Inspired by another thread--How do you feel about parents volunteering in the classro

[Jeafl]

Personally, I think it depends on the parent. I have had some that were incredibly helpful, and some that were the volunteers from Hades. They spent the entire time kissing and hugging their own child, ignoring the kids that really needed the help, and basically were there to monitor what went on between their child and the other kids in the class. I found them terribly disruptive and they made my job harder. I even had one mother who started an argument with another student because she found out her son wasn't invited to the other child's birthday party!

On the other hand, I have had some that stayed in the background, asked me what I needed done, and were very helpful to ALL students in the class. You just never know what kind of volunteer you are getting I guess.

By the way, I guess "classroom" got cut off in the title and I can't edit it!

 

[jrmasm]

I think volunteers are fine if they stick to doing what they are asked to do. The problem is that the problem volunteers probably have no idea that they're a disruption so what do you do?

And to pile on to your spin off....

I also think that teachers should not have open door policies. Talk about disruption!!!

 

[Jeafl]

I think volunteers are fine if they stick to doing what they are asked to do. The problem is that the problem volunteers probably have no idea that they're a disruption so what do you do?

And to pile on to your spin off....

I also think that teachers should not have open door policies. Talk about disruption!!!

Actually the most helpful volunteers I have are the ones that will do the crappy work like copying, setting up science experiments, putting together math homelink folders, etc. I don't really need them working with students that much. Maybe giving a makeup spelling test once in awhile or something like that, but for the most part I appreciate them doing the "clerical" type tasks.

I have had parents refuse that kind of work because they want to be IN the classroom, not down the hall at the copy machine. In other words, they want to spy.

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the open door policy.

 

[jrmasm]

Actually the most helpful volunteers I have are the ones that will do the crappy work like copying, setting up science experiments, putting together math homelink folders, etc. I don't really need them working with students that much. Maybe giving a makeup spelling test once in awhile or something like that, but for the most part I appreciate them doing the "clerical" type tasks.

I have had parents refuse that kind of work because they want to be IN the classroom, not down the hall at the copy machine. In other words, they want to spy.

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the open door policy.

That what I meant when I said:

I think volunteers are fine if they stick to doing what they are asked to do.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Well, I already posted on the other thread. I think volunteers are great in the classroom. I volunteer as much as I can. The teachers in our district are always asking for volunteers. There is a sign up sheet at the meet the teacher day. If you don't sign up then you get a note home. They ask you to volunteer at least 1 time per year. With all the budget cutbacks they need help more than ever.

The teachers usually have a clipboard with a list of duties. A lot of them you can go in the hall to do. Some of them are in the class like hanging decorations etc. I think it helps the teacher so she doesn't have to spend time doing busy work.

My experience has been that I arrive to the class and most of the kids don't even look up from what they are doing. Even my own child. I go find what needs to be done, and I do it. No interuptions. I think the teachers have them well trained.

Some of the things I have done are: make copies, staple packets together, hang children's artwork or decorations around the class and in the hall, quiz students on sight words, listen to children count and record how far they could get, give make up spelling tests, read stories to the class, help clean up, and much more.

 

[Mkrop]

I love volunteering in the classroom. I usually volunteer in the library. My job is to put back the books, help the kids find books or check them out, and many times I help with the worksheets that they are to work on while others are looking for books.

The librarian did tell me that she had "lose" the form of one lady who helped out before bc all she did was sit with her kid and make jokes. She didnt tell me who it was but did tell me she never got any of the books put away. They always got left for the next mom.

 

[Belle0101]

I had a teacher friend that this subject came up once with. Her opinion was that parents shouldn't be in the classroom but rather be placed as volunteers in the library, cafeteria or school office.

 

[Jeafl]

Well, I already posted on the other thread. I think volunteers are great in the classroom. I volunteer as much as I can. The teachers in our district are always asking for volunteers. There is a sign up sheet at the meet the teacher day. If you don't sign up then you get a note home. They ask you to volunteer at least 1 time per year. With all the budget cutbacks they need help more than ever.

The teachers usually have a clipboard with a list of duties. A lot of them you can go in the hall to do. Some of them are in the class like hanging decorations etc. I think it helps the teacher so she doesn't have to spend time doing busy work.

My experience has been that I arrive to the class and most of the kids don't even look up from what they are doing. Even my own child. I go find what needs to be done, and I do it. No interuptions. I think the teachers have them well trained.

Some of the things I have done are: make copies, staple packets together, hang children's artwork or decorations around the class and in the hall, quiz students on sight words, listen to children count and record how far they could get, give make up spelling tests, read stories to the class, help clean up, and much more.

You can volunteer in my room anytime!

 

[RadioNate]

As a parent, I see 2 types of parent volunteers. The ones that want to help and the ones that need to go out and get a job instead of hanging around the school all day because they can't let their little snowflake grow up.

The 1st type is ok by me, the 2nd need to get a life.

Flame away.

 

[jrmasm]

I had a teacher friend that this subject came up once with. Her opinion was that parents shouldn't be in the classroom but rather be placed as volunteers in the library, cafeteria or school office.

Or is someone is needed in the classroom maybe volunteers shouldn't be allowed in their own child's classroom.

 

[XYSRUS]

I say parents can volunteer in any area where your kid is not. If you want to volunteer then go where you needed. You don't need to see your kid(s) at all. We even have parents who "volunteer" to drive to field trips and then don't want to take any other kids! What do they think it is? A free-for-all. I could go on for days....

