Do you volunteer at your child's school? What jobs do you do?

[PenguinBear]

Just interested to hear what you do and whether you have any say in it atall?

[PenguinBear]

Anyone?

[poopsydaisy]

I don't help myself, but my friend does the weekly cooking session, another mum does reading (but she's a qualified teacher, now SAHM, so I guess has experience in that area already?). Another does weekly maths games. I don't know if any of them had any 'say' in what they did, as such, but they all thoroughly enjoy their time in classroom.

[simpson]

I listen to kids read, help with phonics, put letters in book bags, hand out finish/art and crafty stuff to the relevant kids and help on school trips.

I love it

[TeenAndTween]

I listen to readers.

However I would like to help with y5/6 maths.

[lostintoys]

I listen to readers, help particular groups with maths/literacy topics, help with displays, and anything else that needs doing.

[teafor1]

I listen to readers.

[gingercat12]

Like simpson I help with craft stuff and fundraising. I also offered to read in case there is nothing to glue or laminate Maybe I should offer help with maths.
We always have a good chat with the other Mommies and teachers while having a cup of coffee. (I never drop off or pick up DS at the schoolgate, so it is my only chance to hear any gossips.)

[Fuzzymum1]

I work in school now but previously I was trained in a reading program called the better reading partnership. It involved three sessions a week of reading with a child for ten weeks at a time.

[MerlinFromCamelot]

I'm a swimming teacher. I help voluntary with the scho swimming lessons. I get to work with those who can not swim at all and SEN who sometimes find the pool a stressful experience.

[Ferguson]

When our DS started primary, the school invited parents to help; I did one day a week supporting reading with Yr1, Yr2, for five years. Once I felt confident, I also did Yr6 gardening activities Friday afternoons, and ran an after-school keyboard club with Yr6.

Got a job as TA at an infant school, for ten years; worked mainly Yr1, Yr2, but also Nursery and Reception. Had a lunchtime recorder group for ten years; coached Yr2 on percussion to accompany the Christmas production each year; did computer and touch typing activities; trained other TAs on computers (twenty years ago, when computers were less common to most people.)

Then two years as TA in a tough comprehensive.

Retired, but continued voluntary work in primary and secondary. One of my very first 'readers' turned up again seventeen years later, on her final year of Teacher Training; our roles were reversed, as SHE needed to direct ME in the classroom! She is now a successful teacher.

[zaphod]

I set up and run the library. Every week I read to each room (they come to the library), and they then choose and check out the books they want for the week. Years ago this took a couple of hours, now it takes the whole of the school day, allowing for breaks. Once a year, I run the bookfair. I do it on a voluntary basis. I choose which books to read, and which one's to stock, and I'm now trying to get the classroom libraries up to scratch. I started in a storage cupboard but now have a room with sofas, and cushions.

[scottishmummy]

No,I'm at work the PTA types can volunteer seeing they dont work and do faff all

[Ferguson]

PS: regarding 'having a say', once you are established and the staff know what you can contribute to the school, I think you can probably negotiate what activities, jobs, you do, particularly if you have useful skills or specialised experience, which may well exceed that of the teachers in some cases.

[tumbletumble]

I help in year 1 (reading comprehension) and nursery (simple maths, eg counting) every week. Once a month I help year 3 and year 4 change their library books (only takes 10 mins).

[17leftfeet]

I do maths extension with the higher level maths groups in ks2, listen to reading, help with art lessons, set up iPads, help with displays, go on school trips -whatever needs doing really

I don't really get to pick but can influence which children I have in certain groups based on how well they work together when they are with me
So I'll be asked to do reading with 12 children in groups of 4, and I'll sort the groups

I really enjoy it and the more I do the more I feel I'm contributing and I do have the respect of the teachers

[TheBuskersDog]

Oh what a surprise, scottishmummy has found another thread on which to have a pop at SAHMs. Actually in my experience a lot of 'PTA types' also work.

[QuiteQuietly]

Zaphod That sounds amazing - your school are really lucky to have you!

I do cutting and laminating, repairing books, photocopying, stuffing book bags, sticking things on walls, make coffee, mop up spills and "accidents" and sometimes take a few infants to the junior library to supervise their selections. I did request not be in my DC's classrooms and said I would do anything, but would prefer not to listen to reading (as I know nothing about phonics or reading methods here). There is always plenty to do.

In our last school I did cutting & copying and also played board games with a group of yr1s - usually the same kids and I still don't know whether it was maths help or a nuture group (but always wondering what happened to them).

[TheBuskersDog]

Also in my school a lot of the parents who do help out do so on their day off.

[Kantha]

Sharpen the pencils! The TAs always seem hugely grateful for this. However, the class teacher did have to 'train' me this week not to sharpen them too much

I do other things too.

[rabbitstew]

Hmm, yes, TheBuskersDog - my experience of PTA-types is that most of them work full time or part time in paid jobs in addition to volunteering. Same applies to school governors, people who run cubs, scouts, brownies, etc, etc. Does Scottishmummy take the attitude that you should only get off your backside if someone's paying you? Or that work is only work if someone is paying you to do it?

[scottishmummy]

I like my weans,I value their education,I don't need to faff about at school to demonstrate this

[MerlinFromCamelot]

- my experience of PTA-types is that most of them work full time or part time in paid jobs in addition to volunteering.

Same here... In my experience if a job needs doing ask a busy person.

[Cakecrumbsinmybra]

I go in once a week and listen to reading usually. However the last few weeks I have been helping with spelling, handwriting and, this week, maths. Which is good as I was getting a little bored with all the same reading books! I decided I'd rather do this sort of thing than the PFA.