Online Sign Up Blog by VolunteerSpot

Looking Ahead | Volunteer Engagement In 2012

Some of us are wishing there were extra days in December (or at least 25 hours in the day)! January is fast approaching and we’re still in holiday mode.

Take a moment between sips of eggnog and grandma’s pumpkin pie to put a stake in the ground to increase Volunteer Engagement in 2012. DO ONE THING —Plan a First-of-the-Year Volunteer Gathering. (Then head back to the football games, tinsel and cheese balls.)

Host a January Gathering and Jumpstart Volunteer Engagement in 2012  

Simple or elaborate, kick-start the New Year with a January volunteer  gathering.  Host a coffee break, a chili luncheon, potluck, or pizza party.  Offer a look back at 2011 and present plans for the year ahead – goals, big events, greatest volunteer needs, introduce new leaders and coordinators, etc. 

Here are 6 simple ways to make the New Year’s kickoff  a success:

1. Before the meeting, ask volunteers to share photos from 2011 events on your facebook  page; request they add stories, anecdotes and favorite memories of their volunteer experiences over the year. Create a scrapbook from the images  - publish a hardcopy for sharing or a pdf  (soft copy) for emailing.
   
   
2. Review the goals and accomplishments of your year of volunteering with hard numbers and facts -- from how many kids you helped read, to how many families were fed, how much money your fundraiser pulled in, how many badges your troop merited, how many games your team won, etc.
   
   
3. Thank your 2011 volunteers with a slideshow or posters describing your collective impact, pictures of volunteers in action, and of course… treats!
   
   
4. Ask for feedback.  What worked well and what would volunteers like to see improved in the new year?  Sometimes simple things like changing the start time of a shift or creating a designated volunteer parking place can make a world of difference.
   
   
5. Outline your goals for 2012 and call for volunteers!  Be ready with online sign up sheets to organize your new year, semester, or season of service.  Share the link at your meeting and directly after via email.
   
   
6. The New Year’s meeting is the perfect time for a fresh start to invite people who have not had the chance to volunteer yet.  Let them know you would love to see them participate in 2012 – ask what special talents or skills they might be able to contribute and partner them with your active contributors.

Here's to a brand new year in service!  Let us know what your volunteer team or organization is planning for 2012 over on facebook!

Gifts For Teacher | Fast & Easy Holiday Ideas

Teacher Gift Ideas, Simple & Creative

Four Fabulous Festive types of Gifts for the Teacher in your life!  Need simple ideas for your kid's school teacher this year? We've collected gift ideas that will practically make themselves, getting you back to the task of enjoying the holidays with your family!

Meaningful & Heartfelt!

1. Have your child write a letter with a picture to the teacher, (Tip: make a photocopy for the principal's file as well).   It can be a simple Thank You & Happy Holidays, or their five 
   favorite memories from the semester.
2. Create a group digital eCard from all the kids, created from a VolunteerSpot request for parents to add their thoughts to a Google doc (or just emailed in).
3. Collect donations for ad space and design a special thank you for your local paper or newsletter shouting out your teacher.
4. Wrap up a box of blank Thank You cards. If a teacher has 30+ students who all send in gifts and do special things for them, that's a lot of thank you responses (and extra expsense) he or she might need to send!

Themed Gifts!

1. Cozy Night In!  Treat the teacher with a basketful of warm goodies including gourmet hot chocolate, teas, and cider with a personalized mug.  Top off with warm and fuzzy mittens and a scarf!
2. Movie Night!  Grab a couple fun DVDs, add a pack or two of microwavable popcorn, frozen Jr. Mints and 2 bottles of cream soda to create the perfect movie night!  Top off with a gift certificate to the movies! (Label it, “Stay In or Go Out?”)
3. Holiday on the town! Ask around town for discounted tickets to a local holiday concert or performance
4. Seasonal Treats!  Special treats like mini pies, gourmet cupcakes, chocolates, or muffins-in-a-jar will help to make the season bright (and the tummy happy)!

Get Crafty!

1. Holiday ornaments are keepsakes which make an appearance year after year - simple ribbon with unique holiday trinkets and a Happy Holidays note on the back create a special remembrance.
2. Create an idea-folder filled with printed up fun classroom-appropriate craft ideas for the upcoming seasonal months.  Scour the internet for terrific ideas including academic related ideas you know will be covered, ex. 5^th grade will be American History, so look up Washington and Lincoln crafts.
3. Gift Card Snow Globes are a super simple yet creative way to present your teacher with some quick cash.
4. Hand-made photo frames can include a class picture or be left open for the teacher to fill with their own personal memories.

Sometimes what they need IS what they want!

