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First with Franklin

Monday, August 6, 2012

Currently & Parent Volunteers

I feel like I'm a little late the Currently party this month, but better late than never, right?  I love doing these fun little Currently and then stalking all the other blogs to see what my peeps are up to right now. So, here is what I'm Currently thinking and doing.  Can't wait to check out everyone else's!

B2S Must Haves- 
#1- My Silhouette machine has been so cool this summer.  I have made student behavior guitars, Calendar words, and some labels.  I love, love, love it!
#2- The laminating machine.  I use the one at our school- we pretty much have free use of it and I take advantage.  I know that some of you have your own laminators and that is sooooo tempting.  I would love to have it at home, but while I can use my school's as much as I need, I'm going to stick with the free option!
#3- This will be my first year doing Daily 5 in my classroom, so I have a feeling my Daily 5 book will be stuck to me like glue!  I have read it once and I'm working on a second time.  I'm excited & nervous about implementing it for the first time.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Do you have parent volunteers in your classroom?  I have never really tried to recruit parent volunteers before, but I am going to have a large class this year (27) and I want to explore my options.  I know that my superintendent would be okay with parent volunteers in the room as long as they aren't doing any assessments or grading.  I would like to invite parents to volunteer, but I'm not sure where to start.  
How are you able to recruit volunteers?  Do you ask specific people or just send home a request with all students?  What exactly do you have your parent volunteers do in your classroom?
I would love to hear from others how you handle this in your classroom.  Thanks!  :)

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15 comments:

  1. This is only my second year, and I did not recruit volunteers last year. This year, I had several parents request me, and many of those informed me they would like to be involved in my classroom (they were VERY involved as Kindergarten parents!). So, I don't think I'll try to recruit help this year, either, since I will already have quite a bit!
    However, I know other teachers made a form they sent out at "back-to-school/open house/meet the teacher" -whatever you call it - night. They left places for parents to fill out how they wanted to help in the room, which I think is great! I know Cara at the First Grade Parade had a form that I thought about using last year.
    Sorry to be so long-winded...just trying to help:)
    Synonym Rolls & Antonym Moments

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's great that you have so many willing volunteers! I think I've found several good ideas that I'm going to put together into a form for parents. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

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  2. Usually at Meet the Teacher, I leave a volunteer sign up sheet out for anyone who is interested in volunteering throughout the year & days/times that they are available. Then, I contact them when needed. :)
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our PTO normally has sign-ups in our classrooms during Open House, but maybe I'll try to make up something to put out also. I'm hoping to get some extra help this year!
      Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

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  3. Hi Erin! Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting! I'm a new follower of your blog, now. I wish I had a Silhouette! Just thinking about all the different fonts that I can use for classroom jobs!

    Patti
    primary practice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love it so much! I wasn't sure when I first got it if I would really like it, but I'm obsessed now! LOL
      Hopefully you can win the big Silhouette giveaway!
      Thanks for visiting!

      Delete
  4. Hi Erin... Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I am excited to implement the Daily 5 this year as well. I am also looking forward to using CAFE. I love your blog...very cute :)

    Deb
    Mixed Bag of Crazy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I definitely doing Daily 5, but not sure about CAFE yet. With having to implement Common Core and Daily 5 at the same time I think I might go crazy trying to do all three at the same time. I do have the CAFE book and I think I might implement it next year.
      Thanks so much for visiting my blog. :)

      Delete
  5. I love Daily 5 and I was able to implement the program after just reading the book but I am really excited about year two of Daily 5 after going through a one day training!

    As for parent volunteers, I have thought about making a sign up list such as photographer, snack coordinator, party coordinator, field trip coordinator, read aloud coordinator, craft coordinator, ect.....this way it doesnt all fall on one person!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love to go to a training on Daily 5! I'm hoping that it will go smoothly with our reading series and common core.
      I love your idea about having a parent volunteer as a photographer. Sometimes I do a great job and other times I don't get one picture taken during an activity. I'll have to add that to my list!
      Thanks for visiting!

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  6. A Silhouette is on the top of my wish list!!! I taught 1st grade for the last 8 years (this year I'm teaching 3rd). The highest class size I had was 23 and I thought I would lose my mind! Hoping you have a wonderful group of 28 students!!! Best of luck!!


    Aimee
    aimee@vanmiddlesworth.org
    Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm dreading 28- I know I can manage them, but teaching them at the same time will be stressful. Thanks for the good luck wishes, I think I'll need them! :)

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  7. Hi Erin,
    It is great to have parents in the classroom to help out, particularly if you are in an area where some of your little darlings don't get the support they need at home. I usually send home a timetable to find out when parents are able to help,however one thing I have learned is not to rely on that help for groups etc as it is not always a reliable source, but to use them for reading with those kids who need extra assistance when they are available. Parents are a great resource to use in the classroom and I think it is fantastic for them to see what we deal with on a daily basis.
    Tania
    Mrs Poultney's Ponderings

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    Replies
    1. I'm hoping to mainly use them for copying, filing, cutting, etc. I'm not sure that our superintendent would love them working with kids regularly because we're such a small school and they already know the other kids/parents so well. Confidentiality and all... I will take any help they can give though!

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  8. Many of the parents in our district both work, so they can't volunteer to help in the classroom. On OPEN House or Back to School Night, I always recruited heavily for AT HOME PARENT HELPER! I showed them a typical project I might ask of them from making a math game to recording a CD with a video clip, to organizing my student book orders. I promised that I would send all the materials and a sample of what in would look like, and they would provide the work and effort. Then when we used the materials in class I would always take time to thank the student and their parent in class..."We have this game today because of the time and effort that Maria and her mother spent on it at home. Let's give Maria a round of applause and Maria be sure to tell your mother how much we appreciate her help." Everybody wins..the teacher with the complete task so he/she can now spend more time on planning individual lessons, the student who puts forth the effort knows that others appreciate it, and the other students who have materials that they can use.
    Yeap, my parents were part of the TEAM.

    Secondly, at my blog you asked for the chance to discuss more ELA in a split class. If you ask a specific question I would be happy to post more on that. Did you read the posts on ways to organize "Words Their Way Lessons?"

    Deborah Devine
    splitmultigradeclassroom.blogspot.com

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