Five Helpful Ways To Volunteer at School For 30 Minutes or Less

No Fear! You have time to volunteer. Todays world, we are all busy and always rushing from here to there and back and everywhere. Yet there is still just one more thing your feeling guilty about. Your a single mom, three kids, three schools, 3 sports, softball, gymnastics, and karate. You are already working 2 part time jobs. Even if you find a time to volunteer, how do you decide which school? 

Here are 5 helpful ideas and ways to volunteer in 30 minutes or less

1.- Do your Homework-Offer to make phone calls or send out emails from home- Something that you can do after hours or that can be taking home. Maybe grade papers, help the class mom send emails out about the next class party, or maybe you can assemble some new books that need book covers or protectors. Cut out letters to go on the class bulletin board. 

2. - Propose A Class Program or Idea- I'm sure you can volunteer for career day. Talk to the class about your career and invite other parents to do the same. Or read or send a book about a specific topic that the class is working on this week. For example The Constitution Day- I sent in my sons book "House Mouse Senate Mouse." Children learn about how our laws are made in Congress, when the Squeaker of the House and the Senate Mouse-jority leader must pass a bill to establish a national cheese!

3.-Volunteer in the Library - Offer 30 minutes prior or after an already scheduled time to be there. If it;s before a class play or PTO meeting or after a class party just schedule it back to back. Schedule this in advance so that the library is prepared for your help and has you something to do . You can restock there shelves or check books back into the computer system, 

4. Morning Drop-off or Afternoon Release- Offer to get there early and help the children getting in and out of the cars in a timely manner

5. Copying or Sorting Take Home Hand Outs- You can offer to volunteer in the copy room or help with handouts. You know all those papers that come home everyday to the parents. Help out for 1/2 an hour making copies of flyers or the school play handouts or you can offer to sort handouts into each teachers mail box. Usually requires each class count/number of students and making sure that each teacher receives the correct amount to send one home with each student and sorting. 

You may not have volunteered as much as you would like but teachers will not think any less of you for the amount of time you volunteer. Some moms are stay at home moms and some have a full plate. Teachers know this. It's nice just to do what you can and show up for support from time to time. 

What Happen to Smiley Faces & Stickers?

Kindergarten and the grading system? Can a student fail Kindergarten? Is there even a such thing? I'm beginning to wonder if I accidental signed my son up for military academy. My son's teacher may be the ring leader and it's obvious to me because of her stringent ways.I think she should practice what she preaches.

Out the 100 or more paper assignments Ryder has completed and turned in maybe a total of 4 have had a smiling face. Lots of them have had nothing on them or check mark at best. Do they not do that anymore, use smiles, frowns or straight faces? A sticker? They could give the child some encouragement somehow. Fantastic, Fast Learner, Needs Improvement, or Practice Practice. Something to go buy..... 

I'm getting notes that say, "Bears are brown, grey black or white. We color in crayon." 

OK So my kids Rainbow bear was a little sloppy and actually it was not very pretty. The assignment said "color the bear. Write Bb " There was no instructions that said "Choose a brown, black, white or grey crayon to color the bear...." UH! Have you never read the book "Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see?" The fact that he used 4 different color crayons and one purple marker to color the bear means nothing to me. I'm the one who let him do it that way (I turned my back and before I knew it the bear was rainbow) but I didn't care. It was his paper, not mine AND he is in Kindergarten... 

There is a sheet that is to stay in the back of his "dogs" notebook (DOGS -stands for Daily Organized Guys Notebook) that's there take home notebook. It suggest positive reinforcement words to use with your child. Yet I've never heard or seen it on a paper she graded. I don't even see the smiley face or straight face, etc.  It's all notes notes or red marks correcting my child's work. So Mrs. Teacher and Mrs. Asst. Teacher, I will be writing Principal and Assistant Prince. TONIGHT! I think you should practice what you preach and grade by positive reinforcement. Take your own advice and read the paper you sent us home.  Do you need another copy?