By Pam Molnar 

My husband and I went to the first curriculum night when our youngest was in kindergarten. We got a sitter for our children and drove to the school half-mile away. The chaos of the parking lot rivals only a church lot on Christmas Eve. 

When we finally made it to the classroom and found our daughter’s table, I squeezed into the chair while my husband stood nearby. We watched a PowerPoint and sifted through worksheets our daughter had completed. Early on, I could see my husband zoning out and checking his watch.

The next year, at the first grade curriculum night, I went alone. My husband thought it would be “easier.” Don’t get me wrong. I want to know what my kids are learning and who their teachers are. But perhaps there is a way to make that process more appealing for everyone involved …

Food. Most of us come right from work or are just returning from the after-school shuttle of practices, tutors, etc. If we’re lucky, we had a bite of our kids’ frozen dinner before getting here just under the wire. How about food trucks or a catered dinner in the lunchroom — we’ll even pay! Or just give us access to the vending machines.

Cash Bar. A Curriculum Night Mingle would take the edge off for parents and teachers. If you think the school district would frown on alcohol, then at least have a coffee bar. It’s hard to be unhappy while holding a vanilla latte and a cake pop. 

Delete the PowerPoint. Or at least don’t read it to us. If you are going to do that, just email it to us and we can read it when we’re having trouble sleeping. How about playing a game like “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” See if parents can answer some of the questions our kids are learning this year. That way we can relate when our kids tell us how hard social studies is.

Entertainment. I know teachers are worn out; we are too. Believe it or not, this is our social time. None of us want to sit behind a desk anymore. Why not a Sip-and-Paint in the art room with a 90’s band playing from the music room. Or an adult version of the Scholastic Book Fair in the library, ending with yoga in the gym? 

Swag Bags. It is always nice to go home with parting gifts. Have teachers bring the hundreds of lotions, frames, coffee mugs, candles, fuzzy socks, and apple-themed items they received last year but will never use. Bag them up in brown mystery bags as the ultimate eco-friendly gift, which we will regift for Teacher Appreciation Week!

Pam Molnar is the mother of three and a graduate of grade school curriculum night. She hopes a nearby school district takes her suggestions into consideration.