1. School supplies - Fill a reusable grocery bag with school supplies the teacher and classroom are low on. (Send a request via VolunteerSpot with suggested supplies).
2. Treasure Chest - Collect donations for the classroom treasure chest; small prizes, stickers and toys are always handy as special rewards and class party activity prizes.
3. Gift cards are always 'the RIGHT size!' Think: grocery stores, office supply stores, favorite restaurants and gasoline.
4. “You Deserve a Winter Break” Kit! Have parents donate gently used ‘brain candy’ books and mindless movies. Add a box of relaxing tea, chocolates, bubble bath and a gift certificate for dinner out.

Please share the best gift you have ever given (or received) to a teacher! Why was it great, how did you accomplish it? We'd love to share it with our facebook readers!

Find more Teacher Gift ideas in our free e-book!

Greatest Gifts For Teachers & Teacher Appreciation Week

View more presentations from VolunteerSpot

We have a Winner!

Congratulations to Martha W. and 

Bellalago Academy in Kissimmee, FL!

WINNER $500 in School Supplies from PackAdemics!

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

HUGE THANK YOU to the more than 1,600 people that entered the sweepstakes to win for their favorite school and to our AWESOME Sweepstakes sponsor PackAdemics

making school supply shopping stress and hassle free! Order online, shipped to your door in one simple PACK, easy!

Decluttering Throughout the Academic Year | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Now that we've covered all the essential topics for back to school:

 

• Back to School Checklist
• Morning Routines
• Time Management for Back to School
• Athletic Students
• Housework a.k.a. :: Chore Wars
• Homework

It's only natural to discuss the maintenance plan. Yes, similar to oil changes for the car - furnace checks for the house or even semi-annual dental exams, there are preventative measures a family can take throughout the academic year that contribute to decluttering and keeping a student on track.

 

Decluttering Paper

The end of the quarter is a great benchmark for decluttering paper. Helping the student clear graded papers, they no longer need to keep track of, is an excellent practice. Be sure they check with their teachers to make sure assignments have been recorded in the grade book before discarding.

 

Decluttering Bags

The end of the week is an ideal benchmark for the bag task. Rarely does anyone feel like dumping a backpack out at the end of a Friday, however, projects that can require larger time blocks may be lurking within the depths of the clutter. Also, teaching a student to maintain their bag at the end of the 'work week' can help nurture other habits like picking up after themselves during transition times.

 

Decluttering Lockers

School vacations are excellent benchmarks for the locker declutter :: The 2 weeks in December, the 1 week in the spring and for some the single week in February. Discussing with your student the plan and then equipping them with the right materials can make this a successful venture.

On the last school day before vacation begins:

• send your student to school with a large duffel bag or a few black garbage bags
• plan to have your student picked up from school (instead of riding the bus)
• help them carry bags to the car, in a manner that appears to be a "special project"
• once home help them sort through the items, WITHOUT JUDGEMENT
• assign them laundry room & dishwasher time, have them do the laundry & dirty dishes that have come home
• stay upbeat, positive and loving. I promise you, they are mortified. Even if it doesn't seem like it.
• repeat again at the next holiday break

 

Decluttering the car

It's true, my backseat can resemble the local dump. And so goes the mantra of most parents that shuttle their kiddos around. A few tips that have worked for me:

• Remind the kids to pick up what they entered the car with when exiting the car
• Keep some sort of garbage container available {{I use a large plastic Starbucks cup}}
• Empty garbage from the vehicle when you fill up the gas tank, have passengers participate as well
• When all else fails, declutter the car when you're student declutters their bag

 

Decluttering bedrooms

Well, honestly - this one is a lost cause. Sorry to break it to you so bluntly. Truth is, the attempts will be a complete waste of time until the kiddo is ready for change.

Until that day comes, here are the 3 rules I recommend parents present to their housemate:

1. There must be a clear path to emergency exits :: window & door
2. The door must be able to close {in case there is company}
3. There must not be a noticeable odor before arriving at the room

Most kids reach a "something's gotta give" perspective in their own time, granted it tends to take much longer than parents would like, but it does generally happen. Coincidentally, it tends to happen around the dating years. Hmm, go figure.

 

So, there you have it. The academic year maintenance plan. I would love to hear from you either in the comments below or over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page ...

How do you stay on top of decluttering throughout the academic year?

 

Keepin it Tidy,

april

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

Homework | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

 

Homework

Now that back to school has settled in, let the nagging begin. At least that's what tends to go through the minds of most parents when they hear that single word.

It doesn't have to be this way though, homework struggles can be a thing of the past with some system tweaks, perspective shifts and of course - a whole lot of patience.