 

[golfgal]

When our kids were in elementary school I did a lot of volunteering at school as did a lot of parents. Some of the volunteering was working/chairing various fundraisers but a lot was in the classroom. Early on the teachers used parent volunteers to work on reading skills with the kids. The parents would sit in the hallway and have the child read outloud and each teacher had their own grading sheets as to what they wanted us to look for, etc. We would also help with copying, cutting, etc. In 3rd grade the kids all wrote and put on a puppet show. They made their own puppets and the teachers would have parent volunteers in to help with those. I never saw a parent try to take over a class or disrupt a class in any way. The kids knew parents were coming in all the time and for the most part the parents were just ignored and the kids went on with their day.

I think parent volunteers in school are vital both for the school and for the KIDS.

 

[RitaE]

This is one thing that I've never really understood. I guess it is just one of those "when I was a kid" things. I mean, when I was a kid a parent showing up at your school meant one thing -- you were in trouble. Parents came to school on visit nights and to see your school play. Otherwise, school was for kids and teachers.

I'll be blunt, there are Moms at my kid's schools that are there pretty much full time. I don't get it - I don't understand why they are there and I don't understand why the teacher even needs them there. From the time I've spent around them, it is a very weird gossipy helicoptering mostly Moms who are bored and should probably just go get a job kind of atmosphere. I know I'm being a witch but that's about as polite as I can be about it.

I've done some volunteer work shelving library books etc but not a whole lot. I don't enjoy the whole Soccer Mom School volunteer thing much so I don't do it.

To be honest I want to be in my kid's classroom about as much as my kid's want me in their classroom.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

When our kids were in elementary school I did a lot of volunteering at school as did a lot of parents. Some of the volunteering was working/chairing various fundraisers but a lot was in the classroom. Early on the teachers used parent volunteers to work on reading skills with the kids. The parents would sit in the hallway and have the child read outloud and each teacher had their own grading sheets as to what they wanted us to look for, etc. We would also help with copying, cutting, etc. In 3rd grade the kids all wrote and put on a puppet show. They made their own puppets and the teachers would have parent volunteers in to help with those. I never saw a parent try to take over a class or disrupt a class in any way. The kids knew parents were coming in all the time and for the most part the parents were just ignored and the kids went on with their day.

I think parent volunteers in school are vital both for the school and for the KIDS.

This sounds like our school. It has been that way since I was a kid. My kids go to the same school I did.

 

[mjkacmom]

It's not allowed here, probably because of the bad seeds. You can't even go to your child's classroom to bring him or her something.

 

[disneyjunkie]

As a parent, I see 2 types of parent volunteers. The ones that want to help and the ones that need to go out and get a job instead of hanging around the school all day because they can't let their little snowflake grow up.

The 1st type is ok by me, the 2nd need to get a life.

Flame away.

No flames from me.

Type 2 parents caused me to no longer take part in the room mom foolishness. I was sick and tired of having busy body parents gossip about my students.

 

[RadioNate]

This is one thing that I've never really understood. I guess it is just one of those "when I was a kid" things. I mean, when I was a kid a parent showing up at your school meant one thing -- you were in trouble. Parents came to school on visit nights and to see your school play. Otherwise, school was for kids and teachers.

I'll be blunt, there are Moms at my kid's schools that are there pretty much full time. I don't get it - I don't understand why they are there and I don't understand why the teacher even needs them there. From the time I've spent around them, it is a very weird gossipy helicoptering mostly Moms who are bored and should probably just go get a job kind of atmosphere. I know I'm being a witch but that's about as polite as I can be about it.

I've done some volunteer work shelving library books etc but not a whole lot. I don't enjoy the whole Soccer Mom School volunteer thing much so I don't do it.

To be honest I want to be in my kid's classroom about as much as my kid's want me in their classroom.

I agree. I do a lot with my son's school but never in the classroom unless it is a field trip.

In DS's 1st school, there were mom's there all day, every day. The walked in with their kids and left with them...5 days a week. I always wondered why these woman didn't go become teachers or something.

 

[golfgal]

This is one thing that I've never really understood. I guess it is just one of those "when I was a kid" things. I mean, when I was a kid a parent showing up at your school meant one thing -- you were in trouble. Parents came to school on visit nights and to see your school play. Otherwise, school was for kids and teachers.

I'll be blunt, there are Moms at my kid's schools that are there pretty much full time. I don't get it - I don't understand why they are there and I don't understand why the teacher even needs them there. From the time I've spent around them, it is a very weird gossipy helicoptering mostly Moms who are bored and should probably just go get a job kind of atmosphere. I know I'm being a witch but that's about as polite as I can be about it.

I've done some volunteer work shelving library books etc but not a whole lot. I don't enjoy the whole Soccer Mom School volunteer thing much so I don't do it.

To be honest I want to be in my kid's classroom about as much as my kid's want me in their classroom.

We had a lot of parent volunteers when I was in school .

 

[ilovesugar]

We had a lot of parent volunteers when I was in school .

Me too. I am 36 and my mom was the room mother one year of my elementary years. She helped with the parties and pretty much whatever the teacher needed. So it has been around for a long while.

 

[RadioNate]

We had a lot of parent volunteers when I was in school .

Me too. I am 36 and my mom was the room mother one year of my elementary years. She helped with the parties and pretty much whatever the teacher needed. So it has been around for a long while.

I'm 35 and I don't ever remember a parent volunteering in the classroom. Never. My mother certainly didn't but she was a teacher herself.

Parents were room mom's...the did the 2x a year parties and chaperoned field trips. I remember one girls mom helping in the office but I think she might have been paid staff.

But no weekly, in classroom, volunteers. One guys dad was a dentist...he brought us tooth brushes every year.

But they didn't run spelling words with us or help with projects. Never anything like that.