The Importance of Parents Helping Out in Classes

Helping out in your child's classes benefits your child, his teachers and his school. Showing support for your child and his school results in a better learning environment, quality learning time and, often, better grades. Volunteering keeps parents in touch with school personnel and informed about their child's progress.

  1. Show Interest in Your Child's Education

    • Volunteering in your child's classroom shows her you are interested in her academic progress.

      Helping out in your child's classroom shows an interest in her life and her activities at school. If your child sees you taking an active part in her education, she might work harder to succeed because she knows you believe an education is worth the effort. She will still enjoy telling you all about story time, what happened at lunch and her playground adventures, but she will be a more successful student if she knows you take time to occasionally participate in her classroom.

    Know the Teacher

    • Good parent-teacher relationships lead to greater academic success.

      Staying involved in your child's classes provides opportunities for you to get to know your child's teachers. Developing good relationships with teachers helps keep communication lines open so you stay informed about your child's progress. Knowing your child's teachers and tuning in to their personalities gives you a better idea about what they expect from your child and from you as a parent.

    Support the Teacher

    • Volunteering contributes to quality teaching time. Relieving the teacher of tasks such as grading papers, filing students' work and preparing materials for the next lesson gives the teacher more time for lesson planning, teaching and working individually with students. Quality teaching time means quality learning time, which gives your child and the other students a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

    Know the Curriculum

    • Classroom volunteers gain exposure to standard curriculum and supplemental programs.

      Classroom volunteers gain exposure to their children's school curriculum. Parents get a better idea about academic subjects, supplemental materials, how the teacher works with the students and any special services the school offers. Greater knowledge and a deeper understanding of the school curriculum gives parents a chance to discuss ideas or concerns with teachers and school administrators. Some parents might find that they have a particular area of interest or expertise and offer time or services to enhance the curriculum.

    Support the School

    • Parents who help out in their child's classes typically become the school's best advocates. Spending a lot of time inside the school exposes parents to the needs of other students and classes in addition to the needs of their own child. When opportunities arise, parents who volunteer often join committees or campaign for funds needed to provide the school with supplies or renovations, all of which creates an environment more conducive to learning.

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