 

 

Homework :: Yours = Parent Signatures & Planner Checks

Believe it or not, follow through with all that back to school paperwork can set the tone for the pipsqueaks. If they don't see us parents making it a priority to follow the teacher's rules / requests they tend to adopt the same passive attitude as well. Only in a much more detrimental way = their own homework.

Some tips for "catching it as it comes in":

1. When they unpack their bag at the end of the day be available
2. Ask if there are any papers you need to sign
   • then sign them right away & return them to the child's completed homework pile
3. Help them sort through the items based on what needs done and turned back in or what is completed and needs filed or can stay home until the end of the grading term

 

Homework :: Theirs = getting the grades

Obviously, completing homework and turning it in is part of the grade however many students struggle with this task. Some will do the work and not turn it in. Others simply cannot find the motivation to continue working once home. What is a parent to do?

Tips that have helped student's I've worked with:

• Allow for some down time
  • most students appreciate a breather right after school, while others can't re-motivate once they relax ~ help your child figure out how they function best and create a routine that capitalizes on it
• Nutritious snacks
  • fueling the body as well as the mind in the afternoon can make or break that final stretch of effort that's needed, pay attention to what they are filling their tummies with and provide healthy options
• Music
  • memories of "no music" while you do your homework still haunt me, some students work better with tunes going in the back ground ~ allow the music as long as they are getting their homework done

When my oldest child was in 7th grade the teacher's philosophy helped change his viewpoint of homework:

Would you go to work each day filling out a time card and then NOT turn it in for a paycheck?

{{the students all shook their heads no, quite passionately}}

Then why would you show up each day in class and not turn in your homework?

Your grades are your paycheck

Thank you Mr. Snow!

 

No more nagging, about homework at least

I know, wouldn't it be great if I could give you that "silver bullet" answer that eliminated the homework nagging for good? Unfortunately, I can't. But what I can give you is:

• Listen to your student
  • if they are struggling to focus :: allow a mental break
• Communicate with your student
  • if they are asking for music :: negotiate the expectations, and subsequent consequences
• Honor your student
  • if they prefer doing their homework on the floor :: let them, it's the only way they can determine their most comfortable way to be productive

 

The well stocked homework nook

And finally, the tools of the trade! Parents think keeping supplies are handy for their student and homework time, but don't misunderstand the true meaning of this after school pantry. Believe it or not, this tip is all about time management!

For example:

Student needs to create an art project at home using colored pencils.

Outcome 1:

You are headed to the store because you don't have colored pencils at home = unexpected errand & time from your planned schedule

Outcome 2:

You have colored pencils and provide them right away = woo-hoo, no unexpected errand or detour from your original plans!

So, what can you stock the afterschool pantry with? Easy. Mimick the school supply list you shopped from at the end of summer.

Always begin by taking inventory in your own supply closet though. And don't forget all those discarded supplies from the end of last year.

A few additional items to add might be

• a lap desk, for the non-traditional work space
• a small caddy to hold supplies
• a good set of earbuds for personal music choices
• good lighting

 

Be sure to join the conversation over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page and let me know

What homework tips are you using this school year?

Keepin it tidy,

April

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

Housework a.k.a. :: Chore Wars | Tidy Thursday

by ~ April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Housework ... a.k.a. :: Chore Wars - no, I'm not proposing a new reality TV series ~ I'm calling it like it is for so many households. How to get children to do chores any time of the year is a challenge and most families surrender to the chaos during back to school as it is. This week I want to give you a little guidance on how to get back on track without the typical nagging, yelling or worse - ultimatums.

Talking about chores here on Tidy Thursday is nothing new, last year I walked you through Chores, a different kind of volunteering by explaining Age Appropriate Chores and giving a few tidy tips. For back to school, getting kiddos to do their assigned chore list is a little less about the how and more about he why.

Let's take a look:

Why some kids do chores and others don't:

Currency.

Yes, it really is that simple. When I say currency most adults go straight to the dollar signs. I encourage you to think outside the box though.

Currency to a child can mean a multitude of things

• social time with friends, outside of school
• quality time with parents
• a reward like a new pet or special family trip
• music, iTunes cards or time on Pandora / Spotify
• movies, heading to the theatre or having a new release date night at home
• a day off from allocated chores

Now, that's not to say children don't want cash. They do. Once they understand it's value.

What adults struggle with most when it comes to a child doing a chore is motivation. What motivates your kiddo? In order to understand that, you need to understand their currency.

Asking a child what type of rewards they would like can spark a great conversation.

Lifestyle & Payment:

Sticking to the system can often be the rug pulled out from any good intentions.

