@ Can I pick your brains about school volunteering?

[eclaires]

My partner in this and I are also going to create a survey specifically targeted at our parent group, but before we start that I wondered if I could describe something and you guys could help me identify the issues you might have with participating in this.

Basically, our PTA runs a parent staffed science lab throughout the year. There are two to three labs per grade per year (it's a 3-5 school). Currently, we hold a lab orientation (during the school day) so the parents can see what needs to be done in the actual lab and then the there is a separate lab time depending on when each specific teacher signs up for it. Generally it is relatively close to the orientation. The labs are pretty simple but the orientation takes them through how to teach it and lets them practice the experiments, as well as see the set up and ask any questions.

We've had a hard time staffing the labs this year, and I think one issue is the orientation. I suggested video taping and uploading next year so parents could watch that instead of being required to attend two things close together (a lot of working parents like to help with this). Scheduling wise we are limited to when we can get certain areas of the school big enough to set up and have a crowd of parents, too.

Anyway, what other things would limit you from helping with this (besides the obvious that the lab itself is during the school day)? What would make it more accessible to you or make you more willing to volunteer? Can you think of anything I might be missing on why people don't want to volunteer besides schedule?

Thanks in advance for even reading this brain dump, lol.

[tres3]

what about doing it at drop off? that way working parents might be able to attend and just be a little late for work?

[rootbeerfloat]

Is it possible parents are intimidated by the lab itself? Like maybe they don't feel qualified to teach it? If so, maybe emphasize that the activities are easy to teach and/or identify a support person (either you or your partner or a science teacher).

I like the idea of the orientation on video for parents who can't attend the orientation.

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 13:30:38 GMT -5 rootbeerfloat said:

Is it possible parents are intimidated by the lab itself? Like maybe they don't feel qualified to teach it? If so, maybe emphasize that the activities are easy to teach and/or identify a support person (either you or your partner or a science teacher).

I like the idea of the orientation on video for parents who can't attend the orientation.

This is something we've been batting around too. My partner and I are new this year so we've been basically shadowing the people who currently have our roles. My partner is a former teacher and she led her first orientation today. I do think we need to identify a way to streamline and stress these are simple labs and how to support parents. I personally think the current orientation lady is a little scattered and tends to make it harder to follow/feel comfortable with. I think my partner did a great job today, but I do think we can build on support and streamlining the info they get.

I found out today that when the volunteer coordinator (my future role) started sending out the lab outlines and power points in advance of the orientation it caused a kerfluffle and people (not the parents receiving it - they liked it) were upset.

I swear sometimes I feel like I'm in a 1992 time warp when I look at how things are run. Luckily, the current volunteer coordiantor person is super helpful and has already made some changes and is amazingly supportive. But I feel gobsmacked and overwhelmed sometimes when I look at how it's currently done. So haphazard and resistant to technology lol.

[ijack]

Is there anyway to have an orientation outside of work hours?

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 13:50:51 GMT -5 ijack said:

Is there anyway to have an orientation outside of work hours?

I think the problem becomes whether the school is open but it's certainly worth looking into. All of our materials and such are stored in the school, and sometimes there are limits on when we can get in and coordinating with other groups that use the school.

Maybe we could look into offering two and see if it + video of orientation increases our numbers in a significant way. I think I will include a question about both of those on our survey.

One thing that changed this year was we emphasized that to volunteer you didn't have to attend orientation. To lead the lab, we wanted you at orientation but to just help (each lab needs a couple volunteers so we can split the kids off into smaller groups to do the experiments), it's not required. It apparently was before and I think we may be encountering people thinking that's still the case this year and not paying attention to the changes. Apparently that also caused a bit of push back, too, from former organizers. But it's silly as long as we have one person who knows the set up and intro to require all to know that/be there for orientation.

[penguingrrl]

I would definitely see what you can do to offer it at different times. While I SAH and so I don't need to get to work/arrange time off, I don't want to use what babysitting capital I have on a short training to later be able to volunteer. If it was after H got home from work (7:30) I could definitely make it a priority to get there, though.

