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Last year I discovered a Fun way to introduce students and parents to the room and to me during “Meet the Teacher” night! It was a huge success and I will be doing it again this year. This scavenger hunt accomplishes 5 things:
- It creates excitement and a desire to return! Students and parents are encouraged to walk around the room to find key areas together. Parents help their child to find the area that matches the picture and then color in the happy face. The parent then looks in that area for the Posted answer to the All About Mrs. Angel sheet and writes it in. It’s just enough of an introduction – a teaser – to all of our fun areas in the room, that makes them want to come back.
- Allows me, as the teacher, to quickly greet each family and send them on their quest so that I can greet the next family. Usually, there are multiple families at once coming through the door and it is difficult to give each of them undivided attention. I’ve been overwhelmed with parents waiting to talk to me in the past during these events and have tried many different things to try and lessen their wait time. We can’t schedule individual times for each family as we do with parent conferences, so inevitably parents come in groups along with extended family members/children. It really can be quite overwhelming! As families finish the tour and bring their papers back to me for a “selfie with the teacher” I am able to chat with them individually and get them a student information packet to answer most questions they have. There is always the parent(s) that want to give me a very detailed description of their child’s difficulties and medical history, however, I try to gauge the situation quickly and let them know that we should schedule a more private meeting. Usually, I am able to shorten these conversations and get back to the parent the next day. I find that parents are just as nervous as the child and need a bit of reassurance that they are making a good choice in leaving their child with us. **Keep a clipboard with you to write important notes, including these call-back promises!
- There is a ton of conversation, introductions and positive interactions going on. Parents and children are laughing and interacting with each other and with other families as they “look” for the answers to my questionnaire. Older siblings help find areas in the room and are having fun with the preschooler. Returning students are showing new students where something is. It really is great to witness!
- Parents become more comfortable with the idea of “school” for their little one and are able to see some of our really fun activities that are already displayed in areas. I leave the story out on the podium in our circle-time area that we will be reading the first week. I have our objectives written on the board. The alphabet is displayed in sign language. Housekeeping/dramatic play area will be a “camping” theme and will be set up. School buses and cars will be added to the block area. Birthdays will be displayed and a picture schedule will be visible in more than one area.
- The whole experience is scheduled and I am finished on time with very little clean-up. There is a lollipop and a bag of microwave popcorn on a table by the door that I mention when they arrive. I attach this tag to the popcorn Thanks for Popping in FREE. and next to the lollipops. I let everyone know they need to take one as they leave. I then hand them the scavenger hunt and tell them to hurry back for a picture, it’s not time to play with the toys, just look around. I can’t stress enough how great this worked last year! I had very little clean up from kids playing because parents were ushering them through and wanted to talk to me. I also mentioned again that the lollipop was waiting for them to take home.
Here are the forms I used that you can edit.
AllAboutteacherscavengerhunt to go along with I Spy scavenger hunt
The forms above go together. Place an answer card in each area they need to find. To make it easier I place #1 in the first area on the scavenger hunt, #2 in the second area, etc.
Get ready for your families and Have Fun!
