Sunday, October 28, 2012

Is Your Open House a Mad House?

I recently read Mrs. Q's post about her school's "Meet Your Teacher" night. She has some great ideas that she implemented for her evening and even provides a template for an informative Keynote presentation that you can customize to meet your needs. Her opening description of how this type of event goes in a music room made me laugh, because it sounded so familiar. If you are a music teacher, you understand how loud and chaotic these nights are when you mix crowds of people with drums, xylophones, and other exciting instruments.

My school's Open House is near the end of the year, and I have to admit that our classroom teachers are brilliant! Some of them have their students create a list of places to visit, such as the gym, art room, music room, and media center. After a brief time in the classroom, students are encouraged to take their parents and siblings on a tour of the building. While the classroom teachers prepare to leave on time, it seems the entire student body & family are in the music room playing drums, xylophones, and anything else I was unable to hide. Okay, I exaggerate a little, but it really does get crowded, loud, and chaotic.

I love getting to know parents, but it's impossible to have a conversation with the noise and the stress of watching 2-year-old children bang on $1300 instruments. I've watched mallet heads fly across the room while parents are oblivious, and students who would never run around banging drums or digging through instrument bins during class seem to believe everything in the room is free game during Open House. I used to attempt to put as many instruments out of harm's way as possible, but there are only so many places to hide numerous large instruments.

I needed a solution to the madness, so Open House would be a pleasant experience. In addition to running a slideshow, I've tried one other activity that went fairly well. It was actually just a way to organize the chaos, but it also served to educate the parents about what we do in music class.

I set up stations in the music room, and created a handout to serve as an educational guide. I gave specific directions about what to do at each station and gave brief background information about some of the instruments. The goal was for students to complete each station while educating parents about what they are learning in music. Meanwhile, the plan was for me to be able speak to parents at the door as they entered or exited the room. I can't say that it worked perfectly, but I feel that the handout and stations gave parents an idea of some of the things their children do in music class, and the stations kept people moving around the room with purpose.

If you want to further reduce the chaos, you could select stations that do not require playing instruments. Students could demonstrate music software, games, manipulatives, flashcards, whiteboards, smartboards, among other activities.

Do you have strategies for a successful Open House? I'm always looking for new ideas, so please share!

129 comments :

  1. I like the idea of a sheet with directions! That way there is no confusion about what kids and parents should do while they wait to talk with you. Thanks for referencing my site! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.
    Happy Independence Day USA
    Independence Day USA Quotes

    ReplyDelete
  3. awesome post i really enjoyed reading this article which explained everything in very easy manner. i will visit this blog once again to get such an important information which i keep on regularly looking for
    psl 2018 timetable
    bbl 2017 tickets
    top box office
    box office india
    isl 2017 theme song video

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice information, I believe that anyone who wants to know something about this topic will like the post. I really loved the reading blog.

    Happy Thanksgiving Photos

    Happy Thanksgiving Pictures

    Happy Thanksgiving Images

    ReplyDelete
  5. great blog here with all of the valuable information you have. Keep up the good work you are doing here.
    Happy Christmas Images

    Happy New Year Quotes 2018

    Poems For Christmas

    Happy New Year 2018 Wishes

    ReplyDelete
  6. These are some great tools that i definitely use for SEO work. This is a great list to use in the future..
    Hbse

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have bookmarked it, and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Thanks for this article. Keep up the good work! Well, I have also made an article hope you go through it. I hope you and your valuable readers will be like my

    happy easter facebook
    happy easter images religious

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice job Making this Informative Website. Here is my Website Fathers Day Images and Quotes

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your website has very good content. Here is link to another website that has useful content 4th Of July 2018 Pictures

    ReplyDelete
  10. The 2018 World Cup is firmly underway. We have had some classics already - Portugal vs Spain being one of the great early games -,while two of the big ...
    World Cup
    World Cup Live Streaming
    World Cup Live Streaming Online
    World Cup Live Stream
    https://fifawc2018s.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Losing top spot, with World Cup top-scorer Harry Kane rested, gives England a last-16 game against Colombia on Tuesday in Moscow on the ..
    Portugal vs Uruguay Live Streaming
    Argentina vs France Live Streaming
    World Cup TV Channels 2018

