What It Means
Back-to-school night is a school event, usually held in the evening in the first weeks of the year, when families visit classrooms, meet teachers and hear what the class will cover and how it runs. The U.S. Department of Education's advice to new teachers is to hold a parent meeting like this within the first month, to set out expectations for achievement and behavior and take questions. Some schools call it an open house or curriculum night; the name and format depend on the school.
Try It: Ask Tonight or Save It for a Conference?
Back-to-school night is for the whole class. Sort each question: ask tonight, or save it for a one-on-one talk.
1. How much homework should we expect each night?
Right. It applies to every family in the room.This one is a class-wide expectation, so tonight is a good time.2. My son struggled with reading last year. Can we make a plan?
Right. Ask the teacher for a time to talk about your child alone.That's about one child. Ask for a conference or a call instead.3. How will you measure progress and share it with us?
Right. ED's parent checklist suggests asking exactly this.It's a whole-class question, and ED's parent checklist suggests asking it.4. Why did my daughter get a low grade on Tuesday's quiz?
Right. Email the teacher or book a time.That's private and specific. Save it for an email or a meeting.How Parents Say It
- "Back-to-school night is Thursday, can you get home by six?"
- "We sat in their little chairs and heard the homework policy."
- "I signed up to help with the fall party at back-to-school night."
The Breakdown
Back-to-school night and the conference, side by side
| Back-to-school night | Parent-teacher conferenceParent-teacher conferenceA short scheduled meeting between a parent and a child's teacher to talk about how the child is doing in school and how to help at home. See more | |
|---|---|---|
| When | The first weeks of school | Later in the year, on the school's schedule |
| Who's there | Many families at once | You and the teacher |
| What it covers | The year's plan, routines and expectations | Your own child's progress |
| Best for | Questions that apply to the whole class | Questions about your child alone |
By school level. In elementary school you'll often spend the evening in one classroom. In middle and high school, some schools have parents follow a short version of their child's schedule from room to room, so each teacher gets a few minutes. Ask the school how its night runs.
What to bring. Your calendar, a pen, and a short list of whole-class questions. ED's parent checklist suggests asking what the teacher expects of your child and how the school measures progress.
When to follow up. If something worries you, ask the teacher that night for the best way to reach them, and send a note within the week.
Good to Know
Harvard Graduate School of Education's piece "A Parents' Night Recipe" notes that the traditional back-to-school open house can feel rushed to families, and that some schools have reworked it and even renamed it. Check the school's notice for the format, whether children come along, and whether it's in person or online. If you can't attend, ask the teacher for any handouts and the best way to get in touch.
FAQ
What happens at back-to-school night?
You visit your child's classroom, meet the teacher, and hear the plan for the year: routines, homework, grading and how to reach them. There's usually time for a few questions.
Is back-to-school night the same as an open house?
Schools use the names differently. Some call the early-year parent evening an open house, and others hold an open house at another time to show student work, so check what your school means.
Should kids go to back-to-school night?
It depends on the school. Some hold it for parents only, while others invite the whole family, so read the invitation.
Do It in Buhata
Calendar, Countdown, Reminders
Put back-to-school night on your Buhata Calendar as soon as the date comes home, and set a Reminder that morning to write down your whole-class questions.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Parent-teacher conference
A short scheduled meeting between a parent and a child's teacher to talk about how the child is doing in school and how to help at home.
- Back-to-school prep
The jobs a family does in the weeks before school starts, from checkups and forms to supplies, a budget and shifting bedtime earlier.
- Room parent
A parent volunteer who acts as the go-between for a class's teacher and its families, handling messages, sign-ups and class events as the teacher directs.
- Emailing a teacher
Writing to your child's teacher by email to ask a question, share news or raise a concern, ideally short, specific and polite, with one topic per message.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education, "Survival Guide for New Teachers: Working with Parents" (archived); U.S. Department of Education, "What Parents Can Ask and Do to Help Children Thrive at School"; Harvard Graduate School of Education, "A Parents' Night Recipe"
- www2.ed.gov/teachers/become/about/survivalguide/parent.html
- www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/documents/family-community/parent-checklist.pdf
- www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/15/11/parents-night-recipe
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