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Your Go-To New Year's Resolution: Volunteer!

Volunteering is Your New Year's "Solution"

The New Year provides a pensive yet exciting time for reflection and looking forward - taking stock of our lives helps us set goals and pursue new dreams in the year to come.  Whatever your resolution may be, consider volunteering as the solution:

Resolution: Get Healthy!

Studies like the Do Good. Live Well Survey by VolunteerMatch and UnitedHealthCare revealed key findings from volunteers including that they feel physically healthier when doing good, they report lower stress levels and volunteering even helps them deal with chronic conditions in a healthier way.  Brent Croxton of RealizedWorth also illumines proving survey results in his piece, The Transformational Power of Volunteering:

. . . when volunteering is done frequently, as part of a weekly rhythm, these positive feelings began to endure and induce other health benefits like stress alleviation, pain reduction, strengthened immune function, mood elevation, and heightened self-esteem.

If your goal in 2013 is to get healthy, consider volunteering as part of your regimen - you are sure to see it's positive effects, and you'll be making a difference in your community!

Resolution: Make New Friends!

 Volunteering is as much a group experience as a singular one.  Doing good with others helps you meet new people, form new relationships, and have FUN with others.  HandsOnNetwork shares on their blog how volunteering with others not only helps you step out of the box but it enhances interpersonal skills and rewards you with a deeper commitment to others.  Read the entire piece here.

Resolution: Do More as a Family!

The technological age helps families stay more connected, however, it can also take away from bond-forming family activities and experiences.  If you are seeking to do more as a family and work on instilling values first-hand, put down all those devices and seek out simple service projects and ways to do good together.  Shara Lawrence-Weiss of MommyPerks has unique and creative family volunteering ideas including helping animals, cleaning up the community and starting your own mock charity as a family.

And don't miss our free eBook full of Family Friendly Volunteer Ideas!

Family Friendly Volunteering: Service Project Ideas from A-Z from VolunteerSpot

Resolution: Get Organized!

 Go-getters and do-gooders are getting organized in 2013 and chances are, if you are one of those, you are a leader in charge of organizing others for a specific cause, organization or group.  Save time (and stress) this new year with free online sign up sheets!  Online volunteer scheduling and tracking makes it more convenient for volunteers to sign up, encourages participation, automatically reminds volunteers and lets organizes track everything online.

Take a demo and get started today - start the New Year off right!

Resolution: Help Others!

 It goes without saying, but volunteering is the way to do good and help others!  The benefits for yourself and for others in doing good are countless, and while opportunities abound, sometimes it is hard to find a way to get started. Check out our go-to guide of volunteer opportunities that help you find ways online to help in your community! When seeking out volunteer opportunities, search for causes which interest you, encourage friends and family to join you, and do it regularly!

 

Online Signup Sheets | Solar Festival

Volunteer Spotlight: Julie Wilcox, Volunteer Coordinator for Shoreline Solar Project

Shoreline Solar Project promotes the practical application of renewable energy and environmentally responsible practices to enhance the economic, ecological, and social environment of the community.  The organization serves to educate the public, governmental, and institutional bodies about renewable energy and environmentally responsible practices.

Today, our Volunteer Spotlight shines on Julie Wilcox, Volunteer Coordinator for the Shoreline SolarFest. Julie used VolunteerSpot's online signup sheets to coordinate volunteers for the 2012 SolarFest. 

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Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs. 

Our organization performs outreach at schools, science fairs, and festivals, and we put on our own big event, NW SolarFest. At SolarFest, the community can enjoy a great day in the sun while learning about solar, wind, geothermal, electric vehicles, and more. They can meet the people who are actually implementing sustainable products and practices in our area, compare products and ask questions from local installers. They can also enjoy the food, entertainment, and beer garden!

