At the Head of the Class
Thinking about taking on the job of class mom or dad? Here's what to expect.
The title "class parent" generally has higher expectations than volunteering (though volunteering is always appreciated!). But even if you're a single mom or dad, or have a full-time job or lots of obligations at home, you might find that you can still add the class parent job to your resume.
In some schools, it is an elected or appointed position, in which you serve for the school year as a representative. In other schools, being a class parent does just mean being a volunteer, and you can come and go as you please. Ask your child's teacher or the principal what the term means in your child's school. Possibilities are:
Year commitment: This often indicates an elected class parent position, as voted on at parent meetings, to serve for an entire academic year. Responsibilities vary but often include communicating classroom news from teachers to parents, organizing events, and getting other parents involved.
Semester commitment: Many teachers encourage parents to pledge availability to the classroom for one semester of the year; class parents rotate from fall to spring. Usually this is similar to signing on for the whole year, except the term is shorter.
Spouse trade-off: Another option is to share year- or semester-long classroom duties with your spouse — if you cannot make it to a fundraiser, he or she goes in your place.
Volunteer: This flexible alternative allows you to select projects that work best with your schedule. Instead of promising to be at specific events throughout the year (like every single class party, for example), you can volunteer for specific events (one book fair, the class play, and the Halloween party).
What is the time commitment?
Rest assured, getting involved is a shared responsibility among many parents. Most elementary school teachers request that class parents spend about a half-hour at a time in the classroom; middle school teachers welcome any sort of collaboration with parents, since children become more independent during these years. Options include:
Before school starts in the morning: For younger elementary school students, wintertime "coat-monitor" parents are incredibly helpful during the morning routine. Standing at the class doorway before the bell rings, you help kids take off jackets and put them away in cubbies or the class closet. It's a task that helps the day to begin smoothly, and you can still get to work on time.
During the day: both in and out of the classroom. If daytime volunteering is best for you, inquire if there are any office tasks you can help out with, such as stuffing envelopes for send-home announcements. Teachers and administrators alike appreciate extra hands on a task like this, since it's so time-consuming.
After school: Consider being a supervisor as your children's classmates board the buses. Once again, this is a much-valued offer, since once the final bell rings chaos can erupt. Teachers can always use an extra pair of eyes to prevent mix-ups. When everyone else is on their way home, you and your child can just hop in the car and zoom off!
On weeknights: What kind of creative activities go on at your child's school? Try lending a hand backstage for class productions or student art shows. When your child comes home with a part in the class play, it's a nice way to be involved.
On weekends: With school consent, collaborate with your child's teacher to organize a Saturday afternoon trip to the local science center. If you can get some other parents to help supervise, it would be a wonderful learning supplement that doesn't take away class time during the week.
What kind of jobs could I do?
Being a class parent opens up an array of opportunities to lend a hand either inside or outside of the classroom. Teachers and administrators always welcome extra help and there is likely a laundry list of tasks to choose from at any given time of the year. Any job offers the chance to spend time with your child and to have a lot of fun! Here are just some of the possibilities:
- Guest speaker. Come to class one day and share your knowledge. Are you a seasoned baker? Ask the teacher if you can spend an hour teaching a cooking class. Afterwards, eat the delectable treats you made together!
- Field trip supervisor. Get on the bus and chaperone a field trip. Not only will you get to experience hands-on what your child is learning, but you also get a chance to interact with your children's peers.
- Newsletter columnist. Start or contribute to your child's classroom newsletter. Get the scoop on what's going on in the classroom before anyone else, then spread the word.
- Fundraiser. Bake sales, car washes, penny wars — organizing these functions puts you at the head of an activity that raises money for supplies or charity, and promotes classroom unity.
- Reading club advisor. Does your child's school have an after-school reading club? Encourage your child and his peers to find pleasure in reading by selecting titles and leading discussions. Invite other parents as well.
- Activity coordinator. Team up with your child's teacher to plan a class party. With so much to celebrate during the year — Halloween, Thanksgiving, the holidays, the 100th day of school — stepping up to plan or give support for such events is appreciated.
- Distributor of the class calendar. Find out all the important school dates, like PTA meetings, report card distribution, holidays, in-service days, and so forth, and create a calendar spreadsheet to give to the other class parents.
- Bulletin board designer. Lend a hand, literally, by offering to hang up class projects on the class bulletin board. While such a task doesn't take more than an hour, it frees your child's teacher for grading papers, refining curriculum, or planning activities.
- Teacher Appreciation Day coordinator. Show your gratitude for all the hard work your child's teacher has put in by arranging a Teacher Appreciation Day celebration at your school. Ask all the other parents to sign a thank you card and join in the festivities.
What's the benefit?
The benefits of being a class parent are numerous and rewarding! Here are five top reasons why you should find out what you can do to contribute to your child's classroom now:
- To provide richer resources. As a class parent, you help your child's classroom prosper instantly, whether you're sharing your knowledge, helping raise money for new books, or contacting exciting guest speakers.
- To meet other parents. Spending time with other parents is one of the easiest ways to get recommendations on baby-sitters or doctors, learn more about the school and teachers (see #4), and make some new friends.
- Because the teacher will appreciate it. Your child's teacher will be grateful for your helping hand. The role you play is valuable because it lets her know that you are attentive to the learning needs of your child. Being active at school shows the teacher that you are both on the same page — your priority is your child's education.
- To know what's going on. By involving yourself in your child's classroom, you gain access to the subjects he's learning, areas he excels in, after school activities offered, and upcoming school-wide events. Sounds like good stuff to know!
- To show your child the value of school. Children who have an actively participating parent tend to thrive in the classroom. Why? Because those parents are demonstrating that education is incredibly important — so important, in fact, that Mommy or Daddy (or both) is involved with school, too.
