Monday Made It- Volunteer Binder


 
I finally made it! I am joining Tara's Monday Made It today. I have lots of ideas floating in my head and finally I can check off an item on my to do list. I revamped my Dividend (Parent Helpers/Volunteers) Binder. Here is a picture of my original. It's hard to see the faded line up of turtles- my classroom theme from over 3 years ago.
 
Totally needed some help here!!
At the beginning of the year, I recruit parent helpers. The week before they are allowed to come, I schedule a Dividend Meeting with them. (Dividend is the term my county uses to describe a volunteer in the classroom.) Typically I schedule one meeting in the morning and one in the afternoon, so that my volunteers can choose which is most convenient for them. At the meeting, I go over my expectations, procedures, supplies, and ideas of helping children. This is also a time for my new dividends to ask questions and get an idea of what they will be doing in the classroom. It also gives me an idea of what a volunteer is comfortable in doing.
 
I keep the binder in a bucket at a parent table in my classroom. The bucket usually contains ziplock bags with templates and instructions to help prepare projects, a tying shoe book so students can practice tying, tutorial games to play with individuals, and predictable readers with directions to support beginning readers. The binder is set up with a weekly schedule at the beginning. Following are pages of tips and procedures to help volunteers remember what to do. There is a section for each day, so that my dividends can flip to that day and read my notes.
 
 


Here is an example of notes I write to a dividend.


It is nice to have this binder, as it helps me build routine with my dividends and they can come into the classroom with little interruption. I also love it for when I am absent. My dividends know what to do and need little assistance.
 
Here are some pics of my new Dividend Binder.
 
This is the new cover.




 
 
On a different note, I am trying to figure out what type of plant this is that we bought yesterday. Any ideas? My husband thinks hibiscus, which at first I did not think so because of the way the blooms hung down like bells.
 

 
Here is a worthwhile donation drive created by Lisa at Learning is Something to Treasure. Tears at my heart strings...
 


5 comments

  1. WOW! That is amazing that you have that many volunteers come in! I have to beg! Great job!

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  2. Oh my gosh- I love this! This past year I had so many parents sign up to volunteer but I just didn't know what to do with them! I was in a new grade, at a new school and didn't know how they could help me out. This is fantastic! Thank you so much!

    :)
    Christina
    *Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge*

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  3. I love your organization with your volunteer binder! That's a great idea, I think I might have to try it out this next year, thanks for sharing!

    Today's my last day for my blogiversary giveaway, come by and check it out!

    Cyndi
    Lacy's Letters

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the look of your site!! I can not wait to explore it more. I am your newest follower.

    Katie
    A Basket Full of Apples

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