Parenting Tips: Tips for volunteer at your child's school

In today’s overcrowded school systems, parent volunteers are needed more than ever. Many teachers are over worked and often feel as though they are underpaid. In Corona, California’s fourth grade classes there are thirty students to one teacher. In their kindergarten classes, there are fifteen five year olds to one teacher. Did you know that it takes a teacher one hour to grade twenty vocabulary sentences, per student? Did you know that teachers get burned out, too?

When a parent volunteers, whether it’s grading a few papers at home, or attending a class session once a month, everyone benefits. Children may not always show it, but having a parent attend a school function is one of the most rewarding experiences a child has. It tells the child that he is loved so much that his parent went out of the way to support him. Parents don’t have to attend every school function, and they don’t have to volunteer every week, but having their presence known does make for a better self-esteem.

If the parent comes in with the mindset that he or she is merely a helper, and not the parent, harmony can be maintained. And best of all, the parent’s time can be put to good use.

Here are some ways a parent’s time can be used in the classroom setting:

· grade a few papers (from a key)

· help students with assignment problems

· help with classroom parties

· help with taking down of classroom decorations

· help with setting up of classroom decorations

· help preparing assignments for the next day

If a parent cannot take off work to help in the classroom, here are ways parents can help from home:

· photocopy assignments

· grade papers

· cut out projects

· put packages together

· purchase materials for the classroom