How To Volunteer in Your Child's Classroom

Ask any teacher - they need help in the classroom! As funding for public education goes down and students' needs go up, the job of a teacher gets more and more demanding. One of the best things that parents can do for their children's education is to volunteer in their child's classroom! Luckily, there are many ways for a parent to volunteer.

1. Talk to the teacher. Most teachers are very excited to have volunteers! However, each teacher has his or her own routine, and just showing up one day might disturb this routine. Instead, call or email your child's teacher or schedule a conference and ask how you can help. These might be the best thing the teacher hears all week!
2. Determine your availability. Be realistic about this. Don't offer one day a week if you can't keep that commitment, because the teacher will count on it. Determine if you can offer an hour a week or occasional time for field trips, or time at home after work.
3. Help with field trips. Teachers always need chaperones for field trips, since watching an entire class is a lot harder out in public! Ask for a schedule of field trips and try to schedule availability to go on some of them. Not only will these help the teacher out, but volunteering for field trips makes your child feel special and allows you to share some special time with him or her.
4. Work with small groups. Teachers have a hard time finding time for small groups, with all the different needs in the classroom. Asking the teacher if you can work with a small group of students on reading or math will help the children immensely as well as give you an idea of the work done in the class. That way, you will have an idea of your child's academic needs.
5. Work one-on-one with a child. Volunteering in a classroom may give you a chance to help a student who isn't fortunate enough to have parents able to help them. There are plenty of children whose parents are busy, unable to help, or just uninvolved in their children's lives. These kids need adult role models also, and you can perform a valuable service to the student by being there for him or her.
6. Talk about your passions. If you are a lawyer who loves defending people in court, come to school and stage a mock trial in your child's class! If you are an artist or a scientist, volunteer in the classroom for a period of time to teach your area. Children love guests and teachers appreciate the involvement and the break from direct teaching. Don't worry, the teacher will still keep the children in line!
7. Help from home. Many parents just aren't able to volunteer in the classroom, not because they don't want to, but because their work or family schedules don't permit it. If this describes you, ask the teacher how you can help from home. The teacher may have you correct work, enter grades, or staple homework packets. Remember, many teachers don't have aides any more, and they will take all the help they can get!
8. Buy stuff. If you are able to help out financially, there are always needs in a classroom that teachers have to take care of out of their own pocket. It's common for teachers to buy tissues, sports equipment, art supplies, books, pencils, snacks, and much more out of their paychecks. They will be eternally grateful if you purchase any one of these things!

The bottom line for teachers is that they will accept any help at all. They are often underappreciated and are longing to bring parental involvement into the classroom. Talk to your child's teacher and chances are good that you will find a way to volunteer that works well for everyone.