[sfy]

Along the lines of what chloesilverado said, what kind of things do you offer to let parents know about the lab? By the time people watch. The orientation video, it sounds like they're already signed up. When I volunteered, I usually stuck with the library, concession stand, room mom, field day, admin crap--things that I knew I could handle. Science lab would have been intimidating to me because I suck at STEM. I might have found it motivating to have a clear grasp of what was involved before signing up. So if this isn't already being done, maybe an informational video or if possible, to have someone discuss it during school orientation, or a detailed email about what skills are needed.

Do/can the science teachers ask during science/parent nights and/or parent - teacher conferences, complete with sign up sheets to receive more information on hand?

Also, have you tapped into parents who are already volunteering for other things? It does suck to be the people who get hit up over and over, but the people who already volunteer in one capacity are the ones most likely to get involved in something else. Do not be afraid to use hard sales tactics, including guilt and shame lol. Kidding...mostly.

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 14:20:28 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I would definitely see what you can do to offer it at different times. While I SAH and so I don't need to get to work/arrange time off, I don't want to use what babysitting capital I have on a short training to later be able to volunteer. If it was after H got home from work (7:30) I could definitely make it a priority to get there, though.

We do allow kids to come. Generally, they are of the age 4 variety who are happy to color or play on their iPad or whatever for 45 minutes, but I think I am going to also make that more clear that it's okay. Scarlett has even come with me to the actual lab before because both MH and I were there and she didn't have school.

But I do know some people don't want to have to bring their kids or would be able to focus more or get more out of it if it was a time they didn't need childcare or to bring them.

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 14:21:50 GMT -5 sfy said:

Along the lines of what chloesilverado said, what kind of things do you offer to let parents know about the lab? By the time people watch. The orientation video, it sounds like they're already signed up. When I volunteered, I usually stuck with the library, concession stand, room mom, field day, admin crap--things that I knew I could handle. Science lab would have been intimidating to me because I suck at STEM. I might have found it motivating to have a clear grasp of what was involved before signing up. So if this isn't already being done, maybe an informational video or if possible, to have someone discuss it during school orientation, or a detailed email about what skills are needed.

Do/can the science teachers ask during science/parent nights and/or parent - teacher conferences, complete with sign up sheets to receive more information on hand?

Also, have you tapped into parents who are already volunteering for other things? It does suck to be the people who get hit up over and over, but the people who already volunteer in one capacity are the ones most likely to get involved in something else. Do not be afraid to use hard sales tactics, including guilt and shame lol. Kidding...mostly.

So this year sign ups happened before I was involved and it was actually just a sign up sheet. I have on my list to discuss with my partner to come up with a more comprehensive "what science lab" is for the beginning of the year.

One other thing we also talked about today is general support/info for room parents. Apparently we have some teachers who aren't supportive of a class directory. The room mom is point person for various things but some have no way to contact the class parents. I think that will also help us get info out and get volunteers to help with lab even if they don't want to lead the lab/come to orientation.

[orval]

I do not like to volunteer for things that require actual teaching/supervision of kids (I just don't feel comfortable). If there is an option for setting up experiments vs. the actual teaching, I would sign up for that. Not sure if you can work it that way.

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 14:35:20 GMT -5 orval said:

I do not like to volunteer for things that require actual teaching/supervision of kids (I just don't feel comfortable). If there is an option for setting up experiments vs. the actual teaching, I would sign up for that. Not sure if you can work it that way.

I get this. I personally hate it as well. I will definitely bring it up!

[penguingrrl]

Feb 11, 2016 14:23:25 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Feb 11, 2016 14:20:28 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I would definitely see what you can do to offer it at different times. While I SAH and so I don't need to get to work/arrange time off, I don't want to use what babysitting capital I have on a short training to later be able to volunteer. If it was after H got home from work (7:30) I could definitely make it a priority to get there, though.

We do allow kids to come. Generally, they are of the age 4 variety who are happy to color or play on their iPad or whatever for 45 minutes, but I think I am going to also make that more clear that it's okay. Scarlett has even come with me to the actual lab before because both MH and I were there and she didn't have school.

But I do know some people don't want to have to bring their kids or would be able to focus more or get more out of it if it was a time they didn't need childcare or to bring them.

Drew is totally not a kid who can go places with me. Julia was, Emma was once she was a bit older, but Drew is a tiny maniac. I'm actually putting him in more hours of preschool next year than I ever intended because he's such a handful and I just can't do it all alone anymore. I would have easily brought the girls, but his disposition is just different.

