Here are Ten Ways to Get Involved

Could your child’s school attendance record use some improvement? There are many ways to get involved, both large and small, to make a positive impact. Ideas from PTO Today, Project Appleseed, and other regional sources are provided below to help guide your efforts in supporting your child’s education.

Basics

1. Participate in conferences between teachers and parents. They’re not the only opportunities to stop by, but they’re big ones. To better acquaint parents with their children’s educational experiences, many institutions now host “curriculum night” open houses.
2. Attend a few functions and gatherings. If you want to stay informed, it’s worth it, even if you’re not a dedicated member of the PTA or PTO to stop by once in a while. Meeting teachers and other parents in an informal setting are made possible through family nights and dinners. Also, there are school board meetings to keep in mind.
3. Check out the latest issue of the newsletter. It will usually inform you about opportunities to help others, either during school hours or outside.
4. Communicate with the faculty. Likely, they require assistance with some aspect of the project, such as measuring and cutting materials. Tell them what you’re good at; they may need some new shelves built or an artist to demonstrate.

Even further.

1. Act as a chaperone on a school outing. It’s the tried-and-true approach that usually succeeds in getting you into the institution, and you get plenty of advanced warning to arrange time off from work.
2. Propose serving as a judge for a school event. You and your child will come out on top if you help them prepare for a competition.
3. Be there for a career fair. It allows you to showcase your skills while also getting a feel for the institution.

Beyond.

1. Create an extracurricular group to meet with after school. Work with the school’s leadership to identify subject areas (like math and reading) where students could use extra help. What about health, for that matter? Toys and board games? Experience in the wilderness?
2. Sign up for a council or committee. Please share your honest opinion in the space provided. However, if you’re looking to start a group, remember that campaigns focused on a single issue, like school uniforms, tend to fizzle out quickly.
3. Put out the carpet. Involve schools in efforts to attract other parents, such as a “parent lounge” or an open-door policy. Ten washing machines and two dryers have been installed at one school. The school staff would confront those absent parents. Breakfasts on the weekend, even on a Saturday, can do the trick.

Meaningful articles you might like: Parents Can Increase Children’s Confidence & Success in School, A Guide For Parents of Middle Schoolers, Parenting Anxious Children: At Home and In School