Virtual Meet the Teacher Open House Ideas for Back to School 2020

Meet the Teacher Open House is one of the biggest nights of the year – how can you make this event virtual back to school 2020? If you are wondering (or panicked!) Let’s walk through a Virtual Meet the Teacher Open House for 2020 perfect for ANY elementary classroom!

What are Virtual Meet the Teacher Ideas for 2020?

First establish goals of a Meet the Teacher/Open House which would typically include:

  • establish connection with families. Share info about yourself
  • communicate important classroom information
  • Introduce students to your space and/or virtual classroom environment or learning platform

All of these pieces can be done virtually and still accomplish those goals.

These Editable Back to School Postcards are such a favorite. Establishing the connection to families early. I love to add a QR code or picture. Easy to link to your “virtual” classroom space or a classroom website where parents can read more.

Where are Virtual Open House Meet the Teacher Templates for 2020?

Establishing Family Connection

  • Have a welcome letter about yourself. TIP: Use your exact one from past and just link to parents!! No need to reinvent the wheel here.
  • Play a fun game together and record responses like this Emoji Bubble Pop Introductions. Customize the questions to apply to your students!

Communicate Important Information

  • Make sure to have a scheduled time of event for parents to visit with any questions. Send information ahead of time and have an open Zoom room for them to drop in and out and introduce themselves. Always make sure contact info is front and center for distance learning!
  • Have parents sign up for a video chat (10 min!) with you to ask any questions and make sure they have signed the form. Again – this would be a fun place to play an intro game together!
  • Do you have a classroom handbook? If so – this would be a great link again of just the document already made for families to browse!

Introduce students/families to classroom Environment

  • Open house is a great for a classroom tour. A virtual tour for back to school 2020 could be of your classroom or of your learning management or meeting software so students get familiar!
  • Introduce students and parents to basic expectations. Traditionally this would be turning in homework, expectations for class, etc… so make sure to give that info in a presentation or attached document for parents to view and ask questions!
  • FREE Back to School Distance Learning plans with great ideas to help with what parents will WANT to know! If you want to really up your student engagement then check out this distance learning engagement workshop!

The Best gift you can give yourself is time – SAVE your time and have your BEST. YEAR. YET by getting the best in person and digital back to school items while saving money too!

Back to School Elementary: Bulletin Board, Craftivity, Flip book, Postcards
Signature

63 Comments

  1. […] read more about these ideas in depth visit: SSSTeaching where this post originally appeared! Hope you are inspired and less anxious about what next school […]

    • Donnamarie on August 2, 2020 at 2:14 am

      So much awesome material, postcards and yard signs. Looking to have a positive year! Thank you for the resources.

    • Donnamarie on August 2, 2020 at 2:23 am

      I like the emoji bubble pop slide. It looks fun! Communication is key. Thank you for all the great ideas.

  2. SHERRY MATHESON on July 29, 2020 at 11:22 pm

    I appreciate your great ideas!

  3. Albertine Johnson on July 29, 2020 at 11:25 pm

    The bitmoji introduction activity is so fun! Students will love choosing the bitmoji and I think it will offer engagement!

  4. Michael OrLando on July 29, 2020 at 11:25 pm

    Great stuff. I love the information. Thanks for sharing. This will be vital information for 2020-21 school year.

    • Diana Altenhoff on August 2, 2020 at 8:58 am

      Kids love getting mail so the back to school postcards are great! The emoji bubble pop is fun!

  5. Cass on July 29, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    Awesome material! Hope everyone has a positive school year.

  6. Rebecca Rakestraw on July 29, 2020 at 11:50 pm

    Love the post card. Thank you for all the ideas to use/share on a virtual meet the teacher night!

    • Amber Ernst on July 30, 2020 at 1:00 pm

      The back to school postcards are so fun to send! Students love and I like how easy they are to make and send!

  7. Patrice Bishop on July 30, 2020 at 4:27 am

    I love the yard signs! It builds community connections!

  8. Patrice Bishop on July 30, 2020 at 4:27 am

    I love the yard signs! It builds community connections!