Life is busy and hectic. I get it. But if you want those children of yours to pitch in they need to know they can count of the system working.

For example ~

You've gone to all the effort of having the conversations regarding a chore list, rewards and timing expectations.

Now, it's mid-week and you're at the end of your energy tank. But the kids have done their end of the bargain ~ completed their chores ~ and they are waiting on you to pay up.

Whether you promised a half hour on the computer or brushing tangles out of long hair, the ball is in your court.

And being too tired to do your part is not an option.

How do you avoid this? Planning. Don't offer rewards you know you can't deliver. Or worse, won't have the patience or energy to deliver.

Outline payment to fit your lifestyle. If Sunday evening is when everyone is back together and getting ready for the week ahead, then plan to dole out payments then.

Staying on top of the housework as a family takes a team effort. And you are the coach. 

Mostly, remember, change is difficult in the beginning. Keeping the adjusted systems in the forefront of your mind is critical during the learning process. Eventually things will smooth out, just not on their own.

I'd love to know more!

Join me on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page and share your Housework {aka} Chore Wars stories, struggles or renewed motivation from the tips above

 

Keepin it Tidy,

April

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

My School My Way | Wrap Up & Thank You

Across the nation kids are officially "BACK TO SCHOOL"!

Moms (and dads!) around the country are collectively releasing a giant sigh. Here at VolunteerSpot headquarters we are proud to have brought you 30+ bloggers who shared the good (and the guilty) of all things School-Parent Volunteering!

Please help us thank the WHOLE list of bloggers involved on our Roll Call.

We set out to host a diverse buffet of voices.

Bloggers support THEIR school... THEIR WAY.

Including:

• The uber mom volunteer who steps up and presides over her school's PTA or PTO.
• The mom who is scared just a little bit because it's her child's first year in school and fearful what that will bring!
• The mom who has done it all, seen it all and is ready to let someone else DO IT FOR A WHILE!
• Even the dad who spends time in the classroom... because he can.

And all the mom's in-between...

Three themes emerged from our cornucopia of bloggers.

Guilt

Moms seem to be made of it. We always worry that we aren't doing enough. That we could be doing more. We worry that one more pan of brownies should have been made, that one more hour of mystery reading should have fit in our lunchtime or one more school carnival should be notched on our belt.

But what's more important is that we take stock of what's most important in our own families, right now. No one argues that you should do more if it doesn't fit with your family.

{Support your school your way: In a way that works for your family, right now.}

Creative Solutions

Many bloggers shared that the knew what they could NOT do and instead of refusing to do anything, jumped in and found a creative way to volunteer that made sense for them.

Volunteer from home, make sure your kids are well fed, and well prepared for school each day, sometimes the small things mean more to your kid and your school in the long run.

{Support your school your way: By remembering that small things are still worth doing. }

Dedication

So many parents tackle time consuming volunteer jobs and do it with little fanfare or praise. We understand that not everyone can lead the PTA year after year. But to those who run school events, step up to help fundraise and  lead by example, we stand up and salute you.

We see your passion for volunteering and we see you use your skills and talents for the betterment of all kids not just your own.

{Support your school your way: By letting your passions lead the way.}

From the whole team at VolunteerSpot, WE THANK YOU!

You've inspired us all to take {personally} meaningful action and SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS!

 

Click to see the whole shebang of Parent Voices in the I Support My School... My Way series!

***

VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more.... No more 'Reply-All' email chains or clipboard sign up sheets! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…

   

 Enter Now

You could WIN $500 in school supplies for your favorite school!

 

I Support My School My Way | Day 12

 

Welcome to Day TWELVE of
I Support My School... My Way, VolunteerSpot's back-to-school campaign and Sweepstakes celebrating parent involvement in schools!

Today is the LAST installment of our very fun-very impressive (over 30 bloggers!) story campaign.  All sharing their stories THEIR way.

We conclude with 3 bloggers.

(Check out all the stories from the whole series!)

 

Please Meet:

Lorraine of RunWifeyRun.com

Lorraine is a mother and a runner (what a suprise from her blog title, eh?).

She admits it. She is a 'party parent'.

"Oh, and I do field trips, too. I’m all for hopping on the bus and getting the kids out to see the world." I love her attitude. You don't have to be the weekly 'in classroom' volunteer to support your school!

She has this wisdom to share: "I know my strengths and think its smarter to use them rather than force myself to volunteer in ways that aren’t a good fit for everyone involved."

Read more about Lorraine's favorite part of volunteering: 'Mystery Reader'!

Follow Lorraine on Twitter @AskWifey.