The regions longest running grassroots organized renewable energy and sustainability fair, NW SolarFest combines exhibits, vendors, interactive activities and outdoor fun to help us apply more sustainable habits in our daily living.  Next year will the be the 10^th annual NW SolarFest, being held on July 27th, 2013, and it will be bigger and better than ever! 

This year, NW SolarFest had 92 volunteers who signed up for over 125 different shifts over a period of two weeks, with most shifts the day of NW SolarFest.  Some of the volunteer activities included parking attendant, welcome booth attendant, kid’s zone assistant, entertainment technician, beer garden bartender, solar store cashier, and even goat helper.

Explain how you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate these volunteers.

We used VolunteerSpot in many ways.  Our day-of-event volunteers generally only see each other for two days each year – the day of NW SolarFest, and the day before, at orientation.  We have a dedicated group, but it can be hard to get information out to everyone.  Also, past fairs have had the problem of not enough transparency with the volunteers.  It was hard to know where everyone was supposed to be. 

I used VolunteerSpot to communicate with the entire volunteer list at once.  VolunteerSpot also allows the volunteers to indirectly communicate with each other, by letting them see which shifts are filled and by whom.  It’s helpful for the volunteers to see a specific list of jobs and shifts available.  I also used VolunteerSpot to print out reports for the fair coordinator as well as each station with volunteers.  As a result, everyone knew who was supposed to be where, and when. 

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?

Take the time to set up your job descriptions and shifts correctly.  Get the descriptions out there as soon as possible, as you can then use them for marketing, etc. and add the VolunteerSpot button to all organization communications.  But be flexible, because there will be changes!

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

My son’s swim team was using an online volunteer sign up site for parent volunteers and swim meet organization, and I thought that was a great idea for Shoreline Solar Project (SSP).  We could reach out to our whole mailing list, and give more than one administrator access to view progress or edit.  I investigated the various options that would work best for SSP, and decided VolunteerSpot had all the features we needed to successfully organize our volunteer sign ups.  It’s worked great!

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?

Get out there and volunteer today! 

 To learn more about NW SolarFest, visit http://shorelinesolar.org/  or

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/NW-SolarFest/201867233168210

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We salute Julie and all the other volunteer leaders out there making a difference. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at [email protected].

Best of VolunteerSpot Online Sign Up Blog | Articles, Resources, Kudos & Tips

2012 marked an exciting milestone as our VolunteerSpot community reached 2.5 million volunteers in service!  As our community grew this year, we found new avenues to share great socially-driven content including guest-posts from leading volunteer, education and fundraising experts, volunteer management resources, and spotlights on our VolunteerSpot organizers doing GOOD around the world.  Please check out these engaging top-read articles from 2012.

Top Series:

VolunteerSpotlights 2012: Leaders in Action

Summer of Service: Expert Reflections on Volunteering & Service

"I'm Signing Up": Many Ways Blogging Parents Support their School

Charity Auction Ideas

Top Resources:

10 Ideas for Volunteer Recruitment

Boosting Fundraiser Success with Social Media

The Ultimate Parent Teacher Conference Resource Round-Up

"Clipboard" by Volunteerspot | New iPad App

Top Reads:

The Transformational Power of Volunteering

29 Random Acts of Kindness

Family Volunteering Ideas

 

What was your favorite blog read this year?  Leave a comment below or tell us over on facebook!

Happy Holidays!

From our VolunteerSpot family to yours,

may your holidays be filled with

peace, joy, and a Happy New Year!

