November is National Family Involvement Month - Volunteer at Your School

• Do you want to help your child's school but are not sure how? Contact your child's teacher or school principal for volunteer opportunities. Let your child's teacher know you are interested in being a helper. Maybe you would like to help children read or write, or work on a computer project. You could become a tutor. Maybe you have an ability or skill that you would like to share with the class. Talk with your child's teacher to see if your talent can be aligned with the school curriculum.

• Look for "Sign-up" sheets at Open House, Parent/Teacher Conference time, or parent meetings to see if there is a need you would be interested in helping. Some schools are looking for parents who like to work in gardening to be on their "Beautification Committee" or "Building and Grounds Team". Maybe you can gather a group of parents to help with the weeding and shrub trimming; or plant a small flower garden to help with the school's outside appearance. If you have an idea, talk with the school principal or PTA/PTO president who may help to start a school project for volunteers to work together.

 • Are you a well organized person who has a niche for scheduling events? Volunteer your services at your child's school and become the Volunteer Coordinator who plans for all of the other volunteers that come to the school. This is a big responsibility and one that would be greatly appreciated by the school principal.

 • Does your school have a comfortable space for parents to work on school projects? Maybe you could help establish an area for parents to meet and help with school projects. A parent meeting room is a good way to welcome parents into the school and to help them feel they are a part of the school culture. A parent room is ideal for small meetings to make plans for volunteer opportunities and to have helpers complete project work for teachers and students.