Volunteering Inside, Outside All Around the Classroom
Whether you’re a high-school student looking for a way to meet community service course requirements, a parent or grandparent with a little extra time, or just someone looking for a way to lend a helping hand, local schools are great places to start. Here are a few ideas to help Create the Good in your community and make a difference for generations to come.
Get them there safely.
The National Center for Safe Routes to School program supports efforts by parents, schools, community leaders and local, state, and federal governments to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school. There are resources available to help get local law enforcement involved in your plan, as well as information you can share with teachers and school administrators to help get everyone on the same page. Rather than implementing a program, or if one is already in place, you can simply sign up to help as a bus assistant or crossing guard. Morning or afternoon shifts give you volunteer flexibility. Sign up for one, or both. Just, contact your local school district for details and security protocols. When interacting with children, a background check will likely be required.
Share your wisdom.
Talk to you local school to find out how you can get involved in their Parent-Teacher Organization. You can support financially, actively as a volunteer, or simply by being present for meetings and sharing your ideas. A PTA, or Parent Teacher Association, takes an active role in developing programs at the district, state and even national level, while a PTO, or Parent-Teacher Organization, is independent and typically does not pay dues to a national organization. Regardless of the entity supported by your school, you can find a role assisting teachers and supporting initiatives such as field trips, fundraisers, health fairs, or other school events.
Report to the classroom.
Want to help out inside the classroom, or on your local school grounds? Reach out directly to your local school for opportunities, and check out these tips to give you a head start. As a member of the Citizen Teacher program, you can help turn kids into young scientists, architects, lawyers and business owners. Interested in school nutrition? You can join over 120,000 volunteers and constituents committed to combatting childhood obesity, undernourishment and physical inactivity.
Stay after school.
Volunteer demand for extracurricular activities is rising as school budgets tighten and funding declines. You can make a difference as a volunteer at your local school, in your community or even in your home. As a Reading Partner, you can become one of thousands of volunteers who help students learn specific skills necessary to become proficient readers. Interested in mentoring the next generation of workers? Mentor college students and help them achieve their academic and career goals. Have a musical background? Check out the MusicLink Foundation, who offers reduced-cost lessons to low-income families across the country. And if you’re of the artistic mind, you can find resources and tools, including free art lessons to help tutor the next generation of talent.
Find more ways to volunteer in your educational community with this search. Try keywords “education,” “school” and “tutor.”
