PTO Today

I need some help with Math Night at our school. This is the first time one has ever been on the roster. The principal wants it to happen. The problem is that the teachers were under the assumption that it was a PTO planned event (no teacher participation) and PTO was under the assumption that it was going to be supported by the PTO but planned by the teachers much like our Reading Night.

I found some ideas on line for stations but was hoping for more input/support from the teachers. It was discussed as their staff meeting and consensus is that they aren't getting paid overtime for it, they aren't going to volunteer. What do we do now?

I would go to the math teachers in the school and ask them for their advice on how to hold a successful Math Night. If teachers can't or won't volunteer for the event, then I would send home a letter asking for parent volunteers.

If your school is a lower grade school, consider asking advanced math students from the middle or high school to volunteer. It may fulfill a community service requirement or count as extra credit on their grades.

__________________
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We don't have specific math teachers at our school (K-5). There is a
"math team" but the leader is retiring this year and just kind of counting the days. I am going to talk to her to see if we can work something out. The PTO isn't looking for the teachers to work the event, just to participate in the planning - ideas for stations and the packet that needs to go along with it. Our high school has a great NHS group that I utilize as often as I can so manning it isn't really an issue. We'd like the teachers to be there but it isn't necessary, it would just be nice to have someone trained in the area of education to develop a plan and then we'll make it happen.

There is a company in Michigan that sells games and products that are math related, check to your learning stores and see if they have any games like this-- I believe it's called learning gizmo's.
They come out to the school and bring the sample games, they will explain how the game works to your volunteers, there play-- they are all very education and fun. Then the store has a set-up in one corner, where you can purchase the game to take home. The school get a percentage of the sales... and the PTO bought a game for every teacher that helped at the event... so it was a win-win for everyone involved. good luck! Foxmom

Discuss at your PTO meeting whether or not this event is even worth doing without the teachers on board. If the principal wants it to happen so badly, he or she should get his people in line.

If you don't have a PTO meeting in time, go ahead and make that decision yourself -- tell the principal you can't do it without a teacher's guidance.

Then, don't stress over it. It is not your fault.

I'd talk to the math teachers. At our school a college professor comes and gives math demonstrations and there are math games set up by age groups in different classrooms.

The principal has called a meeting with the two teachers on board, the two Joyce Epstein survey parents who proclaimed that we needed to do this (he hasn't share their names with us for whatever reason) and PTO representation next Friday. He said that this has to happen. We are a Title I school so I have a feeling that's why the need is there. We''ll see what happens. Our President is already to go to battle and I'm trying to calm her down. In the background, I have been planning this because I know that we are going to make the event happen. Next year, however, is a different story.

We have Math Night at our school for 3 years now. Unfortunately, the teachers do not want to participate since they are not getting paid for it. Without the teachers, Math Night is almost impossible to have. So, our principal made it mandatory that our teachers show up at the event and run a station each. Part of the teacher contract states that they can have up to two nights per school year as required participation. One if for Back to School Night and the other is Math Night.

Your Principal needs to read Title I and his and his teachers job descriptions... It isnt the PARENTS or PTA/O repsonsibility ITS his and his staffs responsibility.
Title I has absolutely nothing to do with parents running the projects, nights or educational experiences/ classes. Sounds like the inmates (teahcers) are running the aylum NOT the person(s) in charge

A Principal that REQUIRES/Mandates a project be run (by parents, etc) hasnt got any skills (ie should find a new line of work)

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