Plenty of opportunities to help!
Room Mom(s): This person will assist in overseeing and filling volunteer slots, specifically the ones mentioned below. Sign-Up Genius may be a tool that is utilized to accomplish several of these tasks.
In-Class Social Studies Activity Centers (Otherwise referred to as Friday Fun Centers) Will occur every Friday (9:50-10:50 and/or 10:50-11:50am), after a meeting/discussion with the teacher, as to what those will look like. Parent volunteers will assist with acquiring materials necessary for the activities, showing students, in small groups, how to complete the activity, as well as assisting some students in the completion of said activity.
In-Class one-to-one tutoring or small group tutoring: This can be either ELA/SS or Math/Science, depending on which subject areas the volunteer feels most comfortable with. The volunteer will be given explicit instruction from the teacher with regard to how to implement the curriculum or assist in reteaching material. All materials will be provided, unless otherwise determined and discussed with volunteer.
Quarterly S.S. Celebrations: Due to the fact that people identify ethnic groups best by food and music, I have implemented these celebrations as an opportunity for students to do just that as we study various immigrant cultures that have come into the United States of America since its very beginnings. At the close of each quarter we will celebrate and honor a couple of diverse cultures, to be determined at the beginning of the year with my new colleague. It is the responsibility of as many parents that wish to participate, to assist with the luncheon-type celebrations four times per year. This will consist of helping to prepare or purchase foods, set-up, distribution of food, and clean-up.
Day Field Trips: Depending upon the number of students per class, we will require a certain number of parent volunteers to accompany us to History Museum/Museum of Natural Sciences, Yorktown/Jamestown, Charlotte Speedway, or any other locale we are able to traverse during our time together. Parents are expected to assist teachers in keeping students with their groups and remaining on task.
Guest Speakers: If a parent has specific knowledge about any topic we are studying in school, we would love a visit with discussion and visual aids!
Winter Party (Centers based on holidays around the world): Similar to the quarterly celebrations, this celebration delights in winter holiday cultural traditions around the world. Students will be assigned a particular winter holiday to research and prepare. Students will be required to bring in, as a group, two food items to share with all of their classmates, a poster/powerpoint presenting relevant cultural information (requirements can be found under Quarter 2 of this Weebly), and two crafts for classmates to partake in. Parent volunteers will be necessary to assist each center throughout the two hours it will take for students to experience each culture from station-to-station. Helping to keep students on task and making good choices as well as assisting with cleaning up after each center before the group is ready to switch.
Valentine's Day Party (with historical twist): Parent volunteers will work to organize a celebration that lasts for no more than an hour. Students will define what love means to them on small heart paper parents will have already prepared and cut out. In addition to having small lunch bags decorated with students' names on them, students will have an opportunity to hand out their candy for their classmates. Parent volunteers will also have laminated book marks with historical information prepared for students. Any number of the activities below can be done, per the parent volunteers comfort level of assisting with centers.
"Candy Hearts & Chopsticks — A bunch of chopsticks and a bunch of candy hearts means some serious fine-motor work for elementary schoolers! Pour a few handfuls of candy hearts into a centralized bowl, and give each child a small paper plate or small paper cup. Then let ‘em at it! The winner will be the person who moves the most candy hearts from the bowl to his or her plate in the set time. Give each kiddo a sandwich bag to save his or her winning candy!
Mitten Candy Race — Big, adult ski gloves and wrapped candy equal silly fun for kids. Divide the group into two smaller groups of 3 kids each. Have them stand in two lines facing each other, and put a pair of ski gloves on the first person in line. That person must unwrap a piece of candy while wearing the gloves, put the candy into his or her mouth, and then pass the gloves to the next person who does the same thing. First line to finish wins! [Obviously, be cautious of choking here--choose candy wisely (Starburst or Hershey Kisses) and remind kids that it's not who eats it quickest but who unwraps it quickest!]
http://teachmama.com/how-to-throw-a-rockstar-valentines-day-class-party/
How Well Do You Know Your Classmates? Divide students into several small teams. Give each person a blank index card. Ask them to write five little-known facts about themselves on their cards. For example, “I have a pet iguana, I was born in Iceland, my favorite food is spinach, my hero is Wolverine and my secret talent is I can do a backflip.” Collect the cards and separate into piles for each team. Draw one card from each and ask a student to read the clues aloud to the class one at a time. Each team tries to name the person in as few clues as possible. Five points if they get it on the first clue, then 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Continue with new students for as long as you like. At the end, the team with the most points wins. (Note: If you select the most obscure facts first, it will increase the competition and general confusion!)
