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Tips for Organizing Volunteers in the Classroom

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Having classroom volunteers can be a life saver! But unfortunately, we have to be organized enough before they arrive to make it worth while. That can be a little tricky, but over the years I have found a system that I think really helps. Check out these super useful tips for organizing volunteers in the classroom!

Make the most of all the help you get and check out these super useful tips for organizing volunteers in the classroom!

Getting Organized for Volunteers in the Classroom

Volunteers can be a huge asset to your classroom, but sometimes it takes all you’ve got to plan for what you and your students are doing, let alone another adult! Even though someone is coming in to help you, it can feel hard to manage or come up with ideas for volunteers to help with (though we can definitely use the help)!

I finally have a system for myself now where I don’t feel like I am wondering, “What will they do?” Or frantically trying to find those copies I need while the volunteer (and my class!) are waiting on me.

Organizing Clerical Work

I’m so grateful for volunteers that help me with clerical work. You know, all of the tracing, cutting, gluing, coloring, laminating, sorting, etc. In the end it saves me so much time, but sometimes it leaves me feeling so unorganized.

I found that I was so busy teaching, that those projects would get stuck on a table and get buried under piles, or pieces would get lost. It wasn’t as helpful as it should have been.

Laminating and cutting are great jobs for volunteers in the classroom!

But, I now have a system for organizing clerical work for my volunteers in the classroom that has been so helpful! It seems so simple, but it really has made all the difference.

First, the “To-Do” bin. These are items that need to be taken care of. They stay in here until someone is able to start on them.  This is super helpful, because if a parent shoots me an email asking if there’s anything I can send with their child that they could work on at home, I already have a bin ready to go!

I separate my tasks for volunteers into 3 bins labeled "To do," "In progress," and "Completed."

Next, the “In Progress” bin.  I tried two bins at first (To-Do and Finished) – but quickly realized that some projects take longer than others. So I needed a place to store those projects that didn’t quite get finished. So now, anything that we are in the middle of or didn’t finish goes in the “In Progress” bin. 

Finally (my favorite bin), the “Completed” bin! This one is pretty self-explanatory. When my volunteers finish things out of the other bins, they get moved to this bin! Then I clean it out!   

When my volunteers finish things out of the other bins, they get moved to the "Completed" bin!

Organizing In Class Volunteers

I found a system for my clerical work but a bigger problem for me was organizing everything that my volunteers would do when they were in the classroom working with students.

I love having my volunteers work with small groups, and the kids get so excited to work with another grown up. But I did NOT want to be worrying on the day of about what they were going to do, or be spending time gathering the materials. So I developed the monthly “volunteer box” that literally has made my life so much easier!

I gather games, books, activities, etc. that relate to what we are learning and add them to a bin for volunteers to grab and go.

At the beginning of the month, I look at our big themes and topics, and I gather games, books, activities, etc. that relate to and enrich what we are learning in class. I make all the copies (or have them in my clerical bins for helpers to make!), clip them together, and add them to the volunteer bin!

Spending an hour at the beginning of my month getting this box ready (or less if you have some of the work in your clerical bin!) is SO worth it. Plus, it makes it so easy for my parent volunteers. They just grab and go!

Having folders or bins for volunteers to grab work from keeps things simple and organized.

The best part is, I know that I have planned out meaningful things for my students to do that relate to our learning! My Volunteer Box has been a lifesaver for me, my volunteers, and my students! 

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Alex
Alex
Founder at The Kindergarten Connection
Alex is a Kindergarten teacher with a passion for making learning fun and engaging. She's earned a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education, and Masters Degrees in Special Education and Curriculum Design. Alex is a night owl, coffee lover, and she owns more than 2,000 children’s books. Alex lives with her husband and their big black Labrador, Tank.
Alex
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Filed Under: Back to School, Organization, Teacher Life Tagged With: classroom, You Oughta Know Blog Hop

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ashley Arthur

    October 25, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    Thanks for the great tips! I nominated you for the Liebster award. Stop by my blog to learn more.

    Reply
    • Alex John

      October 26, 2014 at 3:42 am

      That is so sweet of you Ashley! I actually was nominated maybe a month ago and did my post already – but I'm heading to your blog to learn more about you! Isn't the Liebster award fun??

      Reply
  2. Debbie Crockett

    October 25, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    These are perfect! Thank you for sharing your organization secrets!
    Debbie
    Crockett's Classroom . . . Forever in Third Grade

    Reply
    • Alex John

      October 26, 2014 at 3:43 am

      I am glad these tips were helpful Debbie! I know getting organized is a struggle for me often so anytime I make progress in that area it is a victory to me! 🙂

      Reply
  3. A LoveLi Class

    October 25, 2014 at 8:54 pm

    Hi Alex! I agree, Parent Volunteers are the best. When I first started teaching, I will admit, I was so disorganized with work I wanted to have parent volunteers do. I was able to create a similar system with my parent volunteers 2 years ago and it has helped tremendously!

    A LoveLi Class

    Reply
    • Alex John

      October 26, 2014 at 3:44 am

      I am so glad you have a system that works in your room too! Doesn't it feel great to have it organized and not have to stress out over volunteers? I love it!

      Reply
  4. Mrs. McClain

    October 26, 2014 at 3:59 am

    Alex, thank you for sharing this idea! Unfortunately, my school/classroom doesn't have parent volunteers BUT I love the way that you have kept things so organized!

    Jasmine
    Buzzing With Mrs. McClain

    Reply
    • Alex John

      October 26, 2014 at 4:17 am

      Thanks Jasmine! Bummer that you don't have parent volunteers though. Thanks for hosting this blog hop – I love it!

      Reply
  5. Lawren Christianson

    October 26, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    Alex, Parent Volunteers are the best!! I love all your organization tips. We can't have volunteers in our classes, but I love sending bags home so parents can be involved. 🙂

    Reply

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