[curbsideprophet]

Feb 11, 2016 14:35:20 GMT -5 orval said:

I do not like to volunteer for things that require actual teaching/supervision of kids (I just don't feel comfortable). If there is an option for setting up experiments vs. the actual teaching, I would sign up for that. Not sure if you can work it that way.

This is what I was going to say!

[CrazyLucky]

Oh, I would be all over this! I love doing science experiments with the kids. Could you send out a list of experiments by grade? The parents could pick one or two they want to help lead. A lot of them have fun names like "elephant toothpaste" that may get someone interested. Stress that they are just there to help, they don't have to explain the science of it (but they can if they want to).

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 14:51:55 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

Oh, I would be all over this! I love doing science experiments with the kids. Could you send out a list of experiments by grade? The parents could pick one or two they want to help lead. A lot of them have fun names like "elephant toothpaste" that may get someone interested. Stress that they are just there to help, they don't have to explain the science of it (but they can if they want to).

I'm thinking totally revamping how we introduce the science lab might make a significant difference in participation. I'm leaning towards grade specific "promotional" materials for the lab description portion along with more info about how the labs are run (leading vs. just helping) that would be the same across all grades. I'm also thinking a website might help us too.

[downtoearth]

I would love to volunteer for this if we had it at our school (science nerd in the house)! I wonder if we could do this at our school? The science experiments are such a small part of education in our school.

I like the idea of one evening orientation on top of the one(s) during the day. And maybe you also just need to know which parents are science-oriented in their careers or education and ask them directly to volunteer. I know I ignore a lot of school emails about volunteering, but when someone asks me directly (or a direct email), I'm all "sign me up."

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 15:02:19 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

I would love to volunteer for this if we had it at our school (science nerd in the house)! I wonder if we could do this at our school? The science experiments are such a small part of education in our school.

I like the idea of one evening orientation on top of the one(s) during the day. And maybe you also just need to know which parents are science-oriented in their careers or education and ask them directly to volunteer. I know I ignore a lot of school emails about volunteering, but when someone asks me directly (or a direct email), I'm all "sign me up."

It's entirely run through our PTA! I know it's not common but the feedback from teachers is that it's very worth it since they don't have a lot of time or ability for experiments. They do have science but the hands on stuff is limited. We will be retooling our labs I think because the curriculum has changed in the past year, and so have the standards. Anyway, that's the plan for after we get through our labs at the beginning of April (we plan to do inventory, apparently we have no idea what is there), then look at which labs we are offering and adding to/changing and then I guess tackling promotional materials. Our last lab we do with 5th graders is a pig lung dissection which is apparently popular. We have help from UT for that, which is nice.

As we get more organized, I'm happy to help if you decide to try it out!

[laurenpetro]

between my complete lack of knowledge of anything scientific and being busy during the school day this is something I cannot fathom volunteering for.

is your staffing issue new or is it something that just popped up this year?

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 15:40:28 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

between my complete lack of knowledge of anything scientific and being busy during the school day this is something I cannot fathom volunteering for.

is your staffing issue new or is it something that just popped up this year?

My understanding is that it isn't new but it has been particularly difficult this year.

[laurenpetro]

Feb 11, 2016 16:10:04 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Feb 11, 2016 15:40:28 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

between my complete lack of knowledge of anything scientific and being busy during the school day this is something I cannot fathom volunteering for.

is your staffing issue new or is it something that just popped up this year?

My understanding is that it isn't new but it has been particularly difficult this year.

ps: I super love this idea and I think it's awesome that you guys do it. 

 I personally would produce a net negative effect for this so maybe that's part of people not signing up?  maybe you have a year of theatre-geek moms who are completely intimidated by science?    

[KateAggie]

The only way I would volunteer for this is if I knew a)that there would be someone in charge that I was helping at the actual lab, and b) that there would be clear instructions. Give me those 2 things, and I'd be totally in.

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 16:15:38 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

The only way I would volunteer for this is if I knew a)that there would be someone in charge that I was helping at the actual lab, and b) that there would be clear instructions. Give me those 2 things, and I'd be totally in.

Yeah I think we need to be very clear, so I am going to definitely retool how we tell people about it. I may make my marketing major cousin put together some fancy promotional materials to really sell it.

