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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