VolunteerSpotlights 2012

VolunteerSpotlight Round Up

Kudos to all our savvy volunteer leaders making a difference in their communities.  Learn about their good work in our 2012 VolunteerSpotlights:

Gayle Phillips, Director of Development - Northern Lights Health Foundation 

Julie C. Brewer - AmeriCorps VISTA of Ada, Ohio

ReStore Community Center

Lori Crenshaw - Cub Scout Pack 926, Winston Salem, NC

Carolyn Bramlett, Group Coordinator - Homeschoolers East

Tracee Wade - My Child's Closet, Inc., Greenville, SC 

Sheri Mergenthal - Knight's Administrator, C.A.S.A, Camarillo, CA

Emily Evers - The Community Relations Coalition, East Lansing, Michigan

Brian Carriere, Faculty Association President - Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Dyron Howell, Volunteer Organizer - Snack Pak 4 Kids, Amarillo, TX

Susan Marquardt, PTA Parent - Northville, MI

Volunteer Management Software | Art Docents

Amanda Kepner, Volunteer Coordinator - Columbus Museum of Art

Dennis Olander - Habitat for Humanity of Twin Cities

Barbara Bingnear - WFIT, Melbourne, FL

John Abramson, Volunteer Coordinator - Tropic Cinema

Bailey Kalvelage, Director of Mobilization - World Orphans

Amy Lutz - Colby and Cate's Charities, Inc., Carmel, Indiana

Elizabeth Wenscott, Volunteer Coordinator - Great Lakes Bioneers, Chicago

Bridget - Chippewa Parent Group, Okemos, MI

Mari Strombom - Colorado State University 

Lisa - PTA Parent in Scotch Plains, NJ

 

Gala Auction Ideas

Audio is a must-have at the gala auction; visuals are a nice to have

By: Sherry Truhlar of RedAppleAuctions

When budgets are tight, a common question posed by clients is what audio-visual (A/V) equipment is essential for their gala auction.  "What can we live without?” they’ll query.

Here's my opinion:

• A good auction sound system is a must-have for your live auction.
• A large screen projecting visuals of the live auction items as the auctioneer sells them is a nice-to-have.

Audio is critical for gala auction.  Guests won't bid if they can't understand what numbers are being said!

In contrast, visuals projected onto a large screen will support the sale, but it's not often a make-or-break deal.  When push comes to shove, I can get that item sold without a visual.

Sure, it's more compelling to have a slick graphic or photo tempting guests to bid.  But from a financial perspective, how much more compelling?

I don't know the answer.  It might increase bids by 1%, 10%, or ... who knows.

That said, there are some groups which need to think twice before they eliminate using a large screen and projector.  By virtue of the event's design, these events must rely on the screens more heavily. 

These include gala auctions which ...

• didn't advertise the live auction items prior to or at the gala.
• did display the live items at the event, but the crowd is so large (or the schedule is so frenetic) that not everyone will have a chance to see the items up close.
• have unfamiliar, but nice, items.  For instance, most people can visualize an apartment in Paris because of those Americans who have traveled overseas, Paris is a popular destination. But if your auction includes the sale of a week stay in a Budapest apartment, you might have some hesitant bidders!  Alleviate their concerns about an unfamiliar location by showing them a photo of the condo's living room and that gorgeous view straight out the balcony doors.
• are using an auctioneer who is good at calling bids, but isn't strong at describing items.

Now to be clear, I’m not writing that I don't like visuals.  I love visuals! Many of us prefer to look at a graphic or photo rather than read text.  Plus the screens can be used in other ways, such as giving sponsors recognition, reminding your guests of event procedures (e.g. “Check-out opens at 7:30 PM”), and offering general announcements (e.g. “Congratulations to our Longest Drive winner, John Smith.”).

But when your auction budget absolutely, positively dictates that you get audio OR visuals, opt for the former.  Audio is a must-have.

 

Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS, CAI is featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with auction fundraisers.  She teaches auction chairs easy ways to improve an auction’s financial return.  Start improving your auction today by getting her FREE Auction Item Guide TM.  The Guide lists the 100 top-selling items sold for over value in charity auctions.  Claim your FREE copy at http://www.RedAppleAuctions.com.