The Literary Matchmaking Game: On blank index cards, write the name of one-half of a literary couple, such as Romeo and Juliet, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, Heathcliff and Catherine, Tristan and Isolde, Aragorn and Arwen (The Lord of the Rings), Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger (Harry Potter) and so on. Each student gets a card and has to find their “match” by interviewing the other students about their character cards (no peeking). First couple to guess correctly gets a prize."
http://blog.straightace.com/fun-valentines-day-activities-math-literary-twists/
End of Year DJ Dance Party: Parent volunteers will be needed to organize the dance party from 1-2:45 in the afternoon after the 5th grade graduation ceremony at the end of the school year. Obtaining the services of a DJ, acquiring donations of water bottles, and monitoring students during the dance party are a few of the responsibilities for this celebration.
Bulletin Board Set-Up: Any number of parent volunteers can discuss a day and time to put up student work samples in the hallway or change out informational posters inside the class room. This can be before or after school, too. This volunteer position is very flexible.
Tuesday Folder "Stuffer": A volunteer will be needed before Tuesday Folders go home, preferably Tuesday mornings but Monday afternoons can work, too. This job is a file master's dream! Discussion of students' grades on assignments or tests is not permitted...so mum's the word!
Laminating: A volunteer that has time to be instructed on how to use the school laminator machine and then, from time-to-time, can laminate either teacher resource posters/papers or student work would be greatly appreciated. This position is not a consistent commitment.
Covering Book Sets with Contact Paper: This job is perfect for the parent that can take books home and work on their own time. It extends the life expectancy of our class room book sets.
In-Class Social Studies Activity Centers (Otherwise referred to as Friday Fun Centers) Will occur every Friday (9:50-10:50 and/or 10:50-11:50am), after a meeting/discussion with the teacher, as to what those will look like. Parent volunteers will assist with acquiring materials necessary for the activities, showing students, in small groups, how to complete the activity, as well as assisting some students in the completion of said activity.
In-Class one-to-one tutoring or small group tutoring: This can be either ELA/SS or Math/Science, depending on which subject areas the volunteer feels most comfortable with. The volunteer will be given explicit instruction from the teacher with regard to how to implement the curriculum or assist in reteaching material. All materials will be provided, unless otherwise determined and discussed with volunteer.
Quarterly S.S. Celebrations: Due to the fact that people identify ethnic groups best by food and music, I have implemented these celebrations as an opportunity for students to do just that as we study various immigrant cultures that have come into the United States of America since its very beginnings. At the close of each quarter we will celebrate and honor a couple of diverse cultures, to be determined at the beginning of the year with my new colleague. It is the responsibility of as many parents that wish to participate, to assist with the luncheon-type celebrations four times per year. This will consist of helping to prepare or purchase foods, set-up, distribution of food, and clean-up.
Day Field Trips: Depending upon the number of students per class, we will require a certain number of parent volunteers to accompany us to History Museum/Museum of Natural Sciences, Yorktown/Jamestown, Charlotte Speedway, or any other locale we are able to traverse during our time together. Parents are expected to assist teachers in keeping students with their groups and remaining on task.
Guest Speakers: If a parent has specific knowledge about any topic we are studying in school, we would love a visit with discussion and visual aids!