***

Ponn of AmericanMuslimMom.com

Ponn's mission is to: "enlighten, educate and empower moms, especially American Muslim Moms living in America and abroad, to take action."

She is an impressive mother and advocate for her religion and goals. But take a minute and read through her 79 (!!) creative ways she has supported her school. You'll agree. This is an amazing woman.

First it's a fascinating story to read about how while they are fundamentally committed to homeschooling—this Muslim family made a hard decision to invest in their local school due to family issues. And in only 4 months they gave more than some give in years.

They jumped in feet first and with enthusiasm to help in many (many!) different ways. Here's just a tiny fraction:

• Meet the principal...
• Meet every single teacher...
• Meet & help substitutes... (read why, you'll be impressed with this thought!)
• Offer to teach a lesson plan... (WOW)
• End of year cleaning...

Seriously this is ONE amazing volunteer list! Read all of it right now!

Follow Ponn on Twitter: @PonnSabra

***

Cindy of MildlyManicMom.com

Cindy works full time and is the manic mom of two kids: one tween daughter and a son in high school. 

She says she spent years hiding from volunteer sign up sheets because she 'didn't feel (she) had much to offer'... or time we might guess.

She then asks this question:

"So, what's a guilty feeling, full time working mom to do?"

Easy, she came out of hiding long enough to read through the multiple lists of subcommittees in her PTSO and landed on the one thing she could be part of without being IN the building during working hours. Wanna guess what it was?

Hospitality Committee!

Read more about how Cindy learned you 'don't have to be the room mom to be a good volunteer'.

Follow Cindy on Twitter @MildlyManicMom

 

Click to see the whole shebang of Parent Voices in the I Support My School... My Way series!

***

VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more.... No more 'Reply-All' email chains or clipboard sign up sheets! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…

   

 Enter Now

You could WIN $500 in school supplies for your favorite school!

 

I Support My School My Way | Day 11

Welcome to Day ELEVEN of
I Support My School... My Way, VolunteerSpot's back-to-school campaign and Sweepstakes celebrating parent involvement in schools!

Today we have two bloggers and a couple terrific stories!

(And a whole lot more from the previous three weeks!)

 

Please Meet:

Melissa of ImaginationSoup.com

Melissa is the parent of 2 girls and an education blogger, she is a former school teacher and it shows!

She tells in her "I Support My School" article that she got called to the principal's office. Why?

No, not for spitballs. In a word: ADVOCACY. She was working hard to make a change in her schools. Especially when it came to the continuted use of a curriculum she felt was outdated and simply wrong. And you can hear the frustration in her typing...

She explains: "As I considered my options, I really didn’t want to change schools or home school. I wanted to stay at my neighborhood school and work for change — change for the better. People told me it would never work, that the school would never change but I thought I at least needed to try. I hoped that the school would listen to me with openness and work with me for a solution."

I don't want to ruin the story. But I will say I'd like Melissa advocating for MY kids! Click over to find out whether her kids were able to stay at her local public school. 

Follow Melissa on Twitter @ImaginationSoup

***

Kristin from ZiggityZoom.com

Kristin is the mom of 3 boys and she is the co-author of Parenting Without a Paddle. She is a fireball of energy and has helped her schools by speaking at events, using her own busness to help and guide as well regular old volunteer time in the classroom.

You'll appreciate her insights on how to pace yourself and navigate through volunteering, a few examples:

• I have said NO to more things than I say yes to...
• I am clear and communicate how I am able and willing to volunteer...
• I split up responsibilities with my husband

And then she goes one step beyond just volunteering: "But most of all, I help our school by meeting other parents and letting them know that our school is a better school because of all the parent involvement, whether through the PTA or attending school events."

Read more about how Krstin is also a Lunch Buddy!

Follow Kristin on Twitter @mommie911, @ziggityzoom.

 

Click to see all the {awesome} Parent Voices in the I Support My School... My Way series!

***

VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more.... No more 'Reply-All' email chains or clipboard sign up sheets! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…

   

 Enter Now

You could WIN $500 in school supplies for your favorite school!

 

I Support My School My Way | Day 10

Welcome to Day TEN of
I Support My School... My Way, VolunteerSpot's back-to-school campaign and Sweepstakes celebrating parent involvement in schools!

We are wrapping up the last week of this amazing blogger-extravaganza with Five bloggers and five amazing stories! All sharing their stories THEIR way today.

(And a whole lot more from the previous three weeks!)

 

Please Meet:

Lolli managing editor for 5MinutesForMom

Lolli has 5 kids and is a former school teacher as well! She found after her first kiddo went to kindergarten that she really missed being in the classroom and found a mom to share babysitting of younger sibs in order to volunteer and get her classroom 'fix'!