 

 

Related Articles:

11 Venue Ideas for Your Charity Auction

How to Use Pinterest for Your School Auction

Benefit Auction Tips & Terms

 

Inspiring Lifelong Learning | Parenting Monday

Tips for Fanning the Flames of Your Child's Learning

This post by contributor, Susan Stiffelman, originally appeared on Parenting.com.  You can find an excerpt of the post below and the entire piece here.

What can we do today to foster in our children the love of learning that will serve them throughout their lives? The answer? A lot. Regardless of the limitations our children's schools face that may impair their ability to consistently deliver the kind of education we dream about, there are many things we can—and must—do to help our children become lifelong learners. Here are a few:

• Turn off devices for 30 minutes or an hour every night, and read, build, draw, make music, play. It's easy to demand that our kids turn off their video games and do “something else.” But it's an altogether different thing to engage with them as we establish time to nourish our own interests. This is easier said than done; there are always emails to answer and Facebook pages to update. But real learning starts offline. Create the time, and more importantly, the ritual, that announces to your children that learning is fun and worth doing.
   
• Take a class. I realize that it's hard to add one more thing to a busy day, but when children see their parents doing their own homework or research, it speaks volumes. If you veg out in front of the screen night after night, why would your children take your lectures seriously when you try to convince them to put their heart and soul into their social studies report. My elderly mother still takes classes at her local university; right now she's taking Middle Eastern studies. Her ceaseless passion for learning has unquestionably fueled my own, and for that I am forever grateful.
   
• Take a class together. Kids long to have time with us; we are the prize, especially when they're younger. Sign up for cooking classes, or ceramics, or rock climbing. Take something that you're both interested in, or step outside the box and explore a subject that neither of you know anything about. You'll be creating memories that your youngster will have forever, while activating an interest in acquiring new skills and knowledge that will serve her throughout her life.

 

 

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You may also like:

The Busy Mom's Guide to Volunteering in School

13 Discipline Tricks from Teachers

How to Build a Good Parent-Teacher Relationship

How to Help Your Kid Love School

Volunteer Signup Sheets | School Picture Day

Volunteer Spotlight: Lisa, PTA parent, Scotch Plains, NJ

School pictures are an annual tradition in many families. It's usually a hectic morning filled with decisions to be made about what to wear, hairstyles, and sometimes a serious discussion about whether it's time to wear make-up. One aspect of school picture day that should not be stressful is organizing parent volunteers. 

Today, our Volunteer Spotlight shines on  Lisa, a PTA parent from Scotch Plains, NJ, who used VolunteerSpot's online signup sheets for getting volunteers to help with school pictures. 

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Tell us about your role as a parent volunteer leader.

 I volunteer for my children's school and chair several committees. This year I am in charge of school pictures, cultural arts and class parent. In addition to chairing events, I also work as a volunteer for several committes.

 

How do you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate your parent volunteers?

I used Volunteer Spot for a PTA School Pictures committee I was chairing. I was able to put in the time slots and number of volunteers needed and parents were able to sign up for what worked for them. An email blast from the PTA president went out to the entire school so everyone had the same opportunity to sign up.It was a great way to gather volunteers, and was much less time consuming than how we usually do it. Our PTA president has asked us all to use VolunteerSpot this year for recruiting our volunteers.

What other activities are you involved in as a volunteer or volunteer leader? 

I also volunteer in my church, work for a soup kitchen and teach Sunday School.

What’s one piece of advice you have for parent volunteers out there?

The key to a well run event is the volunteer support.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

Our PTA president suggested it.

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We salute Lisa  and all the other parent volunteers out there making a difference. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at [email protected].

4 Tips for Connecting Volunteers with Your Mission

This post originally appeared on the HandsOn Blog; we liked it so much, they were kind enough to let us re-run it. Please visit the HandsOn Network which inspires, equips and mobilizes people to change lives through service.

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Values and vision guide the action of individuals, teams, and organizations. At the heart of it all, lies the mission, or purpose. It’s what attracts volunteers and supports and drives all initiatives.

