Inside The Organized Teacher Framework™, I teach the importance of making a plan for almost everything you do in your classroom. Meet the Teacher Night is no exception. This is your chance to make a great first impression on the parents of your future students– organization is key!
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I can still remember my first Meet the Teacher Night as a classroom teacher. It was nerve-wracking and exciting all at the same time.
Mainly it was just crazy that people were actually entrusting me with their children. I was just a baby when I started teaching. Twenty-two to be exact!
Planning for Meet the Teacher Night
Start by creating a plan for what you want to do/offer that night in the way of activities. Write them all down in a notebook.
Then create a detailed list of what items you will need to make or purchase for Meet the Teacher Night. I also like to write little notes to myself with details about each activity.
When I was in the classroom, I typically only had about three days in my classroom to set up and prep for Meet the Teacher Night. That meant it was really important to be intentional with my time.
I recommend spending the first two days solely on setting up the classroom. That leaves you with one day to prep for Meet the Teacher Night.
Within that day, schedule out time for each activity you need to prepare, paper and/or packet that needs to be printed.
Time management is crucial during this day so that you are ready for my kids and their parents to enter.
Meet the Teacher Night Organization
1. Use Google Forms
Google has created some of the most amazing inventions for teachers. One of them being google forms.
It is super easy to create a form for parents to fill out as they arrive. Then it compiles all of their information into a google sheet for easy access!
Here’s a quick video on how to create a Google Form.
2. Identify a “Kids Area”
It is inevitable that parents will bring all their children to Meet the Teacher Night and then you have like a zillion kids running around your room.
At the writing station, I put out some coloring pages for the siblings to use. I also lined some books along the edge of the whiteboard. When I noticed little hands going for my freshly organized library, I quickly direct them over to the kid-approved activities for them to partake in!
3. Have an Organized Room
The most important thing to creating a memorable Meet the Teacher Night is to be organized.
Make sure that your room is clean and clutter-free.
Parents see the environment you create as soon as they walk in. Make sure that they feel welcome and that you are an “on top of it” teacher and not a “crazy, messy” teacher!
When setting up your classroom, be sure to avoid these 7 common mistakes.
4. Use Folders for Papers
Each year I used folders to organize the student’s papers. Inside the two pockets were materials to be filled out (on the left) and materials to go home (on the right).
This is an easy way parents can see what is for them and what is for me. It also makes it really easy to keep all those back-to-school papers organized.
5. Be Creative
Find a way to be creative. Maybe it is using a fun riddle to send your students on a tour around the room. Perhaps it is a creative way to ask for additional supplies. You can play music and show a slideshow of past classes on your projector so parents and students can get excited about having you as their teacher!
But, I should also add that spending too much time being creative might not be worth it. I spent a lot of time die-cutting these apples, getting the apples and a jar specifically for this little setup, and not a single apple got picked up!
In Conclusion,
The key to a successful and organized Meet the Teacher Night is by creating a plan and following through with it. Here is a recap of the tips shared in this post:
- Use Google Forms to collect information
- Identify a “Kids Area” for siblings
- Be sure your room is organized and clutter-free
- Use folders to organize student papers
- Find one way to be creative
Quick Links
I mentioned a few important links in this post. Here they all are again for you!
- Time Management Tips for Teachers
- 6 Steps to Setting Up a Classroom
- Recommended Meet the Teacher Night Activities
- 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Setting Up Your Classroom
- How to Organize Back-to-School Paperwork
- Sign up for my email list and get Classroom Organization tips straight to your inbox each week
Want even more help getting your classroom all set up, organized, and prepped for the first day? Then join me on my free 3-day challenge- Prep for the First Day.
Three days. Three essential steps. A great guide for first-year teachers (and hey, even veteran teachers!) to create a plan for the first day of school!
Related Posts
Until next time,
If you found this helpful, make sure to pin it to your Pinterest Board for reference and so other great teachers can find it!
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