Room Parent Procedures

[Anonymous]

How is it at your school? Our school's teachers put out sign up sheets at Back To School Night and ask for volunteers ranging from Tuesday Folders, Cafeteria Duty Helpers, and Room Parent. Some classes might have several moms that sign up while other classes are lucky to have one mom sign up. I talked with a mom tonight from a school 10 minutes away that has to have a system of weeding out moms that have served the prior year to give everyone a chance and have moms stepping over each other to sign up first. Just curious how it is at the area schools for this. Also, some schools I hear have set donation amounts that the classes can collect for teacher gifts, etc.

[Anonymous]

I was the Room Mom for my daughter's class last year. I only got the job because no one else signed up and I happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. I had a hard time getting people to volunteer for most things, but a decent core of parents who could always be counted on. I also had a lot of parents who were interested only in volunteer opportunities that allowed them to go into the classroom to help, but nothing else. Then there were the complete crazies, which were few but vocal.

I noticed at my Back to School night last night that the Room Parent position was still open. I thought that maybe I'd sign up because it wasn't too horrible last year, but after the Question and Answer period with insane parent questions, I decided that someone else could have that honor this year.

Anyway, I think that it really depends on the class and school. It can also depend on the year. I know that they take great pains to get the kids mixed into classrooms, but it would be better for the PTA to spread out those parents that want to volunteer.

[Anonymous]

At my kindergartener's open house, the teacher had a sign up sheet where you could write your name if you were interested in being the room parent.

I saw another parent go up to the sign up sheet and shriek with joy that it was still open and that she would get to be the room parent.

I think she's nuts, but more power to her.

[Anonymous]

Shrieking with joy about her big chance to be the room parent? That strikes me as sad. I don't mean to be mean, just saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my kindergartener's open house, the teacher had a sign up sheet where you could write your name if you were interested in being the room parent.

I saw another parent go up to the sign up sheet and shriek with joy that it was still open and that she would get to be the room parent.

I think she's nuts, but more power to her.

From what I've seen, this is one way to get in close with the teacher(s) so helping little "genuis" get into AAP (higher GBRS, etc). Once 3rd grade rolls around, these moms all disappear.

[Anonymous]

I think it's very dependant on the school. Our current ES has a ton of stay at home moms and the room parent jobs go very quickly. Our last ES had more working moms and it was hard to fill the room parent job. I have done it before and I don't find it to be too much work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my kindergartener's open house, the teacher had a sign up sheet where you could write your name if you were interested in being the room parent.

I saw another parent go up to the sign up sheet and shriek with joy that it was still open and that she would get to be the room parent.

I think she's nuts, but more power to her.

From what I've seen, this is one way to get in close with the teacher(s) so helping little "genuis" get into AAP (higher GBRS, etc). Once 3rd grade rolls around, these moms all disappear.

you must be the same person who trolls every discussion topic to complain about AAP. We're talking about volunteering! 85%+ of the student population is not AAP so please give it a rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shrieking with joy about her big chance to be the room parent? That strikes me as sad. I don't mean to be mean, just saying.

You shriek for joy when you drop your kids off in the morning, I shriek for joy when mine arrive home off the bus and when I can show them school is important to me by volunteering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my kindergartener's open house, the teacher had a sign up sheet where you could write your name if you were interested in being the room parent.

I saw another parent go up to the sign up sheet and shriek with joy that it was still open and that she would get to be the room parent.

I think she's nuts, but more power to her.

From what I've seen, this is one way to get in close with the teacher(s) so helping little "genuis" get into AAP (higher GBRS, etc). Once 3rd grade rolls around, these moms all disappear.

you must be the same person who trolls every discussion topic to complain about AAP. We're talking about volunteering! 85%+ of the student population is not AAP so please give it a rest.

Take a look at "volunterism" after 3rd grade when either in or out--these same moms disappear. Granted, a few still continue to volunteer, but between room mom and PTA, its all about getting in close with teachers/adminstration. I've seen this at our DD's school. the truth comes out when it comes to middle school and the kids that magically end up in AAP clases (adminstration can do this with base school's kids to round out the class in "close calls") then decide "well, we're goiong to Thoreau" because its "just as good."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shrieking with joy about her big chance to be the room parent? That strikes me as sad. I don't mean to be mean, just saying.

