Kindergarten Kiddos

For the Parents

August 14, 2012 at 2:43 pm | Posted in Classroom, Parent Communication | Leave a comment

I just woke up from that teacher dream where I’m teaching with no pants on (no time to prepare). There were about 10 parents watching me through a window criticizing me for teaching that way. I really desperately needed just one of those parents to offer to run and get me a pair of pants. We all know budgets are being cut. Please understand that your child’s classroom teachers are giving all they have to give of their money, family time, and energy. For those of you who understand this, I’ve put together a list of ten things people can do to help out at the lower grade campuses right now; of course the upper grades also need more support than ever.

1. Shelve books in the library. Our librarians are over multiple campuses, or they are in a classroom during the day and have to go shelve books after the students dismiss.
2. Get four friends together and volunteer to each teach one art lesson one week a month. We no longer have art teachers. Art supplies are expensive and the money is not there. The teacher can print out the state lesson objectives and most of us would be more than happy to let you get on Pinterest and run with it.
3. Donate small sized children’s underwear, socks, shoes, pants, and shorts to a classroom. (They have many accidents when they are little and we aren’t going to have the support staff to help us take care of those accidents). Keep donating clothes throughout the year; we will use them!
4. If you can keep from gossiping! Please come and help struggling students read, write and count. Most are capable, but they need individual attention and it’s hard to give enough of that these days.
5. If you can keep from gossiping! Please mentor a child with behavior or social problems. Most are very loving and just need a little more cheering than the average student. Play a game with them, listen to them read to you, help them with homework, etc.
6. Volunteer to check homework folders and backpacks EVERY morning when you drop off your child.
7. Volunteer to fill homework folders and check the teacher’s mailbox EVERY afternoon before you pick your child up.
8. Commit to one afternoon a week when you can help the teacher gather things for the next week’s lessons.
9. Help the teacher by giving them quiet time with their family! The BEST teacher gift I was a prepared a meal for my entire family complete with salad and dessert. All I had to do was warm a casserole up in the oven! We don’t need gift cards to restaurants; all we have the time or energy to do is eat out. We need time with our families.
10. If no one is asking you, volunteer to help. Say yes when someone asks you to help. We typically have the same 7 or 8 parents helping out in every grade level. All the teachers hear is the complaining in the school supply aisle or on FB and frankly most feel like you’d say no or not show up if we asked.