Parent participation is an integral part of our classroom. We welcome and encourage you to find a way to help out this year. Below is a list of different ways that families have helped out in the past. Please do not think these are the only opportunities to volunteer your time in or outside of the classroom. We are always open to suggestions about how to include parents. Party Planning: Help organize classroom parties by communicating with families what is needed for set up, food, decorations and clean up. (This is needed between 3-5 times a year.) Book Orders: Help sort and distribute classroom Scholastic book order forms to students. Contact Scholastic with the order information. Organize book orders and distribute to students. (This is needed every 6-8 weeks.) Public Library: Be responsible for checking out and returning books to the local public library branch. (This is needed once or twice a month depending on what we are studying.) Photography: Help make displays with digital or printed pictures. It is always fun for the kids to see their smiling faces up in the room. (Time is always flexible.) Field Trips: Help contact trip locations, confirm date/time of visit, and arrange chaperones. We are always looking for new and exciting places to visit. (This is needed once or twice a month throughout the year.) Classroom Publisher: As the year progresses, the children get excited about publishing their own writing. We need adults who would like to meet with children one-on-one to put the “finishing touches” on their writing and help type it. We set aside time to do this on Friday mornings, usually starting in early October. Projects: Come share your interests, hobbies, or talents with us….art, science, cooking, etc. Classroom Helper: It is exciting to have parent volunteers who want to commit to a regular time each week to help with students or other class related needs. Please realize at the beginning of the year we need extra time to get all of our routines and rituals in place. In class volunteers will be figured out in September when we determine where the greatest need is during the day. Copying: It is great to have help with weekly copying, stapling and other clerical needs. Choice: Help recruit other parents to come in with special cooking, science, and art projects during choice time. On Call/Extra Hands: Like to staple, tape, cut, etc.? An extra hand can go a long way sometimes. If you would like to help prepare some materials for a specific lesson, let me know so I can give you a call. (This is usually a project that can easily be taken home.) Last Updated: August 16, 2009