Open House Planning for Secondary Educators

When I first began my career in education, I remember preparing for what felt like the scariest and most important night of my career: open house night. For most teachers, this serves as the first meeting point for families and teachers. Increased family support can lead to better engagement and learning outcomes for students, which is why it is essential to make a positive impression on open house night.

Even though utilizing public speaking skills is an essential part of my job as an educator, there’s something nerve-racking about presenting to families for the first time in an academic setting, and so to be as prepared as possible, I began searching the internet for tips and tricks for a successful night. In my search, I found that most of the information was designed to help elementary school teachers, not secondary teachers.

The ideas outlined below can help you develop a plan for a successful secondary school open house night. 

Fostering Two-Way Communication 

Open house night is the perfect opportunity to establish the foundational relationship with families that will grow throughout the year. When families arrive, provide them with a copy of the course syllabus so that they have an idea of what they and their student can expect from your course. Include contact information, a curriculum overview, a cell phone policy, supplies needed, the grading policy, the late policy, and important websites and apps that may be useful throughout the year. 

Once families have settled in, there are a few topics that can be beneficial to cover to build a collective understanding. Take a proactive approach to communication on open house night by establishing how often families should expect to hear from you as their student’s teacher. For example, at the start of each unit, it can be helpful to send a letter home informing families of upcoming texts and unit objectives.

The letter can also help families at home to continue the educational discussion of what their student is learning at school, thus making the partnership between home and school even stronger. Don’t forget to also have a sign-in sheet to collect up-to-date and preferred contact information for the families who attend. 

Keep in mind that communication with families often differs at the middle school and high school levels compared with communication at the elementary level, where students are with the same teacher for the majority of the day. 

At the secondary level, it’s encouraged and expected for the student to reach out to the teacher regarding assignments, missing work, or grades. Giving students a chance to advocate for themselves is an important part of our jobs as educators so that they gradually gain independence and take more ownership of their learning. Share these ideas with families, and encourage them to reach out about students’ individual progress as needed. 

Providing a Curriculum Overview

Consider the digital systems that your school has in place, and explain what steps families can take during the school year to monitor their student’s progress. Share an overview of upcoming texts or units of study, but keep in mind that families will likely be meeting other teachers the same night, so it may be best to keep the overview brief while including a handout with essential information. If there’s a digital copy of the text, include this information in the syllabus or handout for families. 

For those beginning their career or starting at a new school, keep in mind that it’s OK to not have all the answers. Direct families to the appropriate resource within the school (such as an administrator or counselor), and follow up with individual families as needed. Leave time for families to ask questions, and remember, it’s OK to not know every answer; what matters more is your response that follows, even if it is “I will reach out to you tomorrow to let you know.” 

Saving Letters that Matter 

As teachers, we know that middle school and high school can be challenging for students. On open house night, ask families to write notes to their students, and save the notes for when students face academic or personal challenges throughout the year.

Families can write encouraging words that would be helpful for their student, or they can write about their family values as a reminder to help their student stay on track. Save the notes in a folder to distribute later in the year on a day when the student may need extra encouragement from home, such as when they are writing an essay or completing a test.

While a teacher’s encouragement is helpful, students are often more motivated when they receive a surprise note from a parent or guardian. This ends the meeting with families thinking about their learner, while also keeping them engaged. 

Since open house night can leave teachers short on time, it can be helpful to follow up with families to thank them for their attendance. Sending a short email or writing a postcard home helps build trust between teachers and families, and it can be valuable in helping families see the impact that they will continue to have on their student’s education as the year progresses.  

Setting the Tone 

Meeting families and hosting an open house night can seem overwhelming, which is why creating a plan is essential. The preparation that teachers put into an open house sets the tone for the year, and it is important to be seen as an organized, knowledgeable, and open-minded educator.

As we embark on back-to-school and open house season, remember that families want to see that you are excited to teach their students, and, more important, they want to be involved in their student’s education. Consider inviting adults back into the classroom later in the year, as discussed in the Edutopia article “Hosting a ‘Bring Your Grown-Up to Class Day’ in Middle School.”

While open house night may serve as the first connection point with families, it should not be the last. Remember, a partnership with families is one of the best resources a teacher has.