    ReplyDelete
  12. The 2018 World Cup is here and runs until the final on July 15. Check back here daily for results, news coverage and stories on the biggest names in Russia.
    https://watchfifawc.com/2018/06/22/world-cup-2018-final-live-stream-free/
    https://watchfifawc.com/2018/06/14/fifa-world-cup-broadcasting-rights/
    https://watchfifawc.com/

    ReplyDelete
  13. I Have Got Some Of The Best Eid ul adha stuff here on Eid al Adha Images Eid UL Adha Pictures Eid al Adha Quotes Eid UL Adha Clipart Eid ul adha messages Eid UL Adha GIFS on this website so you can share this with your friends on social networks like facebook and twitter.and canexpress your love with him.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It is said that Saint Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and personally interrogated by Emperor Claudius II. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and talked to him to transfer him to Roman paganism to save his life. It is said that he performed a miracle before the execution, healing Julia, the blind daughter of her supervisor Asterius. Happy Valentine's Day 2020 wishes

    Valentin von Terni became bishop of Interamna and reportedly suffered martyrdom during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian in 273.He was buried on Via Flaminia, but in a different place than Valentin in Rome. His relics are in the Basilica of St.Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino). History of Valentine Day

    The year 2019 will be very exciting for Google, as there are already many good smartphones on the market that from the company's world phone.All smartphone brands and mobile operators around the world are trying to bring the first 5G smartphones to the market, as are networks based on the latest connectivity standard that will go online in 2019.Here we dive into the list of upcoming mobile phones 2019 that arrive in the first and second half of the year.

    The cameras of the current Oneplus 7 T Pro are above average, but not excellent. Since OnePlus has now become a premium player, they will try to improve the camera game in the upcoming Pro version. Currently mobile price in Bangladesh

    The exam is usually published in May by all education authorities in Bangladesh.The date of publication of the SSC result 2020 is very important for the candidates who take the SSC, Dakhil and professional exam.According to the announcement from the Ministry of Education in Bangladesh, the SSC exam results with marksheet 2020  will be released on May 6, 2020.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is really a great article and great read for me. Its my first visit to your blog and i have found it so useful and informative specially

    this article.
    Funny Happy Valentines Day Images
    Valentines Day Wallpaper

    ReplyDelete
  16. Stunning staff/the head worker organization is totally cool , unbelievable breakfast, experienced 2 nighttimes as an element of our wedding recognition merriment and the hotel composed blooms and cake for us which was sweet of them.https://www.hoteljagdamba.in/ There are on the whole that anybody could require exercises in the housing to contribute all the vitality inside which fuses some superb restaurants anyway if the need be there is a great deal of movement essentially outside (strip mall, bistros, workmanship shows). The housing has a dazzling workmanship grouping appeared.

    ReplyDelete
  17. When visiting the Windy City, there is no chance that you will miss out on an amazing musical experience. The reason for this is the fact that Chicago is one of the most "musical" cities not only in the USA, but also in the entire world. This city has a rich musical heritage in many different musical genres, including blues, jazz, gospel, soul, new wave, punk, hip-hop, house music and so on. David Morales DJ

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have also gone through your other posts too and they are also very much appreciate able and I'm just waiting for your

    next update to come as I like all your posts.
    Merry Christmas Images
    Merry Christmas 2020 Images
    Christmas Images Free

    ReplyDelete
  19. It is really what I wanted to see hope in future you will continue for sharing such an excellent post.
    Happy New Year Images
    31st December Messages
    Happy 31st December Wishes
    31sr December Quotes

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have also gone through your other posts too and they are also very much appreciate able and I'm just waiting for your

    next update to come as I like all your posts.
    Thanksgiving Pictures
    Thanksgiving Images 2020

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for sharing this Excellent blog it was a very useful and helpful blog. Get High Profile call girl Well Educated Good Looking Full Cooperative Model Service You Can See Me Compatible Hotels I Can Visit Your Service. For more details click here: Call Girls in Mussoorie

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I
    clicked submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm
    not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say excellent blog!

    Feel free to visit my web blog :: 오피사이트

    ReplyDelete
  23. I would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post. Music and You

    ReplyDelete
  24. The most well-known issue in homes are gagged channels because of delayed collection of hair strands, cleanser, cleanser, soil and even food things. Blocked Drains Hunters Hill
    Gas Fitter Hunters Hill

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post. house of music book

    ReplyDelete