Keeping volunteers connected to the fundamental purpose of your organization is key to keeping volunteers involved . Organizations that “keep their eye on the prize” tend to be better at involving volunteers, in more meaningful, mission-focused roles.

Talk. Think. Do!

Talk more about the importance of the work and less about the crunch time to accomplish the work. Think about the perspective of volunteers and what it is about the “cause” that attracts them. Then, do! Work to align the mission and resources to make sure the mission does not get lost along the way.

Beware of distractions.

The mission may seem obvious, but sometimes staying focused on it isn’t always so cut and dry. Whatever the distractions: finances, competition from others, or status in the community, they are sure to come. It’s important to ensure volunteers aren’t pulled in to the short-term hustle and bustle than on activities that can produce meaningful results to meet real community need.

How we talk about our volunteers is critically important.

Connect volunteers to the purpose of the mission. Openly discussing volunteer roles can’t hurt, only help.  Leaders should not only talk openly about the value of volunteer contributions, but also make sure this is backed up by action.

“This organization was founded by volunteers and volunteers still make the policy and guide the work.”

Share this view in the organization through public documents, and informal conversations.

Build the team around the mission! 

Try out the team approach! When tasks are spread out among many units of the organization, individuals have the opportunity to grow as leaders. Evaluating the best qualities represented in the team begins with knowing your strengths. Thinking more broadly about potential contributions of volunteers can ensure the organization’s mission is upheld and the best people are in place to tutor a child, intervene in a family crisis, or manage a surplus food program.

 

Read more great posts about volunteering and being the change you want to see in the world on the HandsOn Blog. Follow HandsOn Network on Twitter @HandsOnNetwork, and visit them on facebook.

Busy Moms & Holiday Volunteering

How Frazzled Volunteer Moms Can Contribute While Maintaining Their Own Sanity & Holiday Joy

By Erin Cox, Author of One Hot Mama: The Guide to Getting Your Mind and Body Back After Baby

The fact that you’re here lets me know you’re a giver. You are involved, and you want to make the world a better place. The world just might stop revolving without you!

As a volunteering soul, you are generous with your time and energy; potentially to the point of wearing yourself out...especially with all the extra demands that the holiday season can bring. When you get to that “wiped out, cranky, overwhelmed” kind of place, you simply aren’t bringing your best to any of the important activities or volunteer efforts that mean so much to you!

Prioritizing your efforts and protecting your vitality will help you maintain your ability (and desire) to volunteer with cheer and pleasure, while fully savoring the special holiday moments with your family too. It’s all about balance and taking care of yourself so you can give your best in all you do!

5 Ways to create a peaceful, joyful, and balanced holiday season!

1)      Before you say “yes” to anything, take a minute to see how the request makes you feel. Does it make your heart have palpitations, or your stomach twinge? If you are already maxed out, it’s okay to say “no,” with grace and love. Rational people will completely respect you for setting boundaries and honoring your own time and wellness.

2)      List out the top 10 most important things in your life, such as your children, faith, relationship with your husband, friendships, volunteering, hobbies, exercising, etc. Put them in order of importance, and then think about how you actually spend your time. Are you spending your time and energy in alignment with what’s important to you? If not, what do you need to change?

3)      Try to dump one or two time-sucking activities that you don’t enjoy and pull you away from living a balanced life – so you’ll have time to focus your energy on the things that really matter to you…like volunteering at your kid’s school.

4)      Schedule your week out every Sunday evening. Sounds a bit tedious, but if you are in control of your calendar and manage your time, you can make sure to schedule in your workouts, date nights, time alone, or whatever it is that makes your life better…in addition to the volunteer efforts that feel right to you.

5)      Lighten your standards a bit. If you crave more time with your family and doing things that make you feel like an awesome mom, but spend two hours each day cleaning and tidying, see if you can let your standards slide a bit.

