I volunteered to be room mother for the first time last school year. For the most part, I enjoyed it. I love being part of a classroom and supporting our teachers. If you have a chance to do it, I highly recommend it.
If you decide to take the plunge, here are some things I learned that might help you:
- Compile a list of parents’ email addresses.With the vast majority of parents having email addresses, this is the most convenient way to communicate. Remember that many children may have multiple people in their lives, so get email addresses of everyone with whom the teacher communicates.
- Meet with the teacher 2-3 weeks before the event to plan.Get to know your teacher’s preferences regarding treats, games, food, etc. He/She will also have insights as to the students’ temperaments. Do they prefer to craft or watch a movie or listen to a story?
- Draft a parent letter 2 weeks before the event and give it to your teacher for her input.I’m notorious for waiting until the last minute. I remember one letter that I sent was not my best. I sent the letter the day it was to go out without first passing it by my teacher. She had to add some information in by hand, and I had misspelled her name! Just a little embarrassing.
- Send the parent letter home as soon as you can, especially if parents are expected to provide items for the event.This gives them time to purchase the necessary items. Don’t forget to email the letter as well to cover all the bases.
- Send a reminder a day or two before the event.We are all busy. This just helps everyone. I wish I had done this more.
I found being a room mother to be a very rewarding experience. The commitments weren’t too large for me to handle, and I became better friends with my child’s teacher. She’s such a special lady. Above all, I created memories with Manchild to last a lifetime!
Have you been a room parent (dad’s included)? Please forward your tips. I would be happy to feature them in future posts.
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