volunteer

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2006 : November : 13

volunteer
By Bertie

I'd limit her time frame of volunteering, by telling her something like "Thank you so much for volunteering! I can use your help Wednesdays from 9:15 to 10:15 (recess) and perhaps you'd enjoy coffee in the staffroom before
you go. In that time frame you'll be taking small groups to do oral reading practice, or math fact review games. Occasionally I may also ask your help with copying and stapling reading booklets. I am looking forward to seeing you soon. What day can you start?"

For some parents, "doing great at home" is relative, since there is no one else to compare their child to, nor to

distract her. It is how the child does in the classroom that you have to evaluate. When this was an issue with a recent parent, I did the vocab testing in front of her, and she saw what I meant. She gave the words always in the same order, with no time limit and lots of clues. Me, not so much. So if this continues to be an issue perhaps you could do your next reading evaluation in front of the parent so she knows exactly how her child performs in a classroom situation. (Of course, I don't mean she should see the marks of the other children, just see her child's behavior, focus, attention, etc)

Years ago, one parent told me bluntly that she "was not coming in to do some cut and paste time fillers", that she wanted to observe her son's interactions with me. I was a little nervous, I admit, but I knew her son and I got along just fine, and was confident enough to let her observe a lesson. Within the year she was not only a great and hard working school volunteer, but one of our best advocates in the community. And she ecen came to visit my room occasionally for a year or two after her child left my room. If I can do it, you can do it!