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Sharon DeVellis: Inside Scoop

The Inside Scoop on Volunteering In The Classroom

August 31, 2009

When Son No. 1 was in kindergarten, I signed up to be a class volunteer. I'd volunteer mostly for the field trips but my favorite memories are from when I'd go into his classroom just to help out. Like that time when...

I'm lying.  I just lied to you. I am a lying liar. What's that I smell?  Ya smoke...'cause my pants are on fire.

I did do all of the field trips but only went into the class to help out once. I just didn’t like it. It freaked me out being around that many kids, I couldn’t remember their names, it was loud and they were all STICKY.  So I stuck with the field trips where I’d get my little group of five and be done with it.

Then came Grade 1. As the school year approached, Adam had shown some reservations about going into Grade 1 but we thought once he went he’d be fine. That wasn’t the case. Tears were shed each morning and night. He was sad to be going to school five days a week, the work was hard, he missed his kindergarten teacher and, much to my surprise, the reason he cited most was he missed me.

After yet another night of tucking him in while he bravely fought back the tears, I bit the bullet and asked “Would you like me to volunteer in your class?  Would that help make it better for you?”

Of course the answer was yes (roll eyes). So the next day I marched into his class, introduced myself to his teacher and asked if she needed any help. And just like that I was a regular on the volunteer roster.  Once a week I would come to his class and spend my morning sitting in a very small chair at a very small table doing whatever was asked of me - cutting, gluing, stapling, filing, laminating and sometimes working one-on-one with the kids. 

It’s been two years now and in about a week, I’ll be marching into Adam's new class to make the same introduction and ask the same question. Only this time, there’ll be no hesitation or eye rolling because over the past two years, I’ve come to love volunteering. It’s allowed me to see how Adam is doing in his class, to meet his classmates and most importantly, I’ve learned how much it helps the teachers and school.

In honour of that, I spoke with a few teachers to get the Inside Scoop on Volunteering in the Classroom.

What are teachers looking for in a parent volunteer?

Teachers are looking for a volunteer who is reliable, flexible and interested in doing whatever needs to be done. They should also be confident, able to take direction and a very important point, trustworthy. Volunteering in the classroom is like going to Vegas – what happens in the classroom, stays in the classroom – you should never talk about a student’s abilities or inabilities with others in the community. 

What DON’T teachers want in a parent volunteer?

All the teachers I spoke with were in agreement that they don’t want a parent who is there only to keep an eye on their own child and get progress reports. Volunteering is for the benefit of the classroom and the school, not just your child.

What are some of the jobs parent volunteers are expected to do in the classroom?

The answers varied among the teachers and will vary in every classroom in every school across the country depending on their needs but in general, a few of the things you may be doing include:

 Photocopying
 Cutting and gluing
 Filing student work
 Reading with the students
 Leading small group activities
 Helping students with individual tasks

Admittedly, they’re pretty small tasks and yet the work volunteers do in the classroom means the teachers have more time to prepare lessons plans and spend one-on-one time with the children – yours included.  Without volunteers there are many activities that couldn’t take place in your child’s school – field trips, fundraising, class activities, lunch programs and book fairs to name a few. As one teacher put it “parent volunteers are essential and keep the school running”.

By giving of yourself and volunteering in your child’s school, you’ll be enriching their academic career and the entire school environment.

But take it from me, after two years of watching my son’s eyes light up with pride as I walked into his class on my volunteer day, you get back more than you give.

* Every school district has different volunteer practices and screening procedures which may include a police background check.  Check with your school for to find out about its volunteer policies.

 

Labels/Tags: sharon, the inside scoop, back to school, volunteer, volunteering

Posted by sharond at 19:27:04 8 Comments Click to comment

Behind The Blog

Sharon came to work at the YMC as the Yummy Mummy Club Coordinator after winning Canada's Yummiest Mummy Contest, a contest based on creativity and not on parenting skills (*whew* wipe beads of sweat from brow).

After a year and a half of coordinating the ins and outs of the YMC while managing the chaotic life of being a stay at home mom to two boys, and even though you will find at least one spelling or grammar error in every single one of her blogs, Sharon was promoted to Editor.

If you're looking for insight on how to balance motherhood and working while keeping your house immaculate, go visit Martha Stewart's blog. If you're every other mother on the planet struggling while trying to figure it out... welcome to The Inside Scoop.

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SharonDV

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