Parent/Teacher Open House...no shows

[JDY]

Tonight we have open house and scheduled conferences. In the first hour I've had no scheduled appointments show and only one drop in.

I don't get it!

 

[mickey65]

We had open house at school last week and the parents I WANTED to see did not come. It is certainly frustrating!

 

[JESW]

Wow! That's real bad! We just had Open House week at DS8's school. The teachers had two times so working parents would also be able to make it. There was a good showing in DS's class.

I know there are always reasons, but I wonder why some parents don't show up???

Jill

 

[JDY]

Well, I have now had a grand total of 3 (THREE) parents since 3:30pm. Of course, not one of the ones I scheduled do to concerns has come.

 

[RitaZ.]

Wow, that's terrible. We had Open House the same night for all 3 of our kids about 2 weeks ago, my DH went to one school (for older DS) and I went to the other school for younger DS & DD. Most parents were in attendance in their classes/schools.

I agree that there are always reasons, but I think it's really important for parents to make the effort to go to Open House to see the classroom and meet the teacher (in case they haven't already). Hopefully, more parents will show soon.

 

[jamsmom]

I only taught 2 years. But, for open house, here were the results:

First Year: 7-8 parents- more than any other teacher on the floor
Second Year- one parent- PTA president. Her daughter was one that called another teacher a "Bee"- but we all knew what she meant.

 

[Megan's Mom]

I had my open house last Monday and I saw one parent. We had open house at dD school on Tuesday and we were one of four parents for the whole school. I'm afraid that parents just aren't as interested in their child's education as they use to be too many other distractions.

 

[binny]

wow I went to all 3 of my kids' open houses and so did a lot of parents. Parking is a pain for those kinds of things here but Im glad its like that. Its nice to know so many parents take an active part in their kids' education. I always make it a point to go to them, in fact I dont consider them optional The only thing that would keep me away would be all 3 of them at the same time,
(all 3 are at different schools) even then I would call the teacher and arrange another to meet.

Im sorry that you have had such a bad turn out

 

[JDY]

I just had a parent stop by and thank me for all that I do for our school, especially for bringing back our drama program.

(Unfortunately, I've never seen them before)

 

[janette]

This makes me happy for our elementary school. The open houses are very well attended! I expect they see at least 1/2 of the parents. Usually hard to find parking.

I think part of this is that they don't do regular scheduled teacher conferences. They usually just do those if requested either by the teacher or parent. Each teacher has a hour a day free for conferences / work. Usually I request a conference for my 9yo DD since she has learning differences, I can't imagine not having communication with the school.

I went to the open house for my 11yo DDs middle school and it also had several parents. It was structured so that we really didn't talk to the teachers much but at least met them all.

 

[Jeafl]

I'm sorry you didn't have a good turnout. Last week we went to parents' nights at both the elementary and high schools. Both had about an 80 percent turnout. I have to say, we do have a great school district with a LOT of parental involvement. I can't imagine not wanting to know who your child is spending 8 hours a day with. Even if as a parent I couldn't make it, I would try and send someone in my place. People need to think what kind of message they are sending to their kids when they don't bother to show up.

 

[Snowysmom]

We had back to school night at our high school and it was very well attended. It was that way when my kids were in elementary school and middle school. What I like about the one at the high school is parents follow their child's schedule, meet each teacher, and learn what is expected in the class. This was my 5th back to school night at the high school with 2 sons and I still can't find my way around that place without written directions!

Candy

 

[dizny4us]

There may be many reasons why a parent(s) couldn't attend the open house. For example.. I was unable to attend any of my childrens open houses this year. The school didn't want any of the kids there during open house..DH had to work.. and because we just moved to this area, I couldn't get a sitter. So don't think too harshly of the parents who can't get there.

I have talked with the teachers since the open house and let them know my reasons for not attending and have set up conferences too. Just wanted to add another view to your situation!

 

[sharbear]

Hey Snowysmom, that how we do open house in the JH and HS. It was very well attended. We have 2 kids and both my DH and I went. I was one kid and he was the other. In JH we have not gone to as many conf. as elmentary school because you don't schedule them unless you have a question or a problem. We never missed one in elem school. My DH even took off work every year to go because they made it inconvient for people to work to attend. But that's another gripe for another day.

 

[minniecarousel]

Open House was a "not-to-be-missed" event when my kids were in school. We had "Back to School" Night at the HS last week and I heard that it was very well-attended. The MS near us had one last week, too, and they were parking on our street - so I know it was also well-attended.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Wow -- I know that there are lots of reasons that a parent can't be at opened house -- just as dizny4us said -- sometimes people can't find sitters but still for so few to show up is really sad.

My older one is in 3rd grade and I have gone to each of her's since kindergarten. It always looks like most of the parent's are there.

It is harder for conferences. Both my dh and I like to go and since they are during the day we don't have a sitter. I bring the kids and they stay in the hallway when I talk to the teacher.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

I most certainly attend mine! In fact I can't wait for oct to get here so I can go!

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

My son's open house was last week. It was standing room only! We also had to schedule our parent teacher conferences that will be held in December by signing up on a sheet she had posted. I was lucky I got there when I did, because I ended up with the last evening appt. at 7:45. I noticed that all of the evening appts. were taken and that only one person signed up for a day time meeting. I think most parents are working during the day, so a day time open house or meeting is not going to work for them.

Also, I did get a personalized thank you note from the principal of the school thanking me for taking the time to go to the open house. It was a photocopied note with my name handwritten by the teacher, but I thought that was a really nice thing to do!

 

[Cindy B]

My daughters open house was last week. The open house was for K 1, 2 grades only...

The principal presentation was short and to the point. (1/2 hour only)

Classroom visits were from 730-8. Out of the 14 kids in my daughters class, there were about 9 parents. (some of them were both parents). There were some parents that had another visit with a teachers (sibling) and stopped in afterwards.

the 3-5th grade class one is on Wednesday.

We wound up bringing our kids, because we didn't want to impose on family.

 

[JDY]

Out of the 14 kids in my daughters class, there were about 9 parents.

WOW...

14 kids in one class! I have 93 students everyday. Granted I only see each one for 90 minutes, but that's still a lot of papers to grade. I still find it amazing that only 3 of my students' parents turned up.