The problem we're having right now is teachers need to know how to prepare for a volunteer, basically. Some teachers want parents to come in and help with small groups in reading or math facts. So they plan for it. Then the volunteer doesn't show up and it messes everything all up. Then they quit planning for them out of frustration and they start comming back and are told there is nothing to do. So everyone is discontent. I am working on "volunteer training" for the ones who want to be 'regular' helpers in certain areas, but I'm looking for ways to help the teachers prepare/plan for volunteers. They are telling me, basically, they aren't sure how to use them.

A few teachers have basekts/boxes where they keep the items that need to be done (cut out, put together, laminated, etc) and if/when a volunteer comes in they can take that box and do their thing. But some teachers are so accustomed to doing it themselves that they need some sort of model or system to implement.

After a parent meeting today, I think I'll ask the teachers who regularly use volunteers (and do it successfully) to write out their plan and how they implement it. I'll take these ideas and put them into a little booklet and give them to the teachers at the next staff meeting, after the next round of parent/volunteer surveys come back.

I really could use any ideas. I hope this makes sence. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I may be going out on a limb here but it's an idea. My thought was hospitals use alot of volunteers in different fields, wouldn't they need some sort of training? Would that be something sommeone from the Human Resource office could give some idea about training?

I also have a hard time with teachers needing training to use a volunteer and it would be your job to train them....I can see if they are assisting with hearing and vision tests etc. Our Moms keep busy putting up new bullentin (sp) boards, snack prep, one Mom even cleans the fish tank for her teacher! Maybe a simple 'I need this done' list from the teacher would be a start.

Maybe I can get discussion started here....

Our school is fairly new and the staff are all wonderful people to work with. After sending out staff surveys and parent surveys, the problem is two-fold.

One: Parents are just not comitted (this comes from the staff). That is an issue I'm not willing to attack right now. BUT there are many regular, comitted volunteers just waiting for their next project. These are the ones I work with regularly. :cool:

Two: (this is the one I need most help with!) The teachers don't quite seem to know how to use these volunteers. The planning for them, how to use them and how to keep them busy enough to keep them involved but not so busy that they burn out. :confused:

After talking with a teacher, she suggested some sort of teacher training - some way to help the teachers learn how to maximize their parent resources. Does anyone know of a way to do this?