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(MY E-MAIL FOR SHARING YOUR IDEAS: stormie@preschoolbystormie.com)

Photographer: If you're someone who likes to post photographs of the children doing various activities on your parent bulletin board, why not invite parents to volunteer to come spend a day in the classroom taking pictures at random with the classroom camera?

Snack Parent: When I worked at the United Methodist Church Preschool of Cocoa Beach, Florida, the director had us hang a calendar in our room where parents could sign up for a day of the month in which to bring a snack if they wanted to do so.  This was so nice for those parents who, because of their work schedules, couldn't be involved in other ways.  (The school provided the drinks, cups, and napkins).

Teacher's Helper: Post a request for one or more parents, grandparents, or even older siblings to assist with things like cutting out magazine pictures or patterns, making playdoh, making games, etc.

Classroom Parent: Post a request for one or more volunteers to be the "Classroom Parent" (or grandparent).  They would be responsible for organizing snacks, etc, for classroom parties -- similar to a Homeroom Mom in the older grades.  One year, when I did this, I had the most wonderful grandmother who was also my "Teacher's Helper" (see above).  She had lots of time on her hands and was so willing to assist.

Pack Ratting: I'm always amazed at how willing parents and grandparents are to save/collect "junk" that can be used in the classroom.  Below is a note I like to send home at the beginning of the year and a list of items.

Parents, please be "Pack Rats" for us!  Before you throw ANYTHING away, ask us if we can use it--you'd really be surprised at what we can do with your "junk."  For starters, any of the following items would be appreciated:

From MJ, in Texas:
Do everything short of begging and pleading to get parents into your room.  During community helpers week, have parents come and tell what they do.  I personally think parents need to see what goes on in our day first hand.  We had a "teacher appreciation" luncheon and moms came in and watched our class while we went to the sanctuary to eat.  One mom stood in our room for a good 10 minutes with her mouth open just watching us teachers run around the room from table to table (our ratio was 24/2 spread among 3 tables).  She later had a new appreciation for what we do.

From someone who signed her e-mail "Teacher With Help":
I'm a Head Start teacher and I can say I don't know what we did right but we've had a great deal of parent participation in our classroom.  Here are a few things we've done:
*We encourage parents to come in and help with our first meeting
*We encourage parents to come in and help with our newsletters
*For field trips, we let parents know it's ok to send a grandparent or other person in their place if they have to work.
*We have parents come in and just "play" with us
*We let parents know how the children enjoy their visits with us

From Kathy Schrader:
Classroom Parties and Stories: I have always involved the parents in planning and helping with holiday parties.  They get together after they drop off the children for preschool and then plan what they are going to have for a snack, a craft and a few games.  But I always am available for suggestions and materials.  We are one of the few preschools that do this and the parents love it.  But my favorite "parent involvement" activity is having a parent (or grandparent, sibling, babysitter, etc.) come to read their child's favorite book to the class on the child's pre-assigned snack day.  I do this starting in January (rather than when school first starts), so there is no seperation anxiety! When the adult comes to read, the child can sit beside him/her and help "read" the story.  All of the children enjoy this activity. If a person from the family is unavailable, the child brings their favorite book and I read it to the class while the child sits by and "assists" me.
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Reminder from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards."  Click here to check them out.