There are some mainstays of the back to school season that every American family, whether their child attends public, private, or charter school, will endure. School shopping for supplies, replacing wardrobes with clothes and shoes that fit and will be suitable in cooler weather, and adjusting schedules are all mainstays of the tradition that most American families must brave. But it doesn't stop there. These days most American schools have implemented the quintessential "Meet the Teacher" night or, sometimes, Day. This newer tradition has been added to just about every school's calendar year as a prerequisite for students in order to stave off some of the nervous anticipation that usually accompanies every child's waking hours for at least a week prior to the start of the official year.
Meet the Teacher Night's design generally lends itself to two main purposes. The most important purpose is for your child to get acquainted with who their teacher or teachers will be and where their classroom can be found on that first day of school. The basic premise is that if teachers have this chance to meet kids and their families they can begin building rapport and creating the all important home to school connection that is so desperately important to maintain throughout the year. There are other, more bureaucratic reasons for its existence, but these are standard for the most basic of American schools. And, although initiated and hosted by the school, there are things we can do as education consuming families to maximize the benefit of the event to more thoroughly ensure the school year gets off to a strong start. Once you've read all the directives for the event and followed the expectations, there are some other ways to make the most of the opportunity.
1.) Practice navigating from the drop off point to the classroom. It makes sense to just park the car and walk to the nearest entrance then proceed to the space designated for the event. If your school is not using an open house style meeting, be sure to help your child at some point before your family leaves by escorting them from the arrival spot to their first class. This is your chance to increase the spatial awareness they need in order to avoid getting lost or feeling nervous on that first day.
2.) Meet all the teachers. We naturally anticipate meeting the homeroom or self-contained teacher that our children will interact with the most. But, of course, there are so many other adults you will rely on to get your child through each school day successful and happy. Take time to meet the PE, music, art, library, and computer teachers. They usually have the entire school population to manage so they meet a lot of families. Still, taking time out to do this meet and greet really helps solidify these teachers' meaningful presence in your child's school life.
3.) Get acquainted with volunteer opportunities. Our children benefit from seeing us take real interest in their world. Some schools are really keen on parents being partners. They have so many volunteer spots that getting involved can seem like having a second job. Other schools don't always have a mechanism by which families can bridge the gap between school and home in any way other than homework and school projects. Use the Meet the Teacher event to establish this bridge. Let the volunteer coordinator or parent liaison know who you are and give them your contact information so they are aware of your willingness to engage in events and to help with school and classroom projects.
4.) Meet support staff. All the children will need to go to lunch and recess every day, with the exception of half-day kindergarteners. What we don't realize is that most of the time the teachers who monitor the cafeteria and playground are not the teachers who will work with your child in the classroom. This is usually a completely different person who is playing a largely significant role in the school day. Lunch / recess is one of the most highly anticipated times of the day wherein kids get the chance to have free social interaction without any purposeful structure. Free play can either be the best part of the day or the absolute worst. Getting acquainted with the people who are supervising this period of time helps your child understand that you support this person's efforts and believe them to be an essential part of the entire school experience.
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5.) Debrief after the event. Ask your child about their first impressions. Avoid giving your own opinion, whether good or bad. Your quick comment about the lopsided bulletin board décor could unintentionally give your child the impression that you are not fond of the school or the process. Your opinion matters a lot so reserve judgement at this point and let them be the star of this critique. Focus your attention on what your child is thinking. Gauge whether the event decreased their anxiety served the purpose of helping them feel less nervous about it all. See if they feel prepared and then do whatever still needs to be done in order for them to have a positive outlook and feel ready to start the year.
These are all fantastic ways to make your child's Meet the Teacher event even better. It gets your family in gear and gives the a great way to get the school year off to a fun, relaxing start. These are just some of the ways we use the event to our advantage. There are certainly many more. How do you make the most of these nights? Comment and let us know.