  9. Angela Stankiewicz on July 30, 2020 at 5:46 am

    Back to school postcards have always been my go-to for my new class. I’m going to send a digital version this year since I have everyone’s email or cell phone number.

    • Amber Ernst on July 30, 2020 at 1:01 pm

      Angela – I didn’t even think of that. What a great idea!

  10. June on July 30, 2020 at 6:08 am

    Love the postcards! I just wish the distance learning engagement workshop wasn’t so pricey. It looks like a great one.

  11. Airiana Mickey on July 30, 2020 at 6:36 am

    I like that by doing this it can help everyone feel a little normal and feel welcoming.

    • Amber Ernst on July 30, 2020 at 1:02 pm

      Exactly! These small pieces, while not making everything “ok” can make distance learning back to school seem more close and connected!

  12. Heather Bigoss on July 30, 2020 at 6:40 am

    I made my first virtual meet the teacher this year. Such strange times we are living!

  13. Lisa R on July 30, 2020 at 6:55 am

    These ideas are great, I plan on sharing the ideas with my colleagues.

  14. Linda Ferrara on July 30, 2020 at 7:47 am

    Tbamk you for the ideas. I see you do a flip book for open house. How would you share this with parents?

  15. Diana on July 30, 2020 at 7:59 am

    I like the emoji bubble pop slide. It looks fun! We are starting remote so we will need to discuss classroom and remote expectations.

  16. Lori Farrell on July 30, 2020 at 7:59 am

    These look wonderful. I really hope that this is just for one year. We can make it!

    • Amber Ernst on July 30, 2020 at 1:03 pm

      YES! I love your positivity Lori! What a great attitude to start the year.

  17. Emily on July 30, 2020 at 8:08 am

    I just sent out my welcome letters, but I’m definitely going to think about using post cards next year! That’s a great idea!

  18. Rebecca on July 30, 2020 at 8:26 am

    Loved the Back to School postcards and E Bubbles!

  19. Christina Reynolds on July 30, 2020 at 8:31 am

    Great post! It actually made me feel less overwhelmed!

  20. Raven Hicks on July 30, 2020 at 10:54 am

    I love the postcards!! I have been looking for a cute way to introduce myself to my new students and their families!! I also love the idea of a virtual open house or meet and greet!! Thanks for sharing!!

  21. Anika on July 30, 2020 at 11:07 am

    I love the postcard idea! Such good way to connect with the kids!

  22. Tricia on July 30, 2020 at 11:40 am

    Thank you for sharing these ideas! I can’t wait to share them with my students!!

  23. Tricia on July 30, 2020 at 11:40 am

    Thank you for sharing these ideas!

  24. Amanda on July 30, 2020 at 11:59 am

    Thanks for the great ideas!

  25. Teresa on July 30, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    The ideas for the Virtual Meet the teacher are fantastic. Your ideas have helped me get my virtual meet the teacher off to a great start. I always send welcome to school post card and the ones you feature offer great variety. The yard signs are a good way of showing our students we care.

  26. Katelyn on July 30, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    Love the postcard idea, especially since I can’t meet the students in person…

  27. Michele Abraham on July 30, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    I love the idea of family yard signs. I think this will help get the whole family connected and want to participate in eLearning.
    Thanks for sharing 😀

  28. Liz Castner on July 30, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    Emoji introduction is such a cute idea!

  29. Heather McQuaid on July 30, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    These are really great ideas!! I like the postcard being sent home and perhaps link I ng it to a video or the link that I would be streaming from to “meet the teacher.”

  30. Ashley on July 30, 2020 at 6:33 pm

    Thanks for all of the virtual meet the teacher tips! I love the idea of virtual postcards!

  31. Ashley Kuproski on July 30, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    Yes, going over routines will be crucial.

  32. JoAnn on July 30, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    Great ideas! I liked the ones about establishing a family connection. We have already been told that we will have a virtual back to school night and parent teacher conferences- so family connections at the beginning are extremely important,

  33. Fiorela on July 31, 2020 at 10:55 am

    I love the Idea of sending a postcard with a QR code that links them to information they will need. I will be doing this!

  34. Katherine on July 31, 2020 at 3:21 pm

    I love those Back to School Welcome cards! I’m feeling a little anxious about a virtual back to school night, but these seem very do-able. Thank you!