[bugandbibs]

Perhaps having sign-up by type:
Lab A: 2/11/2016
1.________________ (lab leader)
2.________________ (lab helper)
3.________________ (lab helper)

Have an optional open house night where people can look at the equipment and see the room. Maybe before/after back to school night or another early event in the school year and then another in the spring?

Videos online of people leading labs or online tutorials.
Online sign up sheets.
Note about it in the Principal newsletter or on school website.

[mslhb]

Are parents the only option for volunteers? My DD's elementary school is right next to a middle school so there are several programs that involve "MS Buddies". Or what about reaching our to a local community business to find people willing to volunteer. I an am engineer at a manufacturing plant. We volunteer for a reading program at a local elementary. Would love if they had a science program like this that we could help out with!

[specka]

Does your school require parent volunteers to have clearances? That's the reason I don't volunteer. It's about $75 for everything they need. That was the only thought I had that hasn't already been mentioned.

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 17:30:09 GMT -5 specka said:

Does your school require parent volunteers to have clearances? That's the reason I don't volunteer. It's about $75 for everything they need. That was the only thought I had that hasn't already been mentioned.

I don't think so. Or if we do, it doesn't cost. I know it lasts awhile, because I haven't had to do it this year. I'm not sure we require it for every volunteer. It may be for specific things. Anyway it didn't cost me anything when I did it, I don't think.

[lilibet]

I was thinking like pp, would you be able to ask non-parents from the community? It would also be a good way to show the kids what you can do with science in your life if you could get volunteers with jobs that include science (like maybe folks that work in a hospital or something).

Otherwise I like the idea of doing a video of the parents volunteering, show them what it's really like in there. Maybe also a newsletter/pamphlet type thing with photos of the labs with the volunteers and little snippets explaining what they do as the lead and the volunteers, maybe some quotes from the teachers about what it means to them and the students to have the volunteers, little "this was my experience" type stories from past volunteers, and maybe some little quotes from the kids about the volunteers (those could even be funny).

[eclaires]

Feb 11, 2016 20:16:06 GMT -5 lilibet said:

I was thinking like pp, would you be able to ask non-parents from the community? It would also be a good way to show the kids what you can do with science in your life if you could get volunteers with jobs that include science (like maybe folks that work in a hospital or something).

Otherwise I like the idea of doing a video of the parents volunteering, show them what it's really like in there. Maybe also a newsletter/pamphlet type thing with photos of the labs with the volunteers and little snippets explaining what they do as the lead and the volunteers, maybe some quotes from the teachers about what it means to them and the students to have the volunteers, little "this was my experience" type stories from past volunteers, and maybe some little quotes from the kids about the volunteers (those could even be funny).

I was talking to my H today and he is an engineer. He works for one of the national labs and said that they have community outreach and suggested that he look into that. I'm going to run it by the person I'm shadowing to make sure there aren't any rules against it and find out what we'd need to do. But I think it's something that maybe will help quite a bit!

[WOT?*]

Feb 11, 2016 18:22:28 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Feb 11, 2016 17:30:09 GMT -5 specka said:

Does your school require parent volunteers to have clearances? That's the reason I don't volunteer. It's about $75 for everything they need. That was the only thought I had that hasn't already been mentioned.

I don't think so. Or if we do, it doesn't cost. I know it lasts awhile, because I haven't had to do it this year. I'm not sure we require it for every volunteer. It may be for specific things. Anyway it didn't cost me anything when I did it, I don't think.

Our district requires clearances but they are free and take minutes online. I can't imagine a school charging $75 for parents to volunteer specka . That's crazy! Ours last three years.

We have quarterly science projects that sometimes the parents help set up (each class generally only needs one or a few to put together kits that are sent in and the teachers provide the lessons.) We also have a Science Day that is a blast to do. Maybe when you have your orientation, you can show some examples of the experiments and how simple they are. Ours have a number of programs that are operated by vendors with parent assistance (kids' museum, science center, Boeing, etc.) and others are done by parents (making goop and silly putty, floating coins, racing water up strings for the first graders. Candy experiments for fourth graders are a few examples.) If they can see how simple the lesson plans are (maybe post the lesson plans online so they can see them. To know something is to not be afraid of it.)

We post notices in our online e-mail and our Facebook page, and send papers home and sign-up geniuses via e-mail out to all parents to give them an opportunity to pick and choose the lessons they were comfortable working with.