How to Be a Teacher-Parent Night Superstar

by Guy E. White on 29 September, 2014

How do you ensure that your parent-teacher night goes off without a hitch?

You’re standing in front of thirty parents of your students. They are no longer smiling. In fact, they’re looking a bit confused, angry, and bored. When did things go wrong? How can we make sure this never happens again?

The first parent-teacher night I held in my first year teaching was an absolute disaster. Parents entered the room quite anxiously happy to meet me, but that quickly dissipated into confusion and a bit of anger. I learned some huge lessons that year.

However, over time, I’ve learned not only what not to do, but big lessons about what can make the parent-teacher night one of the most profitable encounters for me and my students. Here’s how:

1. Be Myself

Parents know a fake when they see one. Over the years, I’ve dropped my self-imposed image of what I believe a teacher “should” look like and have settled more and more into my own skin. Students get to see my flaws, quirks, and humor inside my classroom each day. Why would I hide that from the people who are going to assist me most with my students’ education? I drop the image of a teacher and simply meet others as me.

2. Mind My Audience

The top questions parents have are: (1) What assignments are due and when? (2) How can we avoid stressful last-minute assignments and projects? and (3) How will we know, in advance, that something is not going well? With these questions in mind, everything I say speaks to these concerns. By the time the parents leave the room, I want them to be fully equipped to assist their students.

3. End Early

About 75 percent of the time, the parents that walk through my classroom door have all the information they need from me after about five minutes of me speaking. So, I end early and ask, “Are there any questions that pertain to the whole room?” This usually prevents a question from arising that only relates to a single student. After all questions have been answered, I dismiss the room and tell parents that I have a few minutes to consult one-on-one regarding any questions about their individual student.

Finally, a treat for you reading this last paragraph. For the past three years, I’ve purchased about two dozen donuts for $12 and had them on hand in my classroom when parents arrive. Most won’t eat them, but will love the gesture.

What are your tips for teachers? How do you make parent-teacher nights the most successful that they can be? Tell me in the comments below.

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