A resident of Brooklyn, Connecticut, Paul Camara has hobbies and interests that include skiing, biking, and watching his children participate in sports, among others. Outside of these activities, Paul Camara also enjoys volunteering at his children’s school.
Volunteering at your child’s school has a number of impacts on the child, you, and the school. Children spend a lot of time at school outside of the holiday breaks, a minimum of six hours.
Spending time in a child’s classroom presents parents with the opportunity to get a glimpse of the child’s world away from home. This is the chance for parents to learn about the children and teachers their child encounters during the academic day. More significantly, this is the opportunity for parents to get information regarding the curriculum and particular skills the child might be learning.
For children, a parent’s presence in the classroom can do wonders for the child’s behavior and academic achievement. A 2005 California State University study showed a connection between parental involvement and student achievement in urban schools. In terms of behavior, children become well-behaved students when in the presence of their parents. During parent storytime, for example, children who normally fidget during storytime become models of etiquette while their parent reads to the class.
For the school, a parent volunteer in the classroom lowers the adult-to-student ratio. This can be very helpful during hands-on lessons in the classroom. In addition, it also helps staff who always need assistance with planning for upcoming events, administrative work, and grading exams.
Paul Camara 