G.I.V.E. Get Involved, Volunteer in Education

Volunteering in the Classroom Benefits Parents and Children

By Belinda Brinton, Parents' Source, July 20, 1999

I've always considered myself a "hands-on" kind of parent. So when the opportunity arose to volunteer in my twin daughters' kindergarten classrooms, I embraced it wholeheartedly. I didn't want to just hear about their teachers and classmates. I wanted to experience them firsthand! I wanted to be a part of the learning experience. So, I jumped in with both feet, alternating one day a week in each of my daughters' classrooms. Two years later, my volunteer work has become quite a significant part of my life.

Much research has been conducted to determine the effects that parent volunteerism have on student performance. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, "School-aged children are more likely to get mostly A's, to enjoy school, and to participate in extracurricular activities, and are less likely to have ever repeated a grade and to have ever been suspended or expelled if their fathers or mothers have high levels of involvement in their schools. The National Education Association concludes that when parents assist teachers with their everyday duties, they allow the teacher to have more time to plan activities, try new teaching strategies, and work directly with children. "As a parent volunteer, you allow them to be more effective teachers, and the school obtains your skills and services that might be unavailable elsewhere due to financial limitations."

There's no doubt about it. Students thrive when educators and parent volunteers form a partnership. But how does volunteering in the classroom help parents grow? According to the NEA, a parent volunteer becomes more familiar with their school's programs. "With this new understanding of educational needs and goals, you can give the schools the backing they need, and encourage others to do the same. You will learn more about everyday happenings in the classroom from the increased communication and interaction between you and the teacher. You will have the satisfaction of helping children during a very important stage in their development. You will be able to provide the teacher with valuable information about your child and your community, creating a link between school and community so vital in our society."

What are some of the ways parents can help out in the classroom? As a parent volunteer, my duties are numerous and varied, depending on the needs and styles of the teacher. I have assisted with supervising art projects, signing out homework books, running off copies, and working one on one with students who might need a little extra help with a certain subject. As for qualifications for parent volunteers, the NEA recommends that parents enjoy working with children, have an interest in education and the community, feel a commitment to the goals of parent involvement, have the desire to help, and are dependable and in good health. Based on my observations, I would also recommend that a parent volunteer be flexible, and expect the unexpected. A seemingly minor incident, such as a scraped knee or hurt feelings can have far-reaching implications.

How do parents who work full-time outside of the home get involved in their children's education? The Parents Soup website offers the following suggestions:

• Become a member of your school's Parent-Teacher Organization
• Assist with out-of-classroom projects, such as building scenery for school plays, or publishing school newsletters
• Visit your child's classroom and discuss your career, or invite the class to tour your workplace

In summing up the benefits that volunteerism has on the community, Jonathan Green, principal of Brecknock Elementary School in the Eastern Lancaster County school district says, "When students see adult volunteers in their schools, they see firsthand how members of their community value education, and support their local school. When a community is very involved in their school volunteering, more people have a better sense of the total education picture, and see how dedicated so many people are to educating the community's youth. More involvement results in better understanding, more trust-building, and a commitment to even more support. School begins to feel like family!"

With benefits like those, it's easy to see why I look forward to resuming my volunteer work this fall. The rewards are immeasurable. I feel very fortunate to be able to see the impact my daughters' teachers have on their students, and to have met all of these exceptional young people. I've quizzed them on their spelling, laughed at their jokes, held their hands, listened to stories about their families, celebrated their achievements, and moderated their squabbles. And I speak from experience, when I say there are few things in life that feel better than being hugged simultaneously by twenty pairs of little arms!

When the kindergarten registration forms arrived in the mail, I had to ask for directions to the school. Now, I could walk the halls blindfolded. My volunteer work makes me feel ingrained in the school and all of its goings-on. The students are learning facts and developing skills that they will carry with them all through their lives, and I am a part of that process! What a difference two years makes. What a difference volunteering makes!

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