If the joy has been sucked out for you, then really take a few moments to evaluate how you spend your time. You should feel happy a majority of the time. You should feel like life is good and as though you are living on purpose. If you feel down, overwhelmed, and dissatisfied a majority of the time, take a closer look at what is off, so you have the liveliness and happy disposition to continue to make the world a better place!

I’d love to hear from you! How do you maintain your sanity when life is nuts? Please connect with me at www.facebook.com/ErinCoxAuthor or www.erincox.com. 

Charity Auction Ideas

11 Ideas for Charity Auction Venues

By: Sherry Truhlar of RedAppleAuctions

Changing your venue is an easy way to give a facelift to your benefit auction and it comes with the added benefit of often increasing attendance, if you select wisely. Guests love checking out new venues!

Watch this charity auction venue blog post right now and read more below!

 

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A client living in the South called.  The hall where she was planning to hold her auction wouldn’t be available in the two hours immediately prior to her reception opening. 

“We promised it to the young couple getting married the next night,” the events coordinator said, “They need a couple of hours of rehearsal time in that space.”

Drats!  My Auction Chair is now researching other possible auction venues. 

Changing your venue is an easy way to give a facelift to your benefit auction and it comes with the added benefit of often increasing attendance, if you select wisely. Guests love checking out new venues!

Consider these alternatives.

1. Private homes - It will work if the home accommodates the guest count.  Standing on a staircase to conduct the auction gives a bird's eye view, too.
2. Bed & Breakfast -At an auction gala a couple of years ago, the buzz was all about the new venue, which was a stately antebellum home which had recently opened as a bed & breakfast. 
3. New hotels - For a change of scenery, head to a new hotel.  "New" might mean "recently built" or it can just be new to your group.
4. Refurbished or renovated hotels - What facility is getting a facelift in your area?  Check the paper or local business journal for details of who is undergoing a renovation.
5. Museums - Depending on the museum, expect to pay big bucks - $50,000 isn't uncommon here in Washington.  (Personally I don't think it's a smart use of your funds.)  In the Fort Lauderdale, FL area, the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum hosted a client's school auction and offered a much more affordable rate.
6. Public spaces – An organization in our area conducts an auction with 1,000 people underneath a center town hall pavilion.  With good weather on your side, a gala under the stars will make for a memorable evening … and that space rents for a mere $500 fee.
7. Catering hall - Because catering halls are specifically designed for events, catering and parking is often a snap.
8. Shopping malls - Your auction might be either indoors next to the mall fountain or tucked into an empty storefront.  For more ideas on negotiating those empty storefronts, click here.  (LINK TO http://www.redappleauctions.com/venues/charity-auction-venues-shopping-mall/
9. School auditoriums and church fellowship halls - These are perennially popular for two good reasons: cost and a nice open space.  Parking is also rarely a problem.
10. Theaters - To conduct a live auction, it's easy to have people seated in a theater.  Just make sure the lobby is large enough to accommodate your silent auction (if you have one).
11. Work facilities - Know of a cool work facility?  We've conducted more than one benefit auction in an airport terminal or hangar.  What about a manufacturing plant, nightclub, or – in Hutchinson, Kansas – a salt mine 650’ underground? 

If it’s got the right amount of space and acoustics can be adjusted for an auction, almost any venue will work for your gala.     

 

Fundraising auctioneer Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS, CAI is featured in national publications for her trend-setting work with auction fundraisers.  She teaches auction chairs easy ways to improve an auction’s financial return.  Start improving your auction today by getting her FREE Auction Item Guide TM.  The Guide lists the 100 top-selling items sold for over value in charity auctions.  Claim your FREE copy at http://www.RedAppleAuctions.com.

International Volunteer Day | 2012

To the hundreds of millions of volunteers around the world,

Who of their own time, accord, talents and resources,

Make a difference each and every day,

Striving to leave the world just a  bit better than they found it -

WE CELEBRATE YOU!

