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Back to school night is a great way to ease transiton into a new grade, classroom and teacher. Its helpful for the students, parents and teachers

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Start with fun and clear invitations that explain the schedual, list the desired outcomes and detail location and time.
These invites can be in many forms, some of them including
- student created invites
-evites
- emails
- letters mailed home
- Videos sent via text or email

Once the Back to school night is planned it is essential to prepare organization tools
these include
-a sign in sheet
- a clean and inviting classroom environment
- a well planned and rehersed presentation by the teacher and administration
- prepared family activities that are short and sweet. See section below for game ideas

Other tips to make it a "hit"
- keep it themed. Examples: Camping, dreaming about the future, space, superheros
- offer raffles and prizes
- involve the PTA for recruitment
- offer refreshments
- prepare name tags so that parents can mingle and get to know eachother

Family activites
- Ring toss
- A scavanger hunt designed to help parents find thier way around the classroom and school
- trivia based on theme
- small and simple craft that is related to the theme or designing a keepsake

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What should each phone call involve?
- An update on their childs progress, something positive that took place recently, something that was exciting or impressive.
Tips for teachers
- Attempt to make 2-3 phone calls each week or bi-weekly to different parents, logging each one to insure that everyone gets them at least twice a year.
- Take notes before, during and after the call. The notes before can be used as a guide for the call. The notes during can be useful to address any questions or concerns and the notes after can be a summary of the call that can be referenced at a later date.
- Students can be present to re-inforce the positive behavior being discussed.
- Record the call, it possible.

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There  is  significant  research showing  that  involving  fathers  in  their  children's  education  has  many  positive  outcomes on  children's  development

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One example that I think is an amazing tool for engaging fathers is advertising upcoming events in a way that is directly aimed to interest them and place them in places where they are most likely to see it.
The book mentions placing advertisments in gyms, and toilets but this feel like a strange place to advertise. I think the most important place you can advertise for dads is going to be in person or over the phone. Dads are typically going to respond well to direct communication with direct and simple information.

When you create invites for dad events, make sure to use clever dad "hooks"  these can include
- who let the dads out
- dads a donuts
- FUDGE  (friends, uncles,  dads,  grandpas,  etc.)

Also planning events or activites that are interesting to dads is essential. I really like the idea of having a school wide contest for the best dad jokes and the winner can get a special place on the schools front sign where it can display the joke and the dad who won it. This is a great way to make people laugh while encourging a positve realtionship with fathers and the school community

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Communiation between both parents is essential

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Maintain an equal line of communication with both parents

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Maintain an equal line of communication with both parents

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Far too often it is only the mother who is the direct line of communication with the school, however this does not always have to be the case.
Always address communcation to the "Parents" or " Mr. and Mrs."
It is also essential that phonecalls are made at a time when both parents can be present if possible.

Send out a questionnaire to both parents at the beggining of the year to find out what times and dates are best for them in regards to communication, events and meetings. This is also a great place to ask personal information like their hobbies, interests, professions etc. so that you have a foundation to walk on when you are trying to develop a close relationship.

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Family nights can be a great way to keep parents engaged and interested in participation. It is also a great way to develop a stonger sense of community

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Some great examples of family nights inlcude
- Dinner nights
Provide dinner for familes at a small donation price in the cafeteria. Pasta, Pizza or Nachos are always great options. Play music and have raffles during this event to keep it fun and get families engaged.
- Family game nights
Set up board games in the classroom and invite families to come and play together. This is such a fun way to help bond the families in your classroom and help everyone get aquainted and build strong relationships with one another
- Family movie nights
invite parents to bring blankets, chairs and pillows to the indoor cafeteria and play a movie on a projector. Sell consessions for a low price to raise funds.
- Math night
Set up different math activies and games in each classroom and allow the parents to explore the school and get to know eachtother and the staff. This is also a great way for parents to see how fun learning can be.
- Science night
This is the same concept as math night except it would include science experiments
- Blankets and books night
This is a great chance to invite parents into the classroom and to get cozy with their children and a good book. You can ask parents to bring books or you can provide a small library for them to pick from. either way this is a great way for parents to see how fun and special reading with their children can be.

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Being in a new environment can encouge engagement and interest in the desired outcome

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Host events or meetings outside of the school

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Host events or meetings outside of the school

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The readings had so many great ideas for meetings and events that could be held in locaitons off school campus
A few of my favorite include:
-Monthly meetings in a Library to discuss the classes progress and disscus any questions or concerns
- Coffee in the mornings for the parents to attend after dropping their children off at school, this could be led by a member of the PTA
- Beers and Books,  a reading group for dads  in  the local pub  or cafe  where they can  meet once a month to  discuss a book  they are  reading and  books they are  reading  with their child. This is a great opportunity  for  key  staff to  form  good  working  relationships  with  dads.  Things  to consider when  setting up  a book club:

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Positive reinforcements are not only useful for children, they are also very effective for adults as well

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Incentives for volunteering time in classroom 

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Incentives for volunteering time in classroom 

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Offering incentives for parents who are volunteering time and are engaging with their children at school and home can be a useful way to get the results nescessary.

Some examples of incentives could be
- free admission to events at the school
- raffle tickes
- gift cards
- thank you cards from the class
- public recognition on a bulliten board in the front of the school, on a social media account or other school communicaton platforms

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A creative and relatable way to keep parents up to date regarding key events, interesting articles, homework assignments etc (Morgan, 2017)

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Using Social Media as a form of Communication

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Using Social Media as a form of Communication

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Social media is a common way for people to stay up with their friends and events. Teachers can create a class account that displays the follow things
-homework assignments and projects
-celebrate and showcase students achievment
-inform parents on school news and events
-conduct polls, ask questions and engage feedback through interaction
- post videos on what students are learning in class
- give parents tips and tricks on how to communicate and interact with their children.

The most optimal social media platforms for this would be
- Instagram
-Facebook
-Twitter

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