"I found that the teachers gave me insights into my kids’ strengths and struggles as I spent time in their class – insight that I would have missed had I waited for the twice-a-year parent-teacher conferences." —Lolli tells how rewarding simply helping in the classroom can be.

Read about what Lolli thinks is the bests reward for volunteering in her kid's classroom.

Follow Lolli on Twitter @1Momof5 and follow @5minutesformom.

***

Loralee of LoraleesLooneyTunes.com

Loralee is a mother to 4 boys. And she spent many years on parent organization boards. But soon came to find out:

"After so many years and gazillion hours of serving as PO President, when I was done I had to take a major step back for several years from EVERYTHING volunteering." Plus her whole family went through the horror of losing a small infant.

And now she keeps it real in her family by figuring out what works for each individual. Some in charter school, some homeschooled, some in public school!

What she has to say about the guilt of stepping down for a while: "And, while I do feel guilt about it, I am also fine with it because right now, it is what works best for us all."

Read more about how Loralee describes the 'beauty of it' and figuring out what her next round of elementary school will bring! 

Follow Loralee on Twitter: @LooneyTunes

***

April of TheMentalClutterCoach.com 

 What could be better than a whole program to help your middle schooler get more organized?!

Our own Tidy Thursday author and Mental Clutter Coach—April Welch has helped create exactly that. It's called the Organizing Fundamentals Curriculum    and April has offered to help any parent group implement this program in your school!

She describes details about how the program works: Qualifying, Assemblies and Volunteering, plus a whole lot of fun.

Helping kids overcome their own organizing problems is a huge reward. April describes one student in the program: "I’m proud to report now, as a high school student, she immediately beams with pride every time she sees me. Usually she is pulling out her binder to show me how she still is using the techniques we worked on. Our conversations quickly lead to her plans for college and how her grades are staying up."

Read more about this program and the way April Supports Her School.

Follow April on Twitter @Mental_Clutter

***

Whitney of MommiesWithStyle.com

The art of walking a fine line seems to be a recurring theme in our My School My Way series. Whitney finds herself dividing her time between her work and her volunteer wishes.

"It’s a busy schedule and it’s often tough to juggle all the various volunteer schedules!"

She does her best to give of her time when she can and understands the importance of mom 'face' time for her kids.

Read more about how Whitney Supports Her School.

Follow Whitney on Twitter @WhitneyMWS

 ***

Julie of AngryJulieMonday.com

Julie is also known as AngryJulie and she has one angry child as well as one angry husband.

She volunteered at her school's 'jogathon' last year by being the photographer. Which has turned into being the Chair of the 'jogathon' this year! Good luck Julie...! (But who will take the photos?)

She also spends several hours in AngryKid's classroom each week.

Read more about why she thinks it's important to Support Her School.

Follow Julie on Twitter @AngryJulie

 

Click to see all the {awesome} Parent Voices in the I Support My School... My Way series!

***

VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more.... No more 'Reply-All' email chains or clipboard sign up sheets! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…

   

 Enter Now

You could WIN $500 in school supplies for your favorite school!

 

Time Management for Back to School | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Back in January I walked you through the essential beginnings of Time Management, now that it's September and back to school chaos rules the roost it might be a handy time for a refresher. Wouldn't you agree?

Back to school offers a great opportunity to test your system. If something falls through the cracks try not to be too hard on yourself. It just simply means it's time to tweak again.

Paper Work & Clutter

The first day of school guarantees a 'packet' of papers will land in your life. From signing the medical releases to updated academic calendars this packet can quickly become a pile of overwhelm.

• Prepare some time to focus on going through the pile
• Separate based on child then on task
• Make appropriate notes in your time management system NOW, while all the paperwork is in front of you

Consumption of time

Too often running late can be avoided by realistically providing a buffer for travel or getting caught in a conversation. A great way to train your brain for a more accurate reality is to start using a face clock for your watch. The hands going around the face provide a visual framework for the passage of time.

• Install face clocks in spaces you perform daily routines, such as bathrooms and kitchens
• Begin using a watch with a face instead of a static digital number
• Try not to beat the clock when going from one activity to another, like leaving for work in the morning and running errands in between

Survival of the fittest

Whether you have one child in school or five, heading back to the structured schedule can throw even the most efficient families into survival mode. Allowing yourself to function this way is OK. Yup, you read that right. I just said ~

going into survival mode during back to school chaos is A-OK

The important part is knowing when survival mode is coming to an end and life as usual has returned. Call it like it is. A transition time that needs a little room to settle in. Just be sure to circle around in a few weeks and determine what adjustments need made in your life systems.