Winter Party (Centers based on holidays around the world): Similar to the quarterly celebrations, this celebration delights in winter holiday cultural traditions around the world. Students will be assigned a particular winter holiday to research and prepare. Students will be required to bring in, as a group, two food items to share with all of their classmates, a poster/powerpoint presenting relevant cultural information (requirements can be found under Quarter 2 of this Weebly), and two crafts for classmates to partake in. Parent volunteers will be necessary to assist each center throughout the two hours it will take for students to experience each culture from station-to-station. Helping to keep students on task and making good choices as well as assisting with cleaning up after each center before the group is ready to switch.
Valentine's Day Party (with historical twist): Parent volunteers will work to organize a celebration that lasts for no more than an hour. Students will define what love means to them on small heart paper parents will have already prepared and cut out. In addition to having small lunch bags decorated with students' names on them, students will have an opportunity to hand out their candy for their classmates. Parent volunteers will also have laminated book marks with historical information prepared for students. Any number of the activities below can be done, per the parent volunteers comfort level of assisting with centers.
"Candy Hearts & Chopsticks — A bunch of chopsticks and a bunch of candy hearts means some serious fine-motor work for elementary schoolers! Pour a few handfuls of candy hearts into a centralized bowl, and give each child a small paper plate or small paper cup. Then let ‘em at it! The winner will be the person who moves the most candy hearts from the bowl to his or her plate in the set time. Give each kiddo a sandwich bag to save his or her winning candy!
Mitten Candy Race — Big, adult ski gloves and wrapped candy equal silly fun for kids. Divide the group into two smaller groups of 3 kids each. Have them stand in two lines facing each other, and put a pair of ski gloves on the first person in line. That person must unwrap a piece of candy while wearing the gloves, put the candy into his or her mouth, and then pass the gloves to the next person who does the same thing. First line to finish wins! [Obviously, be cautious of choking here--choose candy wisely (Starburst or Hershey Kisses) and remind kids that it's not who eats it quickest but who unwraps it quickest!]
http://teachmama.com/how-to-throw-a-rockstar-valentines-day-class-party/
How Well Do You Know Your Classmates? Divide students into several small teams. Give each person a blank index card. Ask them to write five little-known facts about themselves on their cards. For example, “I have a pet iguana, I was born in Iceland, my favorite food is spinach, my hero is Wolverine and my secret talent is I can do a backflip.” Collect the cards and separate into piles for each team. Draw one card from each and ask a student to read the clues aloud to the class one at a time. Each team tries to name the person in as few clues as possible. Five points if they get it on the first clue, then 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Continue with new students for as long as you like. At the end, the team with the most points wins. (Note: If you select the most obscure facts first, it will increase the competition and general confusion!)
The Literary Matchmaking Game: On blank index cards, write the name of one-half of a literary couple, such as Romeo and Juliet, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, Heathcliff and Catherine, Tristan and Isolde, Aragorn and Arwen (The Lord of the Rings), Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger (Harry Potter) and so on. Each student gets a card and has to find their “match” by interviewing the other students about their character cards (no peeking). First couple to guess correctly gets a prize."
http://blog.straightace.com/fun-valentines-day-activities-math-literary-twists/
End of Year DJ Dance Party: Parent volunteers will be needed to organize the dance party from 1-2:45 in the afternoon after the 5th grade graduation ceremony at the end of the school year. Obtaining the services of a DJ, acquiring donations of water bottles, and monitoring students during the dance party are a few of the responsibilities for this celebration.
Bulletin Board Set-Up: Any number of parent volunteers can discuss a day and time to put up student work samples in the hallway or change out informational posters inside the class room. This can be before or after school, too. This volunteer position is very flexible.
Tuesday Folder "Stuffer": A volunteer will be needed before Tuesday Folders go home, preferably Tuesday mornings but Monday afternoons can work, too. This job is a file master's dream! Discussion of students' grades on assignments or tests is not permitted...so mum's the word!
Laminating: A volunteer that has time to be instructed on how to use the school laminator machine and then, from time-to-time, can laminate either teacher resource posters/papers or student work would be greatly appreciated. This position is not a consistent commitment.
Covering Book Sets with Contact Paper: This job is perfect for the parent that can take books home and work on their own time. It extends the life expectancy of our class room book sets.