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Schools

10 Ways for You to Get Involved in Your Child's Education

Find a way to volunteer a few hours of your time, and you'll enjoy the rewards.

If you're looking for a way to become involved in your child's education, one of the most effective things you can do is to become a volunteer at their school.

As adults, we have a wonderful opportunity to model exceptional behaviors for children, both our own and the children of others. As a school volunteer, that message of service reaches hundreds of kids, and it also shows our children how much we value their educational experience.

Volunteering doesn't have to take up a lot of time, or be an ongoing commitment. For some of the easiest ways to be involved, consider one of the following suggestions.

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Show up for PTO meetings. Usually held monthly, PTO meetings give you a chance for adult interaction, while providing an opportunity to put your “two cents in” about activities and programs involving your child.

Be a classroom volunteer. Get connected with your child's teacher and help out when you're available. Some parents are in the classroom weekly to help out with math or reading, some come in only on special occasions. The big plus to this, is that it will also score you points with your child, who will be thrilled to see you in their classroom.

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Start a walk/run club at recess, where kids can earn rewards like certificates and special pencils for lapping the school or the playground. In addition to helping children stay healthier, these types of programs also help them focus better in class.

Teach an after-school program. Do you have a special skill or talent (another language, knitting, decorating cupcakes, photography) that you'd like to share with the kids? Your after-school program could be just one week, or it could run for up to a couple of months. You decide.

Get together with other parents, teachers and kids to start a school garden. Barrington Middle School is looking for volunteers to help with their new courtyard garden, which organizers hope will eventually supply vegetables for the school lunch program. An added bonus to a school garden is that it ties in beautifully with all kinds of subjects the children study – in math they can calculate how many plants in each area, science may include a worm farm or compost area, in english they can write about their garden, in health they can study the importance of good nutrition, and art provides opportunities galore to explore color, composition and light.

Chaperone a school field trip. The bus ride is a fun time to teach kids the songs we sang back in school. The biggest perk – hearing all the fun stuff kids say when they see something new and exciting.

Go into your child's classroom to talk with the kids about your job or background. Perhaps you were born in another country, or have an interesting job they might enjoy learning about.

Organize a talent show for this winter. The requirements: a stage, lights, enthusiastic kids, snacks, and an audience. Or recruit the music teacher and turn it into a holiday concert. Donate proceeds from the sale of snacks to a local food bank, or consider making the cost of admission a canned good that can then be donated.

Give a voice to other parents by joining the school board, and have a say in how the bigger decisions are made that concern your child and their education.

Start a homework club. Whether it's one that runs right after school on school premises, or one that you have at your home for your child and a few of the neighbors' children, the best homework clubs offer sharpened pencils, comfy seats, a communal work area, and some refreshments. The best part – your child's homework gets done without too much hassle.

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