“Parent volunteers are great!”
“Parent volunteers give me the heebie-jeebies!”
“I’m understanding the value of parent volunteers!”
Can you guess which comment came from a seasoned teacher? An unsure first-year teacher? A teacher who’s been teaching for a few years?
It took me a few years of teaching to realize that parent volunteers are worth their weight in gold! After all, a parent volunteer can be an extra pair of hands, an extra pair of ears, an extra source of encouragement, an extra pair of eyes, and so on. Sometimes they even bring snacks! 🙂
In what ways do you use parent volunteers? What helpful tips do you have for a teacher who is welcoming volunteers into her classroom for the first time? Two, four, six, eight—who do we appreciate? That’s right! Parent volunteers!
Thanks for sharing!
Diane
Last call! Today is the final day to enter our latest drawing for a free book from The Mailbox Books. See “Fun Friday Giveaway” for details. Congratulations to our winner, Dotty!
My parent volunteer loved the Library and she picked out books for me to read to the children. I would tell her the topics we were to discuss and she would find many books to match the topics. What a time saver.
I always ask the parents what talents or interests they might have. This is helpful if you are thinking about allowing them to work with small groups on enrichment activities.
They’ll bore quickly with photocopying and cutting things out each week… best to actively engage them in the classroom as well!
First create a survey asking parents’ about their skills and talents, then you can ask them to volunteer their service using their skills.
Below are just a few activities parents can volunteer to do. Make a list using the activities below, pass it out and let your parents pick and choose the activity they would like to do.
1. ASSISTING WITH COMPUTER GAMES
2. ASSISTING WITH LEARNING CENTERS
3. READING TO CHILDREN
4. TELLING STORIES
5. PLAYING INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES WITH CHILDREN
6. TUTORING
7. HELPING PREPARE FOR HOLIDAYS AND BIRTHDAY
PARTIES
8. PLANNING WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS
9. REPAIRING EQUIPMENT
10. PREPARING PARENT BULLETIN BOARDS
11. COLLECTING MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN’S PROJECTS
12. SERVING AS TELEPHONE CHAIRPERSON
13. CONTRIBUTING TO CENTER NEWSLETTER
14. SERVING AS VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
15. MAKING GAMES AND TOYS
16. COLLECTING RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
17. SPEAKING AT PARENT PROGRAMS
18. FURNISHING DRESS-UP CLOTHES AND COSTUMES
19. MAKING APRONS AND SMOCKS
20. LAUNDERING APRONS AND SMOCK, etc.
Submitted by Retired MSDE Certifeid “Adult Learner” Child Care Instructor/Trainer
I LOVE MY PARENT VOLUNTEERS. It is one reason that I adore teaching coop preschool. My Parents do so much in the classroom freeing me up for other things. The biggest thing is to find there talent. I have one Mom who is Irish and plays the fiddle. She does a St Paddys presentation. Another who works as a public health nurse found a community resouce who came in and did a dental presentation. Our little school is in the paper often for unique presentations that are arranged by Parents.
Parents are a HUGE ASSET. My advice to a new teacher would be to make every effort to utilize the Parents. Although you will always have some who can’t spare the time. But the resources you will find is worth the effort.
I love to have parent volunteers in the classroom for special activities…like Thanksgiving Stone Soup Feast, Gingerbread House Day, ect. It helps to have lots of extra hands to help out and also gives them a wonderful opportunity to experience a fun bonding time with their child. Having parent or grandparent volunteers to come and read to the class or to share special stories is always great, too.
Ok I’ll be the brave one! I have loved parent volunteers and I don’t. No I’m not a parent myself but as a teacher sometimes I feel like I have to prep work so my parents have things to do. But after reading the other posts maybe I’m going about it in the wrong way. Thanks for the suggestions.
As a teacher in a co-operative preschool, I use parents for everything! It is the BEST teaching setting I have ever been in since I started teaching! Parents make the playdough, help set up the classroom, help in the classroom, fund-raise, and basically run the school. Not only do the children benefit but the parents benefit as well. Parents learn how children learn best and create powerful and lifelong friendships! I would have a hard time going back to any other type of setting!
I love my parent helpers and so do my Kindergarten students. My students get really excited when their parent is coming in to help.
My parent helpers cut out for crafts, cut out my laminating, photocopy, help with craft and cooking days, come on field trips, read with the students, exchange home reading books, glue in scrapbooks, etc. With their help, I have more time with my students and can do more with my program. Thanks to my super parents!!!!
I have been intimidated with parents being in my room up until last year. Many of the students seem to forget the classroom expectations when parents are present. Last year I invited parents more often than other years. I noticed that after the first few times parents were in, their behaviors improved. This year I will use a parent survey to help me select parents for particular jobs. Thank you for the idea.