By Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts 

To learn what a school has to offer or know what’s going to happen in your child’s school during the year, attend any tours or open house nights on the calendar. Whether your children are in preschool or high school, this will help you make decisions about the best school for your child and give background for when you are talking to them about their school day.

While school tours give a broad overview of what a campus has to offer, open houses usually begin with a meeting for everyone in attendance, then break into smaller groups by grade or classroom. At both events, you will learn general information about the school and its goals. Typically, you will also hear a little about the school’s parent-teacher organization and volunteer opportunities at the school. 

Next, you will likely be sent to visit classrooms to meet teachers. Educators will offer an overview of what material will be covered in a class, homework and grading policies, and the role technology will play in learning. You may be introduced to teachers’ websites, where homework assignments, grades, and a calendar of events may be available.

Other topics you may learn about during tours or open houses include behavior standards and school policies. If the tour guide or teacher does not cover a topic that you are curious about, be sure to bring it up if there is a designated time for questions. Knowing school policies helps parents see if an educational institution aligns with their family perspective and also helps avoid any issues during the school year.

Before a tour or open house, ask your children if there are any special things they want you to consider. Do not skip visiting any class your children may have. It’s important for you to discover what they are doing in art, music, and gym classes as well as meeting these extracurricular teachers. Furthermore, be observant as you walk around the school. You need to see what the restrooms, cafeteria, and library are like, and the general condition of the school. The more you know about the school, the more you can understand what your children’s everyday experiences would be there.

Do not bring your children to tours or open houses unless they are specifically invited to attend. Unless it is a one-on-one campus tour, you should not corner the teacher to talk about your children. Specific questions and concerns can be addressed by setting up conferences between yourself and teachers or administrators.

To make tours or open houses an even richer experience, talk to other parents. Hearing what other parents are looking for in a school, or what current parents think of the school, can aid in decisions about if a school is right for your child. Finally, make your visit to the school even more worthwhile by talking to your children about what you saw and what teachers said about the coming school year. Be sure to tell them all the appealing things you learned about the school so you can all feel good about the campus your child attends. 

Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts are experienced teachers who have taught at every level from kindergarten through college. Reach the co-authors of the Dear Teacher column by emailing [email protected] or visiting the dearteacher.com website. ©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2024.