Join me in the conversation over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page and share:

What Time Management for Back to School strategies you're planning this year?

Keepin it Tidy,

april

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

I Support My School My Way | Day 9

Welcome to Day NINE of
I Support My School... My Way, VolunteerSpot's back-to-school campaign and Sweepstakes celebrating parent involvement in schools!

We have a special treat today. FOUR bloggers all on one day! All sharing their stories THEIR way today.

(And a whole lot more over the next few weeks.)

 

Please Meet:

Jill Berry of Musings From Me

Jill has had kids in school since 1998! She was a working mom with two kids at home, but then decided her kids were what she really wanted to dedicate her time to. She became a volunteer enthusiast!:

"I relished volunteering in my daughter’s kindergarten classroom. With a full room of squirmy kindergarteners, the teacher needed an extra person to go over sightword lists or do craft projects with small groups. While I was never a room mom, I volunteered my time to class parties and sent in snacks and juice bags."

Jill has volunteerism fever! She volunteered at all different kinds of school functions:

"As a volunteer I was very willing to sign up for this activity or volunteer to chaperone that field trip. I wish I had known about VolunteerSpot back in the early 2000s…my life and the lives of my fellow PTA members would have been so much easier."

Read more about how Jill supports her school.

Follow Jill on Twitter @MusingsFromMe.

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Mariana of The Domestic Buzz 

Marina has come to the same realization as many parents:

"It’s no secret that with budget cuts, our children’s schools need parents more than ever, but writing check after check isn’t in our budget right now."

Check out some of the ways that Mariana is making a difference at her school without breaking the bank!:

• I joined the PTA. Not only became a member, but I took a position as Bilingual Liaison, hoping to reach out to our Spanish-speaking community.
• I’m helping in the classroom. I’m looking forward to chaperoning at least one of my daughter’s field trips. Hoping to make it in once or twice to read a book to the class. Walking the Diabetes walk along with Maya. Providing food and goodies for class parties. Obsessively cutting Box Tops. Whatever I can do to help.

Read more about how Mariana supports her school through creative and cost-free ways.

Follow Mariana on Twitter: @ohmariana

***

Kelli of Parenting Squad

  Kelli states right off the bat that she's neither a room mom or a PTA parent, but she still does her part to support her school. Here are some of her suggestions on how to help out at school"

  Let the teachers do their job.
 

  Don't confuse strict with strychnine.
 

  Keep communication lines open.

  Remember, teachers are human, too.

And we especially like this one:

  Ask how to help.

Some teachers want parents in the classroom every day. Others cringe at the thought and prefer that parents help by doing administrative tasks at home. Don't assume you know what assistance the teacher needs. Find out on the first day: "What can I do to help you this year?"

Read more about how Kelli supports her school.

Follow Kelli on Twitter @ParentingSquad.

 

Barb of BeTweenTalk

As Barb's kids have gotten older, they really didn't want mom at school anymore. But Barb has done her part to support her schools and educaiton of all chilren - through politics!

"...one thing I have always been is an educational activist. Most recently, I have been helping to stir the pot up about the Dougco school voucher issue and Science Education in the US. Because I believe that no matter where you sit on the side of school choice vouchers or educational reform, the conversation is the most important part."

Read more about how Barb uses her "voice as a blogger to bring to light these discussions on the politics of education."

Follow Barb on Twitter @Chaotic_Barb.

 

***

VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more.... No more 'Reply-All' email chains or clipboard sign up sheets! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…

   

 Enter Now

You could WIN $500 in school supplies for your favorite school!

 

I Support My School My Way | Day 8

Welcome to Day EIGHT of
I Support My School... My Way, VolunteerSpot's back-to-school campaign and Sweepstakes celebrating parent involvement in schools!

We have two terrific bloggers sharing their stories THEIR way today.

(And a whole lot more over the next few weeks.)

 

Please meet:

Lela Davidson of After the Bubbly

  Lela wrote a book entitled Blacklisted from the PTA, and so she seems to be an unlikely user of VolunteerSpot's online signup sheets.

But wait...

"Because I spend enough time devoted to my children already I’m a reluctant participant in any of your clipboard-worthy activities. However, I will be a dutiful worker bee. That’s right, after you ask me two or three times I will be happy to work a shift or bake a cake or whatever else it is that chips away at the greater good. I will show up with a smile and I won’t even spend the entire time talking smack about the other PTA parents. Not the whole time, anyway."

Read more about how Lela supports her school, at least when the volunteer position doesn't have "field" or "monitor" in the title...

Follow Lela on Twitter @leladavidson.

