10 Ways to Volunteer at Your Child's School

TEN WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL

Research tells us that parents and family members can make a difference in their child’s education by being involved in their child’s school operation. There are many ways you can be a part of your child’s education that go beyond coming to school events. Here are ten ways parents and family members can help their community school provide the best education possible for all children.

1. Join the PTA/PTO. Support the Parent Teacher Association by becoming an active member. The PTA provides opportunities for adults to support school programs, become advocates for educational change, and to gain leadership experience qualities.

2. Attend School Board meetings. Be informed about your school district and how educational policies are enforced. Be an advocate for your school and for your child’s education.

3. Donate a book and school supplies. You can help a child with needed school supplies or books by donating items to your community school.

4. Share computer skills. Offer to lead computer training sessions for other adults or students in conjunction with the PTA program director or school principal.

5. Share time and talents. Maybe you have a special hobby or skill that you can demonstrate to a group of students. Share your idea with the school principal.

6. Organize a field trip. Communicate with your child’s teacher about special community venues that would be valuable learning experiences for students and help to organize a field trip for a class.

7. Start a cleaning crew on school grounds. Maybe you enjoy working on landscaping and would be willing to organize a “grounds beautification” committee to improve the landscaping at your community school. Share your ideas with the school principal to get this started.

8. Volunteer at the school library. Help to shelve books, assist students select books, donate money to buy new books, and read to children. Talk with the school librarian and have your name added to the volunteer list.

9. Volunteer to be a ‘book buddy’. If your enjoy reading with children, the book buddy program pairs adults with young readers to give them extra reading time at school. Talk with your school principal if you would like to work with the reading program.

10. Work at home for school. Ask your child’s teacher if there are tasks that you can do at home that would help out in the classroom. You can help to fold paper into writing booklets, cut out shapes, staple packets together, or sort items into bundles. Your help can free the teacher to do other curriculum studies.



Maybe this list will help you and your family to become an educational partner with your community school. By becoming a partner in the school, you are showing your child the importance of a good education and how families and school personnel can work together to ensure that all children can be successful and achieve high expectations.