I am a new teacher. What should I include in a 5th grade Back To School Night package for parents?

Question

I am working at a private school with only 10 students in my class. I am used to working with public schools and lower grade levels.

Answer 1

1)Your contact information - email, conference period... (I always make a "business card" and print it out on that magnetized paper so they can have it on the fridge) don't for get about your website if you have one.

2) I include a brief survey - very open ended, questions like "My child excells at..." This gives them a chance to "brag" on their kid and tells you something about the student that you might never learn without this.

3) An "at a glance" scope and sequence - this shows the parents how much material needs to be covered during the school year. (aka Course description)

4) Grading policy! Remember to include how you deal with late and/or missing work.

5) Student behavior expectations

6) A list of important dates: State testing days.... (remind them to NOT schedule Dr.'s appointment on those days)

7) A classroom "wish list". (I always ask for colored copy paper because my school does not provide it - think about what project you'll be doing during the year and ask for that stuff.)

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Momica gave many useful items to include. I also include a copy of the report card for the grade level- that way parents know EXACTLY what their children will be assessed on and there will be no surprises. I also pass out a "snack calendar" and every day a student's family is responsible for sending snack with their child for the whole class. (Don't know if your school does that).

Answer 3

I teach fourth grade, a couple of things I always hand out at Open House night are a list of class rules and class consequences (like 1-verbal warning, 2-time away from the class, 3-time at a discipline buddies while writing a note home about getting in trouble...etc.) and a note about anything important I know we're going to do (the science fair is big in 4th grade so I make sure to send home info about that and about the science experiment we do as a class...we grow potatoes).  Hope this helps a little.  Also, don't hesitate to ask people throughout your school (not just your grade level) what they hand out, you'll get good ideas from all grade levels.  Good luck with your first year.

Answer 4

What are you pretaining to?   Paper, or little gifts, or what?  this is confusing.

Answer 5

I give very little information on paper.  It just opens the door for criticism.  Besides, it has been my experience that they won't remember it, can't find it when they want to refer to it, or completely forget they have it and contact me anyway.  Why go to all that effort?  My students have seven other teachers and we all have different policies.  The main thing I do is dazzle them with my enthusiasm and provide my web page address which has everything they could possibly want to know without cluttering up their house with extraneous paper.  I verbally stress that they should ask their child FIRST about any question they might have.  That way we don't take the child out of the equation.  I think too many people have the impression that education is something done to kids, as if it is a tennis match between parents and teachers going on over their heads.  By the time students are in fifth grade it is time for them to be taking on some of the responsibility for their own education.  Therefore, parents should ask the student first if there are questions.  If the student is unable to answer to the parent's satisfaction, they can refer to my web page or contact me.

The information I give is brief enough to fit three to a sheet of paper.  I feel good about saving the paper and saving my time!

Answer 6

Well you could give them ideas on what you are going to focus on during the fifth grade year. You should also give them a worksheet for the parent and the child to do, for starters. They should each compare answers and see how the worksheets throughout the year will be for there children and themselves.

You should also have the parents ask there child there multiplication, adding, and subtracting facts a couple of times, just to make sure they remember. Do not get into division yet. GOOD LUCK!!

-kdifaz.