You shriek for joy when you drop your kids off in the morning, I shriek for joy when mine arrive home off the bus and when I can show them school is important to me by volunteering.

Wow - that was leap! I don't think the pp doesn't care about her kids education because she made a comment about a mom that is a little overzealous about being a room parent. Some of these parents are a little crazy.

I had a similar experience at my DD's back to school night with a mom that is KNOWN to be a complete control freak and only volunteers for jobs that she thinks will get her an "in" with the teacher or the principle. She also seems to think of herself as a gate keeper to parents getting to know the teachers and other parents. It's sad and funny all at the same time.

I overheard her talking to another mom about the schedule for an activitiy that her DS and this other mom's DD are participants. Apparently another parent sent out an email to all of the parents concerning the schedule. Her reaction to the other mom in the room was "don't they know I'M IN CHARGE of the schedule?! ME! I'M IN CHARGE OF THE SCHEDULE!!" The emotion was intense for a volunteer position. Not normal!

My assessment is that she is a control freak looking for some type of validation in being a SAHM. She tries to alienate WMs in very obvious ways and almost refuses to speak or engage with them unless forced by a social situation.

Again, sad but I find some of her interactions amusing as she falls all over herself to break up conversations between moms that she likes and moms that she doesn't like.

[Anonymous]

All I know is that I sign up every year to be a volunteer and the teachers rarely want anyone in the classroom except to fill the Tues folders.
The exception was last year when the teacher's pet's mom seemed to be in the class quite a bit (per DC and DC's peers).

Why do they ask us to sign up if they don't really want us in there? (I know some of the other parents feel the same way...)

[Anonymous]

PP here - with classes of up to 30 in our school, I would think a little sincere help from parents - ie with small groups etc - would be welcome.
I love the school atmosphere and DC is still not old enough to not want to be seen around me, but I would never force my way into a classroom.

[Anonymous]

They don't want parents in the classroom, because they don't want to deal with the crazed and obsessed parents that want to be nosy and see how the other kids compare to their child.

On more than a few occasions, people have posted on here (usually about AAP) about how THEY are in their child's class all the time and they know which kids don't belong there or SHOULD or SHOULDN'T have gotten into AAP, etc...

I don't want other parents grading papers or even helping on any level in my child's class where they would be in a position to talk about how smart the kids are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don't want parents in the classroom, because they don't want to deal with the crazed and obsessed parents that want to be nosy and see how the other kids compare to their child.

On more than a few occasions, people have posted on here (usually about AAP) about how THEY are in their child's class all the time and they know which kids don't belong there or SHOULD or SHOULDN'T have gotten into AAP, etc...

I don't want other parents grading papers or even helping on any level in my child's class where they would be in a position to talk about how smart the kids are.

[list]Yes I have experienced this same situation where a mom took every opportunity to point out "less than perfect" grades, behavior, etc..., of others children when in the classroom and every "perfect" thing her child did. Unfortunately, most of the time, the "loud mouth get's the worm".

[Anonymous]

Some of these posts are amusing, but I hope not typical.

OP at our school the sign ups are managed by teachers during the open house and BTSN much as you described. I've volunteered but have never been selected for room parent -- OK by me as I can commit to something weekly and would prefer to be in the classroom. I just like to know what the kids are learning so I can help support my child.

Both years, the teachers gave me (and the other volunteers) real assignments. The first year, I was there weekly for 60 mins with a rotating group of 6 Kindergartners focused on small work groups... it was exhausting! Last year I was trained as a literacy volunteer and worked 2 times per month with 1-4 first graders on reading and writing. It was fun and was helpful since my daughter was behind in reading and the tips I learned I could reinforce at home. If you can make a weekly commitment (I work full time but have arranged it with work to volunteer each week -- same day, same time) and the teachers will actually use you, I would recommend volunteering in the classroom. It is amazing to see all of the new information and techniques that the kids are being taught. I find it very fun and interesting.

On a final note, my kids are K and 2 and they want me to come to school and on field trips to volunteer... However, I suspect that in a few years they won't want me anywhere near the school, so for now, I will happily volunteer in classroom.