  35. Liona on August 1, 2020 at 11:13 pm

    Brilliant! I’m definitely pitching these ideas to the team. I really hope that this is just for a year. I don’t like this “new normal”. We can make it, teachers!

  36. Gretchen Gibbs on August 1, 2020 at 11:13 pm

    I think this will be my first project as I start to tackle back to school. Thank you for the inspiration! (I’m actually feeling a little excited and not so nervous!)

  37. Julia Stover on August 1, 2020 at 11:41 pm

    I like your ideas. It is so important for the parents to know your expectations and procedures. There needs to be parent buy-in especially in a virtual learning situation.

  38. Lisa Hyde on August 1, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    Love the postcard idea! Especially if we are teaching virtual, Hoping to know soon!

  39. Rose Jones on August 2, 2020 at 12:22 am

    Thank you for these great ideas. Connecting with parents will be essential as we begin the year with remote learning.

  40. Lisa Russo on August 2, 2020 at 12:47 am

    There are some really helpful ideas here!

  41. Anna Gin on August 2, 2020 at 1:24 am

    I can’t wait to give the postcard idea a try.

  42. Kim H, on August 2, 2020 at 3:42 am

    Really like the idea of using the yard signs as postcards! Thank you!
    Kim H.

  43. Lindsey on August 2, 2020 at 5:43 am

    So many great ideas! Thank you!

  44. Ashley on August 2, 2020 at 7:48 am

    I am a 5th grade teacher in Arizona and start school next week. A little late for the postcard idea, although I LOVE IT. I still snagged the resource and might send it out after our first week or two together. Really like the yard sign idea, too! Thanks so much for sharing!

  45. Kim W on August 2, 2020 at 8:07 am

    Really love this idea. We haven’t been told how we are doing open house yet. But I’m going to dig into the virtual one.

  46. Marley C Drawdy on August 2, 2020 at 9:49 am

    Great virtual back to school ideas. I will be starting virtually and these will help.

  47. Tracey W on August 2, 2020 at 10:05 am

    Love the postcard idea!

  48. kim rumfelt on August 2, 2020 at 10:24 am

    Great ideas

  49. Joan on August 2, 2020 at 10:30 am

    These are all amazing ideas that I will be using! Thank you!!

  50. REBECCA MAY on August 2, 2020 at 11:13 am

    These ideas about including families early on in the school year are amazing! The resource is going to be so useful!

  51. LuAnn on August 2, 2020 at 11:29 am

    I love these ideas for connecting with families. Thanks for sharing!

  52. Maria Antos on August 2, 2020 at 12:02 pm

    Thanks for the tips! I hosted a parent Q&A in the spring when we just started with remote learning. The parents who came all seemed to appreciate the time to ask questions.

  53. Kristy Fano on August 2, 2020 at 12:50 pm

    I will be using your postcard idea. Thank you

  54. Cheryl Kremer on August 3, 2020 at 9:44 am

    The yard signs are excellent!

  55. […] read more about these ideas in depth visit: SSSTeaching where this post originally appeared! Hope you are inspired and less anxious about what next school […]

  56. […] read more about these ideas in depth visit: SSSTeaching where this post originally appeared! Hope you are inspired and less anxious about what next school […]

Leave a Comment





Brain Blowing Distance Learning Teaching Hacks for Back to School 2020

Distance Learning….Back to School?! NO one could have predicted this either a few months ago…

Your No Stress FREE First Day Back to School 2020 Lesson Plans

Back to School 2020 and especially a first day back to school distance learning may…

Virtual Meet the Teacher Open House Ideas for Back to School 2020

Meet the Teacher Open House is one of the biggest nights of the year –…

Distance learning back to school 2020 – online virtual resources at your fingertips

Distance learning Back to School 2020….may be a possibility for you at least for some…

The BEST Distance Learning End of School Year Ideas List

Wow! Who would have ever imagined the end of school year would look like this?!…

Heart Eyes for these Virtual Teacher Appreciation Ideas for Distance Digital Learning

Distance Learning Virtual Teacher Appreciation 2020, definitely looks a little different this year! With teacher…