I don’t know about you, but the moment I see school supplies for sale, I start to get a little giddy. Back to school time is so much fun! For students and teachers alike, this time can be an opportunity for a new beginning.
Back to School Night
I always strive to make a good impression right from the start when students come to Meet the Teacher Night. I figure if students can have a good experience in my classroom a few nights before school starts, it can calm some of the nerves that come with starting a new grade or school. Additionally, it can begin to lay a foundation for those oh so important relationships!
Clear Directions
One way to make sure you make a good impression is to keep things organized. Whether students are going to be putting away supplies, touring the school, or just doing some fun things in your room, have a clear plan!
I like to have a slide on my projector and a printed directions sheet on their desks. This can calm some of the typical chaos!
If you use Canva, you can click the links below for some of my templates for an organized Back to School Night.
Directions Slide
Where to Put Your Supplies
Transportation Sheet
Room Decor
I always work to make sure my room looks ready to go, but I don’t have things on every single bulletin board. I know that can be an adjustment for lots of teachers, but I like to leave room for the students’ work and for all of the anchor charts we will make as we learn.
The things that I do have up in my room at Meet the Teacher Night are intentional. Since I am passionate about getting students to think, I have my Depth and Complexity Icon magnets on the board, my Thinking Hats and posters up, and my Engineering Design Process posters up.
With a calming, homey type of room design coupled with a few posters set up I am trying to tell kids this is a safe place to learn. You can take risks in your thinking here!
Something Fun
I also like to have some kind of fun activity for students to do when they come to Meet the Teacher Night.
I like to set up some kind of back to school bulletin board or back to school background, and then students and their families can have fun taking back to school pictures in my photo booth!
If you’d like to learn more about how I made my props, click here.
Back to School Gift from Teacher
I also like to have something fun to give students as a little gift.
In the past, I gave out these bags filled with little “smile” things from Oriental Trading.
This year, I wanted to do something fun with the super popular popper fidgets. I found these on Amazon, and made tags to put on them. If you’d like these fun tags for yourself, just enter your info below, and I’ll send them right over!
Note: This link is an affiliate link. I may get a small commission if you purchase this, but hey that helps me keep offering some awesome freebies for you!
Cute Classroom Ideas for the Beginning of the Year
You may also enjoy these ideas at the beginning of the year.
Photo Booth Props
At our meet the teacher event, I like to have a little photo booth with props. Parents want pictures at this event anyway, and it is fun and simple to make!
Birthday Bags
I like to have student birthday gifts taken care of (and on the wall!) from the start of the year. Read more about that here:
Back to School Frame
I love to have a special first day of school photo op. For that, I make this DIY Back to School Photo Frame. Click below for the tutorial.
High Level Thinking Back to School Activities
If you’d like more activities for the first days of school that encourage lots of critical thinking, be sure to check out my back to school unit. It has several activities that require critical and creative thinking. It’s a great way to start the year turning your students into thinkers!
Let Me Help You Turn Your Students into Thinkers!
If you have a passion for getting your kids to think, you’ll love my FREE Guide. It’s about 4 simple strategies to bump up the thinking in any lesson. Download it for free and stay in touch to get classroom-tested ideas straight to your inbox!
Keep those kids thinking!
Colleen Patton
