How to Be a Room Parent

As a room parent, you can provide valuable support to your child, her teacher and your child's peers. Most teachers welcome and greatly appreciate room parents who dedicate themselves to tasks such as providing academic assistance and building a strong community among the classroom parents. A room parent often acts as a liaison between the teacher and other parents as well, enlisting help for general classroom activities and communicating important information. While fulfilling your duties as room parent, you'll have a chance to be an active part of your child's education and get to know and enjoy all of the children in the class.

Instructions

    • 1

      Volunteer to be the room parent in your child's class. At the beginning of the year, schedule a meeting with the teacher and find out where she wants or needs help, what her general plans for the year are and what her expectations of a room parent are. Ask the teacher what her goals and boundaries are and what form of communication she prefers as well.

    • 2

      Gather contact information for the other parents of children in the class and make a class list. You can ask your child's teacher for this information; send a letter home with the students asking parents to email you their information; or create a sign-up sheet and circulate it during back-to-school or curriculum night. Ask each family if they would prefer to receive communication via email, phone or paper notes given to their children.

    • 3

      Build a calendar of all classroom events and volunteer needs with the help of your child's teacher. Once the calendar is complete, make it accessible to the other parents through multiple mediums, including on paper and via email. Ask parents to sign up to help with activities at the beginning of the year. Include options that don't involve in-class commitments, such as sending in snacks or purchasing supplies, so working parents or parents with young children can still participate.

    • 4

      Delegate important responsibilities to other parents who seem eager to help out. Being the room parent doesn't mean doing everything by yourself. Encourage parents to assist with tasks such as organizing parties and activities. Maintain open communication with your helpful parents, as well as the other parents, about what the teacher needs and when.

    • 5

      Check in with your child's teacher periodically to make sure you are doing everything you can. With all of the duties she has as a teacher, she'll appreciate a proactive room parent who asks how he can help instead of waiting to be told what he needs to do. Listen actively to the teacher's requests and do your best to fulfill them. Remember that she is in charge, and you are there to help. Avoid telling her teacher what you plan on doing.

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