We love class parents (room moms and dads) and are thrilled to present this free eBook to help get the year off to a great start! It's chock full of organization tips, ideas for working with the teacher and parent volunteers, school party ideas throughout the year, class party sign up sheets, and special offers for our most active parents. Happy School Year and Thanks for all you do!!
4. Class Parents are Awesome!
Congratulations on becoming a leader and stepping forward in your
child’s class! Whatever you’re called ‐ a room mom, class parent, room
parent ‐ we know you are AWESOME! You’re the critical liaison between
the teacher and fellow parents. Responsibilities vary from collecting
money and classroom supplies, to recruiting parent volunteers and
coordinating classroom parties. Class parents build relationships with
teachers, connect with their children and build life‐long relationships
with other families.
This e‐book includes ideas on how to
organize, delegate and communicate
with parents and teachers. We also
provide tips for using VolunteerSpot’s
free online tool to quickly and easily
organize your classroom parent
volunteers.
5. Ongoing parent support needs: e.g.
table‐time helpers, readers, science lab &
materials prep, recess supervisors
Special dates and support needs: e.g.
career day, open‐house, field day,
celebrations, field trips
Teacher contact info: How (s)he prefers
to be contacted by you & by the other
parents
Teacher “favorites,” a parent’s gift
guide: favorite meal, restaurant, store,
treat, charity, candy, sports team, etc
Party dates and plans
How many?
Who plans (teacher or parents)?
Food requirements (healthy or
sweets)
Allergy considerations
Timing and activities/games/crafts
Special ‘treat’ days &
recognition parties
School communication
& volunteer policies
Kickoff Teacher Meeting
Meet with the teacher near the start of school to clarify needs and expectations for
parent support. Bring this checklist to make the most of your time together.
Class Parent Room Mom Survival Guide / www.VolunteeSpot.com DOING GOOD just got easier!
9. Ask class parents to save reusables for class art projects:
Paper tubes
Egg cartons
Wrapping paper
Room Mom as Art Mom
In pre‐school and early grades, the Room Mom is often an Art Mom – preparing
supplies, helping with projects, and packaging masterpieces to take home.
Fabric and felt scraps
Colorful wire
Beads and buttons
Milk cartons (rinsed)
Catalogs and magazines
Frozen juice containers
Volunteer Tip:
Prepping art kits for class projects is a good job for
extra busy or working parents who can’t help in the
classroom. With a little planning, parents can
volunteer from home and involve their kids in
helping out too!
Room Mom Survival Guide / www.VolunteerSpot.com DOING GOOD just got easier!
12. Class Party Planning
Enjoy the following fun class
party craft ideas by
www.makeandtakes.com
Class Parent Room Mom Survival Guide / www.VolunteerSpot.com DOING GOOD just got easier!
Memorable class parties share similar key ingredients:
Simple decorations
Fun music
Craft activity
Story
Game
Snack or treat
Make and Takes gives you ideas and crafty tidbits for
class and home. They aim to bring fun and learning into
your classroom or just about anywhere. We are sure
you’ll find something to Make and Take today!
17. Siblings: Ask the teacher before inviting
Craft Projects: Ensure the craft parent
volunteer has EVERYTHING needed – e.g.
a trash bag for clean up. Don’t assume the
teacher will provide all items.
Kids under 10: Divide them into small
groups, rotate them through activity
“stations” (10‐15 min each) and have at
least one parent per station.
Successful Class Party Tips
Decorations: A colorful tablecloth adds festivity
and plastic ones are inexpensive. Balloons,
streamers, and curled ribbon also go a long way
to transforming a classroom into a party room.
Memories: Pick a volunteer to take photos or
videos of the party and share with the parents
who could not come.
Remember: Relax and have fun! The
elementary years go by quickly. Celebrate these
moments with your children.
Prizes: Hand out pencils
or other school supplies
as favors.
Snacks: Plan extras
for the teacher, staff
and parent helpers.
Wagon: Hands‐down
the best way to tote
party supplies to/
from the classroom
Find these ideas and more
great birthday,
classroom and
fun party ideas at
SimpleFunKidParties
http://www.simplefunkidparties.com
Room Mom Survival Guide / www.VolunteerSpot.com DOING GOOD just got easier!
Need DreamSakes logo added. I will forward logo. –Delia
Swap out page with new 2 nd page vs image?
Place BIG applesa Thought the 2 slides could be condensed into one.
Center tip and logo – swap lime green for cw green Perhaps a longer/narrow graphic ** match green font to classwish green Cutout the image so there is no offwhite/gray background The tip can always be highlighted in a different way – classwish’s green chalkboard and white font Delia: I like the idea of green with white font VERBIAGE CLASSWISH WANTS “ Ask about any supplies the teacher needs but has not been provided by the school. Suggest a Wish List on http://ClassWish.org”
CONSOLIDATE WITH NEXT – format bullets
See carnival ebook for side by side month and day Delia: Can we show the new monthly calendar with the drop down list where you can switch from event to event? Since we show daily view later we could just do monthly view with verbiage about how easy it is to setup the yearly calendar and switch on the pull down from class reader to holiday party to lunch helper. I do think we need to suggestion they put “Mrs. Teacher Lunch Helper”. Parents will hopefully have multiple teacher calendars setup.
Pdf page – check for dirty paper on top of white
Center tip and logo – swap lime green for cw green Perhaps a longer/narrow graphic ** match green font to classwish green Cutout the image so there is no offwhite/gray background The tip can always be highlighted in a different way – classwish’s green chalkboard and white font Delia: I like the idea of green with white font VERBIAGE CLASSWISH WANTS “ Ask about any supplies the teacher needs but has not been provided by the school. Suggest a Wish List on http://ClassWish.org”
Add logo and artwork Delia: Yes, if you can do it quickly. I think it will give them a good starting point. If you it will take you a long time then NO because they may change it.
Delia: Delete OrderLunches from here since there is a plug later. Karen will give info on CallVine.
Intro page for makes&takes? Content not permanent – still waiting on images
There are no photos available to pull from dreamsakes . . . Unless there is a link i’m missing
Marie: What qualifies “younger grades” and “older grades”? K – 4, 5 – 8? I think we need a blurb on dad’s night.
Delia: Could we do a two column tip list (like the teacher meeting list) Karen: Format prettier – needs a cool picture Format bullets, mini titles, image change – check lightbox
Add quote Karen: Need a new sign up list. Needs formatting. New sign up should have these items: To Do: Setup 8:45-9am 1 needed To Do: Party Volunteer 9-9:30am 4 needed, To bring: Table Decorations 1 needed (note: tablecloths & balloons) To Bring: Treat for 18 kids 1 needed , To Bring: Craft for 18 kids 1 needed (ask room mom for details)