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I know firsthand how crucial student enrollment is, not just for job security but for building a thriving classroom community. Over the years, I’ve discovered effective strategies that have consistently kept my classes bustling with eager learners. I want to share my Top 5 Actionable Tips to ensure your Business program is top-of-mind when students are scheduling their courses for next year.
1. Elective Fairs Are a Must!
One of the first things I always look forward to in January is our school’s elective fair. If your school doesn’t currently host one, I highly encourage speaking to your admin team to set it up. This fair is typically attended by eighth graders who are on the brink of choosing their classes for the coming school year. To make things visually appealing and memorable, I created an eye-catching display using a 4×8 foot piece of insulation, a staple for my presentations. Decorated with the theme “Your Ticket to Success,” my students and I showcased projects that were sure to grab the attention of young minds. Remember, they’re always looking for engaging, hands-on activities and a “cool” teacher!
2. Utilize Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards are an often-overlooked gem for promoting your program. Many schools, including mine, have unused or underutilized boards. I adopted several to display vibrant and intriguing student artifacts. The key is to make these boards as engaging as possible, showcasing projects that get students talking and excited. I’ve seen students drag their friends over to see their work and even custodial and security staff stop to admire the displays. It’s like having a mini-museum of your class’s best work that anyone passing by can appreciate.
I hang my ‘Ticket to Success’ Bulletin Board every year to promote my business education classes. This bulletin board is sold in my web shop and my Teachers Pay Teachers store..
3. Create Dynamic Displays in High Traffic Areas
Taking this a step further, larger displays in areas with heavy foot traffic, like cafeterias, can be a game-changer. One of my favorite projects to showcase is the “City Collaborative™”, where students build three-dimensional models of businesses. I would set up these models on tables near the cafeteria, ensuring they caught everyone’s eye. Engaging displays help students visualize the exciting projects they could be part of, making them more likely to sign up for your classes.
4. Embrace Project-Based Learning and Cross-Curricular Collaboration
The City Collaborative™ project doesn’t just stay within the walls of my classroom. I involve other departments to make it a school-wide initiative. For instance, Family and Consumer Science students create menus for our student-run restaurants, and STEM students light up our city models with their knowledge of electricity. We even have the English department join in by writing articles about student entrepreneurs. This interdepartmental collaboration not only enriches the project but also draws students from other disciplines to participate in my classes.
5. Leverage Technology and Social Media
Utilizing technology and social media can significantly boost your promotional efforts. Sharing pictures and stories of your students’ work on social media platforms and school websites can reach a broader audience. Parents, future students, and even the broader community can see the innovative and fun activities happening in your classroom.
Promoting your business program takes creativity and a little bit of elbow grease, but the rewards are well worth it. When I retired, my classes were buzzing with nearly 190 students, with waitlists for several. It wasn’t always easy, but seeing a packed classroom of eager learners made all the difference.
So, as the new semester begins, consider integrating these strategies into your promotional efforts. They’ve worked wonders for me, and I hope they’ll do the same for you. Here’s to a successful year filled with excited, engaged students ready to dive into the world of business education!
To learn more listen to Episode 22 of my podcast ‘The Art of Teaching Business’. You can stream my podcast straight from my website. My podcast is also available on all the major stream platforms including Apple Podcast and Spotify.
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