and a photo makes for a touching end of the year gift to families!
6. Offer Refreshments
Consider offering refreshments such as cookies, fruit, and water to make the event more enjoyable for parents and students. Decide on what refreshments you will offer and how much you will need based on the number of attendees. You can also consider just making a treat bag for each student. Whether you offer refreshments or a treat for students, be mindful of any attendees who may have dietary restrictions or allergies.
7. Take Pictures
Remember, Open House only happens once a year. You’ll want to remember everything for next year so set up will be a breeze. Pictures can serve as a record of the event, capturing the setup/display, decorations, and activities that took place. Taking pictures each year will help you remember what worked well, what could be improved, and what resources were used.
Well, teacher friends, we’ve done it! We’ve turned our classrooms into something that even Martha Stewart would be proud of (or at least, that’s what we like to tell ourselves). As we sit back and admire our handiwork, let’s remember that Open House is just one night out of the school year. So whether your guests are blown away by your perfectly placed bulletin boards or simply marvel at the sheer chaos of your classroom, remember that at the end of the day, what truly matters is the learning and growth that happens within these four walls. So let’s raise a glass (or a pencil, if you’re feeling extra studious) to another successful Open House season!
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