Family Volunteering Ideas

25 Ways to Volunteer With Kids

By: Candace Lindemann, NaturallyEducational.com

We are thrilled to share motivating ideas for giving back with your family this holiday season! Candace Lindemann, educational consultant and publisher of NaturallyEducational.com, has compiled a super fun and creative list - find an excerpt below and the entire list here.

I know a lot of people with very charitable hearts. Once they have kids, they want to model giving. However, they do not know how to volunteer and bring their young children along with them. Here are a few projects even very young children can do!

1. Make ornaments and bring them to a home for the elderly

2. While you are there, sing a few Holiday or winter songs

3. Decorate/write cards for someone who may need cheering up, such as children in the hospital or a deployed soldier.

4. Shop for a toy to give away. You can even shop together online if you feel your child will not be able to leave the store without a toy for himself. (There are always toy drives this time of year and I would love for you to consider giving to children on Long Island affected by Hurricane Sandy.)

5. See if your local soup kitchen is open to allowing young children to perform age-appropriate tasks like setting tables or passing out apples and bananas.

6. Get together and stuff stockings for children in need. Have each child bring 12 stocking stuffers and then stuff one of each in each stocking.

7. Donate used toys to a shelter or a police or fire department. Most places cannot accept used toys but there are a few that will. Many charities also have thrift stores they use as fundraisers.

8. Have a garage sale and donate the proceeds.

9. Bake cookies for an assisted living facility.

10. Make laminated bookmarks to thank community helpers for all they do.

Read the rest of 25 Ways to Volunteer with Kids here.

Find NaturallyEducational on facebook and twitter.

School Parent Advice | Parenting Monday

5 Smart Ways to Handle Teacher Troubles

Has your child ever come home complaining that their teacher does not like them, or singles them out in a negative way?  Parenting.com has some spot-on advice for recognizing and approaching "teacher troubles." Read an excerpt from author Stephanie Dolgoff's article below and the entire piece here.

. . . use our step-by-step guide to sorting out your child's trouble with his teacher. You'll find that he may soon be looking forward to school -- or at least showing up and learning something.

Step 1: Play Reporter

Sometimes kids will make generic claims, like "The teacher's mean to me." You want to find out what that means. Etheredge calls this "unpacking" what your child is saying. Try to get as much detail as possible. Ask, "What exactly did she say? What was happening in the class when she said it?" (You might want to inquire casually, so your child doesn't clam up or exaggerate.) "Mean" might mean "She makes me do my work," in which case you could explain that the teacher is trying to show the kind of behavior you need to have at school; after all, some things are very reasonable under the circumstances, but they may not seem that way to a 6-year-old. The idea is not so much to uncover "the truth" of what went down but to get a more concrete sense of what your child is seeing.

Step 2: Play Advocate

Tell your child that you're going to write down what she's saying so you can go have a conversation with the teacher. (Give her a chance to elaborate on her story -- it's hard for kids to remember every detail.) "Let the child understand that you, her teacher, and the principal are partners working to help make school a great experience for her," says Jan Harp Domene, a mother of three in Anaheim, CA, and president of the National Parent Teacher Association. This serves several purposes: Your child knows that you care about what's happening, that her concerns are going to be heard, but also that you're not just going to march in and "fix" a problem. Domene advises saying something like "Mom and Dad are going to talk to the teacher to find out why you feel this way" -- not"why the teacher did this." "It's your child's feelings you're dealing with. Until you talk to the teacher, you don't have the whole picture," says Domene. You might also be able to give your older kid some tools to handle the situation herself. Suggest options, such as approaching the teacher after class and pointing out, for instance, that she doesn't think she gets called on very often. Sometimes the teacher may not be aware of how your child feels.

Click here to read the entire article.

 

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related articles

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• Moms Okay with Advertising in Schools
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• How to Build a Great Parent-Teacher Relationship
• Why Kids Hate School

 

Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net