emergency, ect. The teachers may start to depend on you the same way an employer would.

What other things can I do to volunteer?

For a lot of people, a steady schedule of volunteering may not be feasible. But there are many other ways you can assist the educational system. A few areas might be:

1) Fieldtrip Supervisor This is a fun and easy way to volunteer. When a class takes a fieldtrip they need adults to oversee the students. A volunteer would ride on the bus with the class, make sure none of the students wander away from the group, and answer student questions about things they have sees or did. It is fun, enjoyable, and does not take a lot of time away from your schedule.

2) Tutoring Students get better grades, understand more of their lessons, and are less frustrated if they can ask an adult about their homework or class work. Becoming an occasional tutor is a great way to see what the students are doing. Ask the school staff or your child's teacher if there are any children who are struggling or have not turned in their homework for a long time. Even an hour a day before, during, or after school will make a large and noticeable difference.

3) Translator If you speak any other language than English you can be a huge help to your local school. Many schools need people to translate letters and permission slips into other languages so the student's parents can stay informed and active in their child's education. You may also want to help ESL students. ESL stands for English as a Second Language and there is a high population of these students in schools today. It is hard for many students to understand the directions on their homework or ask for simple things like a drink because they do not speak English. A patient volunteer could help these students toward success.

4) Paper Grader Teachers have thousands of papers to grade each month. Oftentimes, classroom teachers take the papers home and work on them until ten or eleven at night so they will be ready for the students the following day. The teachers also have to find the time to give feedback and add the grades to the grade book. By taking a few hours every month and offering to grade papers you will make a large impact on the quality of education. The teacher will be able to plan better lessons and activities, catch up on other paperwork, or help students who are falling behind. It is also very important to help new teachers with this task since most of them become overwhelmed during their first couple of years and quit the teaching profession.

Moving into an Assistant career?

If you find that you like the work and would like to become an employee of the school, ask them what the state requirements are to become a Para Educator. Para Educators are teaching assistance. Most states require a small test, or perhaps a short seminar, to receive a certification. If you are looking into becoming a professional in the area of teaching assistance some states offer Associates Degrees in Para Education.

Any way you choose to do it, volunteering is a great idea. You are helping to fill the gaps and reduce the frustration. Many teachers can't find the time to be one-on-one with students who need extra help or attention. You can take on this roll and give students a better chance of success.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Perryman.
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