***

Andrea Fellman of SavvySassyMoms.com

Andrea is facing a dilemma that many parents share at the beginning of the school year: Should she volunteer to be her son's room mom?

"You see, I was my daughter’s room Mom when she was in Kindergarten two years ago and I kinda feel like I should do it for my son too.  I’m an organizer by nature, love to plan parties, research themes, crafts, make the flyers, e-mail, get everyone involved and excited.  I realize that the room Mom can sometimes be annoying, but what’s more annoying is a Room Mom that sucks."

We love her suggestion that:

"Not everyone has the time to do everything and no one should feel pressure to do it all (at least not by themselves).  So maybe I will ask if there can be Co-Room Mom?  Divide and Conquer!?"

Read the rest of Andrea's post, and find out what decision she came to at SavvySassyMoms.com

Follow Andrea on Twitter: @SavvySassyMom

Click to see all the {awesome} Parent Voices in the I Support My School... My Way series!

**

VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more.... No more 'Reply-All' email chains or clipboard sign up sheets! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…

   

 Enter Now

You could WIN $500 in school supplies for your favorite school!

 

I Support My School My Way | Day 7

Welcome to Day SEVEN of
I Support My School... My Way, VolunteerSpot's back-to-school campaign and Sweepstakes celebrating parent involvement in schools!

We have a two terrific voices today, awesome parent volunteers.

(And a whole lot more over the next few weeks.)

Please meet:

Fred Goodall of MochaDad.com

 

Fred supports his school by volunteering in the classroom. For him it's a priceless experience:

"Each year, I volunteer for the same thing – Mystery Reader. While reading to a class may not seem like a high-profile volunteer activity, I’ve come to realize that it is an important one.

If you don’t believe me, just ask the frazzled teachers who have thanked me for reading to the class and giving them a few minutes of down time. Or you can ask the students who crowd around my feet and smile with delight as I make funny voices and flail around as I read the book. You can even ask my son who beams with pride as he listens to stories that I’ve read to him scores of times as if he’s never heard them before."

Read more about how Fred supports his school and see how he "treasures these special moments".

Follow Fred on Twitter @MochaDad.

 

Please meet: 

Pauline Karwowski of ClassyChaos.com  

Pauline is a lunch mom regular! 

"Only a handful volunteer opportunities included the words "siblings welcomed" and that's how I found myself eating lunch with my children in the school cafeteria for the last four years."

She's got it going on! "Spending time with my children, interacting with their community and helping out at our school is a winning equation."

Read more about how "siblings welcomed" opened the door for this proud parent's legacy of school service.

And follow Pauline on Twitter at @OHMommy

 

***

VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more.... No more 'Reply-All' email chains or clipboard sign up sheets! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…

   

 Enter Now

You could WIN $500 in school supplies for your favorite school!

 

I Support My School My Way | Day 6

Welcome to Day SIX of
I Support My School... My Way, VolunteerSpot's back-to-school campaign and Sweepstakes celebrating parent involvement in schools!

We have two terrific bloggers sharing thier stories, THEIR way today.

(And a whole lot more over the next few weeks.)

 

Please meet:

Wendi Aarons of WendiAarons.com

  Basically, Wendi is a humor writer from Austin with 2 kids and she's sort of known for making fun of her PTO. She's also part of the MouthyHousewives club so we KNOW she gets humor! 

She can celebrate and complain about pretty much anything. Too many volunteers at her son's school? YES, both good AND bad? How..? Well, she complains they won't let her be the 'tequila' mom!

Read Wendi's list of Volunteering Do's and Don'ts! I don't want to spoil it for you, it's hilarious but it just might end with: an invitation to join her in the lady's room to avoid the dreaded PTA election meeting!

Follow Wendi on Twitter @WendiAarons, @MouthyHousewives

 

***

Stacey of TreeRootandTwig.com

Stacey is an amazing mother of 5. Her oldest is a senior and her youngest is in pre-school and she lives to blog about it!. Go Stacey! She is a terrific writer and writes for several online publications.

The title of her post really says it all. When it comes to volunteering: "I’ve Done It All (Including Nothing At All)"

Talk about finding your Zen and realizing where you are most needed WHEN you are most needed doing it!

She writes: "These days, it’s more about supporting my students(kids) than it is about supporting my schools, which in a roundabout way achieves both..."

Follow Stacey on Twitter: @StaceyNerdin

 

Click to see all the {awesome} Parent Voices in the I Support My School... My Way series!

**

VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more.... No more 'Reply-All' email chains or clipboard sign up sheets! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…

   

 Enter Now

You could WIN $500 in school supplies for your favorite school!