Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Open House!

Open House this year was a big success!  Here are some of the things I do during Open House...


I have baskets set out for all the supplies to be placed in.  I have my mom, husband, and Nana help with supplies on Open House.  As my students bring in their bag full of supplies my helpers unpack and place the supplies where they go.  My helpers also assemble folders, put labels on items, etc.  It is so nice having extra hands during this night.  If it wasn't for them I would be putting up supplies hours later!





Since I have many papers I need the parents to fill out on Open House night, I have them stapled and put in a folder that is labeled with each student’s number.  On one side of the folder it says “Fill Out and Leave” on the other side of the folder it says “Take Home and Read.”  I have the parents leave the paperwork in the folder that they had to fill out and turn their folder in before they leave.  This allows me to keep and reuse the folders each year.  In the "Take Home and Read" section of the folder I include a welcome note, school year calendar, class schedule, lunch calendar, etc.

Click HERE to download the Open House paperwork I put in each folder from my TpT store!



    
Each student gets an apple cookie with their name on it for their back to school treat! The apples are sugar cookies with red and green dye, a pretzel stick, and powdered sugar icing to write the names.




This year I put out items that parents could donate to our classroom if they would like.  The sign read: "Please pick an apple (or two), if you are able to donate supplies to our classroom!”  The apples had the item listed on it that could be donated and where it could be found.  I had many parents leaving with an apple this year!

Click HERE to download the donation sign and apples from my TpT store!




I always have students wondering around getting into things as their parents are filling out the paperwork- so this year I put out pattern block puzzles and cubes for the students to play.  This worked out so great!  Not only did it keep the students busy but it also kept their younger siblings busy so they weren’t destroying my classroom. 
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11 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great Open House ideas!! I have mine tonight:)
    Connie:)
    www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com

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  2. These are awesome ideas for Open House! I really like the folders with the two different sides. Parents get so many forms and I bet this makes it so much easier. I also love your donation apples!

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

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  3. smart idea on putting out a few games for kids to play with. Did you tell them that they could only play with those items or did they just gravitate towards those since they were already out?

    come over to see my new blog design
    Melissa
    Pre-Schooler Daze

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    1. I showed them the games that I had out and told them they could play with them.

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  4. I like you form for emails. Do you have that online?

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    1. Thanks! I'll add it to my Open House packet and update my file on TpT. I'll let you know when it's up. :)

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  5. Great ideas! Thanks!-Liz M.

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  6. Hi there Amanda,
    I was wondering if you wouldn't mind telling me which papers you usually have the parents fill out on the night of open house and which you have them take home? I bought your packet, and love your forms. I am in the process of getting things ready for open house, and I don't want to overload my parents who come with papers to fill out. Thank you for your time! kmdinnie@gmail.com

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    1. Hello!
      Great question! I try to have as little for my parents to fill out at Open House as I can. I only have my parents fill out the First Day of School Transportation Information and the Transportation Information form at Open House. At Open House I have them take home the Welcome to First Grade Letter, Computer Login Information page, and the ID Number practice page. On the first day of school I send home a folder that has the other forms in it. As that night’s homework they are to read and fill out the remainder of the forms. Hope that helps! Thanks!

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  7. Hey great ideas!

    I LOVE the display ruler you have on the table for each child (i.e. handwriting/numbersquare etc) - do you have a template available or know where I can find that ?

    Thanks x

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    1. Thanks! I purchased those name plates at the teaching store called Lakeshore.

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