Meet the Teacher Night.

Do those words make your palms sweat and knees wobble?

I have to admit that after 17 years, I still always felt sick to my stomach just before parents walked in! Once I got talking, everything would go smoothly, though, and fortunately, I never had any disasters.

Well, if you also get nervous, or would like some help, I have a few tips and a freebie to share with you!

Tip # 1

Decorate with Stand-in Children!

Have your kids make these adorable ‘Who Am I?’ crafts and have parents guess which is their child! Not only does this make your room look lively and fun, but it also helps crack the ice and get parents engaged right away! You’ll find the freebie with directions and a template for the clues at the bottom of this post!

Tip # 2

Add a poem and some sweets to each table!

I can’t take credit for this adorable poem. I got it yeeeaaars ago on the internet and just typed it up with some fancy bubble letters. You can find many different candy thank you poems online to print, and place the matching candy in a small bin on each table. Who doesn’t love sweets while sitting and listening?!

Tip # 3

Make a simple PowerPoint slideshow as your presentation!

This is my favorite tip! I LOVE using a PowerPoint presentation because:

• It helps you remember what you want to cover,
• It gives you a chance to highlight students in pictures throughout your day,
• Parents love to see what their child’s day is like,
• It gives the parents something to look at other than you!

What to include:

• Welcome slide
• Introduction slide that tells a little about you. Include pictures if you can. I also like to include a list of top 10 things I love about teaching
• Daily routine with pictures of kids at lunch, centers, snack, on the playground, reading, writing, etc.
• Pictures of Special Area teachers
• Information about your curriculum
• Behavior/ class management system
• Homework info
• Contact information
• ‘Thank you for coming’ slide

You can also play 2 Truths and a Lie using a PPT! Use the template in my freebie from my First Day of School post. Parents also love games and I bet they would get a kick out of guessing facts about you!

I hope these tips help! I’d love to hear how your first day went, or your Meet the Teacher night, as well as any other successful tips you have (or disaster stories!).  

Below are links to other Back-to-School posts that may be helpful:

Behavior Management: 3 Levels of Support

What to do on the First Day of School

Tips for Quieting a Talkative Class

Teaching Different Learning Styles: Tip for Reaching ALL Learners

GET YOUR FREE MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT Freebie!