Newsletter Articles

You’re Volunteering? Great!
Eight Practical Things to Consider Before You Go
By Denise McGuire, Parent Outreach

The school year is now officially underway. Classrooms are developing routines and children are settling in. Opportunities abound for additional adult support. Teams may or may not have a systematic way of inviting and involving special grown-ups in the classroom. Whether you have been invited to help or would like to offer your help, joining the classroom will be easier with a bit of planning. Here are eight practical things to consider as you prepare to join the class for a day.

1. Be sure to wear clothing and shoes that are comfortable. Remember that they might get dirty! Ask the teacher in advance if they will be going outside on the day you are joining the class. If they are spending time outdoors, be sure to wear a coat, hat and mittens if the weather warrants them.
2. Let the teaching team know when to expect you, and how long you are planning to stay. This will help them plan the day’s activities.
3. Have a brief conversation with the teaching team about who will be working with your child if their behavior becomes challenging.
4. Introduce yourself to the children and any other grownups in the room as you meet them. Think ahead of time about what you would like to be called by the children and other adults while you are working with the children. Let your child know what his/her classmates will be calling you.
5. Let the team know where you are comfortable working. Do you enjoy the art center? Are there any centers that you would like to avoid? Any particular activities that you aren’t comfortable with?
6. Plan to be available while you are in the classroom. Avoid phone calls. If you aren’t able to sit on the floor, let the team know. Ask where you can place a chair and still be part of the activity. If you know other staff in the building let them know that you are excited to be helping in your child’s classroom and suggest that you talk later.
7. Be sure to talk with your child about the day on your journey home. What did you see him/her do that you would like to know more about? Make a special note of things that your child seemed to particularly enjoy. Avoid disciplining for things that happened during your stay. Trust the team to take care of those issues, just as if you weren’t there. You might consider talking with the team about how they worked with a situation at a later time.
8. Be prepared to talk with other parents about your experience. Share what your day was like. What was easy for you? What centers did the children enjoy? Did you help with a special project? This isn’t the time to report children’s misbehavior. If other parents ask, encourage them to spend some time in the classroom. It is always appropriate to state what activity a child was particularly involved in; “I saw your son play with the blocks for half an hour! He made a structure as tall as his shoulders and put the dinosaurs on it.” Help other parents understand their child’s day by painting pictures with your words – little snapshots of children working in the classroom.

Most of all; enjoy your experience! Your help in the classroom is valued and appreciated! You are a part of the team!

RAEYC - Newletter, Issue 3 - November 2004