Creating an Engaging and Memorable Open Night: Tips and Resources for Teachers!
Recently, we had our very first Open Night at my school, and it was a fantastic experience! Open Night is a special occasion where we open our classrooms between 5:30 and 7:00 pm, inviting parents to explore our classroom environment, observe everyday activities, and view their child’s work. It’s an invaluable opportunity for parents to actively engage in their child’s education and celebrate their progress.
To make the Open Night engaging and interactive, we carefully planned various activities that reflect the curriculum covered in our kindergarten class. For mathematics, we set up tables with popular math activities such as “Shake, Spill, Record” (find it here!) and introduced our students’ exploration of tens and ones using colourful paddle pop sticks and mats. These activities provide parents with a glimpse into our math lessons and help them understand the concepts their children are learning.
Additionally, we created a dedicated Reading table, complete with whisper phones, magic pointers, and a set of readers. This setup allows parents to experience firsthand the literacy strategies we employ in our classroom and encourages them to engage in reading activities with their children at home.
To involve students and help them take pride in their work, we encouraged them to select pieces they were proud of from their portfolios. This activity, done on the day of the Open Night, prepared students for showcasing their achievements and encouraged self-reflection on their learning journey. We provided strips with the sentence starter, “I am proud of this work because…,” which allowed students to express their thoughts and achievements confidently.
As parents entered our classroom, we greeted them with a sign-in table adorned with bags of popcorn as a gesture of gratitude for their presence. This small touch of hospitality was highly appreciated and created a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
One standout idea I discovered on Pinterest was the use of a display board to encourage parent feedback. To implement this idea, I printed bright-coloured words and cut out a big heart to form an attractive display. Adjacent to it, I placed sticky notes inviting parents to share their thoughts and impressions about the Open Night. The feedback we received at the end of the night was heartwarming and insightful, giving us a valuable glimpse into how parents perceived the event and their child’s progress.
Here are five top tips to ensure a successful Open Night event-
- Plan Ahead: Prepare and organise the event well in advance, creating a schedule and checklist for activities and materials.
- Interactive Displays: Set up engaging displays that showcase the curriculum and invite parents to participate in hands-on activities with their children.
- Student Work Showcase: Let students choose and proudly present their work, fostering a sense of accomplishment and strengthening the home-school connection.
- Engage Parents: Provide guided activities or stations where parents can actively participate in their child’s learning, such as reading corners or math games.
- Seek Feedback: Create opportunities for parents to share their thoughts and suggestions, reflecting on their feedback to improve future events and strengthen the partnership between parents and teachers.
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Happy learning, and remember that together, we can teach big and change the world!
