School open houses

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

What would encourage you to go as a parent

 

[Breezy_Carol]

My child. I always went to open house because I was involved in my child's education. Not sure how to encourage someone who doesn't want to go to attend.

 

[Laura66]

I'm sure the majority of parents go if they can. Quite a few missing from open house this evening - but their kids were in volleyball tournaments for the school, have multiple kids that have open house on the same day or have to work.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

My child. I always went to open house because I was involved in my child's education. Not sure how to encourage someone who doesn't want to go to attend.

I'm sure the majority of parents go if they can. Quite a few missing from open house this evening - but their kids were in volleyball tournaments for the school, have multiple kids that have open house on the same day or have to work.

Thank you

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My mom was military and by the time she for hem from work and dinner was done, she was too tired to head out to an Open House even if there was time to go.

Offering a couple of nights or maybe even a Saturday. Though I am sure the latter would go over like a lead balloon.

I don't know if I have ever been to one and if I did, I really don't remember it. So I am not sure what would encourage parents to go.

We homeschool--so no Open House.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

My mom was military and by the time she for hem from work and dinner was done, she was too tired to head out to an Open House even if there was time to go.

Offering a couple of nights or maybe even a Saturday. Though I am sure the latter would go over like a lead balloon.

I don't know if I have ever been to one and if I did, I really don't remember it. So I am not sure what would encourage parents to go.

We homeschool--so no Open House.

Very good idea but my teammate can't change the day we are given a day but we do have two time slots

 

[Jedana]

To not have it on a Tuesday or Thursday.

DH runs a Cub Scout den on Tuesdays. He doesn't get home until 8:30-9 pm. We have only the one car, and I don't want to walk almost 4 miles (roundtrip) to hear the teacher tell me the same thing she said at orientation the week before.

Thursday is DS's Boy Scout troop meeting night. DH and DS leave at 6:30pm and get home about 8:30pm. Same situation, I'm not walking.

*I walk up to the orientation. Walking isn't the problem...well, except this year, since it was 97 out with a heat index of 105 on the day of orientation. I'm not walking up again to hear the absolute same information. They even hand out the exact same sheets at both events.*

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

To not have it on a Tuesday or Thursday.

DH runs a Cub Scout den on Tuesdays. He doesn't get home until 8:30-9 pm. We have only the one car, and I don't want to walk almost 4 miles (roundtrip) to hear the teacher tell me the same thing she said at orientation the week before.

Thursday is DS's Boy Scout troop meeting night. DH and DS leave at 6:30pm and get home about 8:30pm. Same situation, I'm not walking.

*I walk up to the orientation. Walking isn't the problem...well, except this year, since it was 97 out with a heat index of 105 on the day of orientation. I'm not walking up again to hear the absolute same information. They even hand out the exact same sheets at both events.*

I agree but my teamate does not control the night the district does

 

[Laura66]

This is not your concern. The district picks night well in advance that will work for them. The majority of parents care about their child's education and usually come if they can. If they aren't interested in coming I really don't think anything you say or do will encourage it!

 

[lovesmurfs]

When my daughter was in elementary school, one of her teachers promised the whole class ice cream if they got 100% of parents (one/other/both) to back to school night.

I have problems with it the past two years. They begin the night at 6:00 p.m. I don't get home until 7, so I either have to take time off from work or miss it. Last year I took time off, this year, DH went alone.

Their reason it's so early is that "it's a really long day for the teachers." I know I put in 15 hour days occasionally when I'm working on a project. I don't think one long day at the beginning of the school year is too much to ask.

 

[Coonhound]

It would be great if more parents came. Don't take this offensively but since you are a volunteer (it's wonderful that you volunteer, you impact many people) however I'm not sure you can really implement changes to the way the district handles things like communication with parents, etc. This is a question best left to the professionals I would think.

 

[Nechville]

We make sure we go as it is important but the hours some are offered are unreasonable. One area school is having theirs from 12-3. And they had two weeks notice. Seriously, parents work too! I know it's a pain for teachers to put in some evening hours but they need to have these be more flexible if they want people to come. Luckily both ours were in the evenings.

 

[Laura66]

We make sure we go as it is important but the hours some are offered are unreasonable. One area school is having theirs from 12-3. And they had two weeks notice. Seriously, parents work too! I know it's a pain for teachers to put in some evening hours but they need to have these be more flexible if they want people to come. Luckily both ours were in the evenings.

During the day is ridiculous! At one time I would have had to find a sitter for all three or drag them along! And some schools don't allow that - even if they did how could you concentrate on hearing about the curriculum!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Make sure all the parents in the class knows the date and time!!!

One year I missed it! There were apparently more than one online school calendar and I checked the wrong one and didn't see it on the schedule. I don't know what I was looking at. Argh. I happened to be at the school and asked when the open house would be and it was last night!!

 

[clori]

I always go but often my dh stays home with the kids (more recently he has been coming as the girls have gotten older). I think a room with teens watching kids could help more parents be able to come.

For the past 5 years I've had 2 kids in the same school. There is always two sessions. However parents who only have one child tend to linger so there is less time for second session parents. This year I'll have two schools so hopefully different days/times.

 

[CF'er]

Are you talking about open house before school starts to get schedules, meet the teacher, etc? Or is this after school has started and to see what the kids are doing in class etc? We always tried to attend both. For awhile I worked evening/night shift and it wasn't always possible to get off work to go. My DH would go though. With two kids you usually have to split up to get to both/all classes. We always go to before school open house so the kids can get their schedules and any class room supply lists needed. Now at the high school they also pay for and get locker assignments and parking passes.

I honestly think that if the parents can go they will and very little will change attendance.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I was not trying to be nosy I was trying to help out my tea wate attract more parents

 

[Southernmiss]

Maybe this is more in line with what tink is asking.

My kids in early elementary were always excited to invite me to open house if they had done a special project to show off. One time there was a life size cut out of each child they had decorated and colored in their desk chair and the kids wanted us to see if we could find them. It was cute! Older grades have written parent thank you notes.

Later in the year, our school does a family evening for specific grades. The teachers of subject areas have a fun learning activity for kids and parents to do together.

 

[sam_gordon]

Maybe this is more in line with what tink is asking.

My kids in early elementary were always excited to invite me to open house if they had done a special project to show off. One time there was a life size cut out of each child they had decorated and colored in their desk chair and the kids wanted us to see if we could find them. It was cute! Older grades have written parent thank you notes.

Later in the year, our school does a family evening for specific grades. The teachers of subject areas have a fun learning activity for kids and parents to do together.

I remember doing the bolded when I was in elementary school.

 

[aprilgail2]

Offering a couple of nights or maybe even a Saturday. Though I am sure the latter would go over like a lead balloon.

This one made me crack up- there is no way the teachers union would allow it.

During the day is ridiculous! At one time I would have had to find a sitter for all three or drag them along! And some schools don't allow that - even if they did how could you concentrate on hearing about the curriculum!

Ours is during the day for Jr and Sr high- I have to take a half day off from work to go. And honestly I could skip it, I hear the same thing, doing great etc- but my daughter likes me to go and hear it so I take off and go.