Support Your Child—Become a Classroom Volunteer

One of the best ways to help your child succeed in school is by becoming a classroom volunteer.  Not only does the teacher appreciate the additional help, but you and your child will also benefit greatly by the experience. 

You will have an opportunity to get to know the teacher better and understand the classroom routines.  Most important, you will be able to see your child’s academic progress in action.

Children absolutely love to have their parents assist in class. When you come to school, it gives a subtle message to your youngster that you care about what happens when he is learning new concepts.  When you interact with other students, you’ll have the chance to get to know some of those classmates your child has been talking about.  If you want to set up an after-school “play date” for your little one, you will have a good idea of which children would be a good choice to have in your home. 

Volunteers often have the chance to observe how the teacher presents a new subject.  Doing so might give you ideas of how you can assist your child with his or her homework activities.  You will also have an opportunity to find out more about the teacher, get to know him or her better and have a good working relationship with them—should you have questions or issues to discuss in the future.

If Mom is unavailable to work in the classroom, what about signing Dad up for a shift?  Over the years I have taught, I have had many dads, grandmas, aunts and even a child’s nanny help us out.  This could be a wonderful experience for them, too.

A common reason parents don’t help in the classroom is that they have a work schedule that precludes it.  However, there are many singular opportunities to volunteer.  At our school, we have an art program with four or five classroom volunteer times over the course of the school year.  

If you are not fond of working with a small group of children or you are concerned about flexibility within the class, try the school library out for a volunteer job. There is always something needed somewhere.  You can get started by asking the teacher what type of help she needs and then choosing something that best fits your needs.

In CUSD, we have a policy requesting parents or others who volunteer on a regular basis to complete an application and be fingerprinted.  Although this may seem like a lot of work, it acts as a protective measure for all children.  Volunteers also sign in at the front office and wear an identification badge.  Find out what the requirements are at your child’s school.  Sign up to volunteer and learn more about how your child relates to others and performs in school.