Many classrooms have parent helpers that they assign at the beginning of the year. Some of these jobs could include classroom helper, homeroom mom, tutor or even story time helper. For parents who work during the day, though, sometimes options are limited in a traditional list. At the beginning of the year, the teacher can compile a list of volunteer activities that parents can do at home in the evening. Send home worksheets that allow parents to circle how they can help. Some examples could include grading basic papers, making phone calls or helping to organize a field trip, even if the parent cannot go on it.
Even though many students see each other year after year, their parents might not know each other. At the beginning of the year, hold a parent mixer that requires at least one parent from each family to attend. At this, provide refreshments, or ask parents to bring a dish to share. Give them time to socialize. You could even have some basic get-to-know-you activities. If time allows, give some classroom information, such as routines and procedures or allow parents to sign up for classroom jobs or field trips.
When it is still warm at the beginning of the year, plan a field or activity day that lets students burn some excess energy. Ask parents to lead teams and organize competitive and cooperative activities for the students. Before the day of the activities, parents can work with their teams to create team names, flags and colors. If time allows, students can decorate t-shirts with their parent volunteer.
Teachers spend a lot of time answering parent phone calls and e-mails about student progress and concerns. At the beginning of the year, teachers can instead implement a system that allows feedback and questions while saving time. Give each parent a communication log notebook. This can be a simple spiral notebook. The notebook should go home with the student every day, and if the parent has a question, comment or concern, she can write it in the notebook. At the beginning of every school day, students should know to place their parent notebooks in one area. The teacher can read through the notebooks and make comments and answer questions. Students should take the books home again. Teachers can explain how to use communication logs at a beginning-of-the-year mixer or parent meeting.