X Y Z H I G H 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4

1Michigan Department of Education (2002, March). What research says about parent involvement in children's education. Retrieved December 5, 2013, from http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Final_Parent_Involvement_Fact_Sheet_14732_7.pdf2Hardin, C. (2008). Effective classroom management: Models and strategies for today’s classrooms (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Why should I volunteer?

When parents come to school regularly, it reinforces the view in the child's mind that school and home are connected and that school is an integral part of the whole family's life

Family participation in education was twice as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status. Some of the more intensive programs had effects that were 10 times greater than other factors1

I need your help!

What does the role of volunteer look like at the high school level for a chemistry class?

It can look like a variety of different things! In the past we have had volunteers:

help out at the annual science fair

support after-school study sessions by providing snacks

offer to come in and share about careers or hobbies that they have that involve chemistry

host tours of their workplaces that we have been able to connect to the chemistry curriculum

and more!

I can work with you to identify the volunteer role that works best

for you!

What is expected of me if I choose to volunteer?

The district has specific guidelines outlined in the Volunteer Handbook that I will provide you with (there is also a link to the document on the volunteer website www.captivatingchemistry.weebly.com).

In addition to these expectations I ask that you bring a positive, supportive attitude to the experience.

My goal is that you enjoy your volunteer experience! By matching your strengths and availability to our needs we hope that you walk away knowing that the work you are doing is hugely benefitting the students.

What are the classroom behavior standards? Will I be expected to discipline students?

The classroom management philosophy of our classroom is similar to the Disciple with Dignity approach of Curwin and Mendler2. The primary components of this approach are that everyone is treated with dignity and the majority of problems are preventable when individuals’ needs are being met. When problems do arise students use their own problem solving skills to resolve the issue.

As I will be available at all times while you are volunteering, you will not be expected to discipline students. You can, as you feel comfortable, support students through the problem solving process by helping them identify the problem, helping them come up with a list of possible solutions, and sharing with them how you have solved similar problems in the past if applicable.

Classroom Behavior Standards and Expectations for Volunteers

Volunteers help out at the Science Fair Photo credit: http://ucdmcip.blogspot.com/2012/02/get-out-of-lab-volunteer-at-your-local.html

Volunteer set up a tour of ABC Chemical for our class Photo credit: http://neutrons.ornl.gov/education/news-archive.shtml