Room Mom Survival Guide & School Party Ideas

Class Parents
Room Mom)
Survival Guide
& School Party Ideas
A FREE VolunteerSpot eBook
 Tips for class parents
 Room parent letters
 Teacher checklist
 Classroom party ideas
 Class party Sign-up
 Class party games
Inside this eBook:

© 2014, VolunteerSpot, Inc.
Copyright holder is licensing this under the Creative Commons License, Attribution 2.5.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/
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VolunteerSpot for
Room Parents
We know the most time-
consuming part of being a
room parent is coordinating
class volunteers and
organizing parties and
conferences. It’s our goal at
VolunteerSpot to save you
time {and sanity} and make
it easy for you to get the
help you deserve this
coming school year!
Please check out our FREE
online signup sheets and
volunteer calendars.
Simple signups (even on-
the-go from smartphones)
make it easy for more
parents to get involved!
Take a live demo or tour
today at
www.VolunteerSpot.com

What I love about being a Room Mom . . .
“I get to develop a personal relationship with the
teacher and I get a window on my child’s daily
world at school.”
~ Cindy Hopper, Crafty mom of 3
http://www.skiptomylou.org
“I was able to get to know all the children and
they became so comfortable with me that they
would run and hug me as soon as I walked
through the door!”
~ Andrea Fellman, Volunteer addict & Mom of 2
http://savvysassymoms.com
“Getting to know my child's teacher,
classmates, and class parents while using my
creative party planning juices to make the
class events fun and memorable."
~ Jenna Dunlop, Teacher & Room Mom of 6 years, Mom of 2
http://www.simplefunkidparties.com/roommomcorner

Class Parents are Awesome!
Congratulations on becoming a leader and stepping forward in your
child’s class! Whatever you’re called ‐ a room mom, class parent, room
parent ‐ we know you are AWESOME! You’re the critical liaison between
the teacher and fellow parents. Responsibilities vary from collecting
money and classroom supplies, to recruiting parent volunteers and
coordinating classroom parties. Class parents build relationships with
teachers, connect with their children and build life‐long relationships
with other families.
This e‐book includes ideas on how to
organize, delegate and communicate
with parents and teachers. We also
provide tips for using VolunteerSpot’s
free online tool to quickly and easily
organize your classroom parent
volunteers.

 Ongoing parent support needs: e.g.
table‐time helpers, readers, science lab &
materials prep, recess supervisors
 Special dates and support needs: e.g.
career day, open‐house, field day,
celebrations, field trips
 Teacher contact info:  How (s)he prefers
to be contacted by you & by the other
parents
 Teacher “favorites,” a parent’s gift
guide: favorite meal,  restaurant, store,
treat, charity, candy, sports team, etc
 Party dates and plans
 How many?
 Who plans (teacher or parents)?
 Food requirements (healthy or
sweets)
 Allergy considerations
 Timing and activities/games/crafts
 Special ‘treat’ days &
recognition parties
 School communication
& volunteer policies
Kickoff Teacher Meeting
Meet with the teacher near the start of school to clarify needs and expectations for
parent support.  Bring this checklist to make the most of your time together.
Class Parent Room Mom Survival Guide / www.VolunteeSpot.com DOING GOOD just got easier!

Parent Communication Tips
Get support by asking parents to sign up to help at the
start of the year for activities throughout the year.
Offer options so working parents or those with young
children can pitch in from home (e.g. sending snacks or
treats, preparing and purchasing supplies).
Welcome parents with a letter including your contact
information, important dates, and instructions about
how to sign up to help. See examples on
RoomMomSpot.com
Delegate! Be specific about what jobs need doing and
when, and invite other parents to participate in
organizing parties and activities.
Be professional and cautious to NEVER release contact
information without permission or share sensitive
information you may be privy to as a room parent.
Organization Tip: Create a group contact list on your
mobile device for class party or field trip helpers using
an app like Remind.
Class Parent Room Mom Survival Guide / www.VolunteerSpot.com DOING GOOD just got easier!

VolunteerSpot’s free, online sign up sheets makes it easy to get the help you need for
ongoing activities and one‐time classroom events.
Save Time!
Coordinate Parents Online with VolunteerSpot!
"Volunteering in my son's
kindergarten class every
week, I grew an
appreciation for exactly
how hard the students,
teachers, and hand
sanitizer had to work to
accomplish their goals.”
 ~Ann Imig,
Stay‐at‐home Humorist
www.annsrants.com

What I wish every Room Parent knew:
• Don't play with the kids; I know they're
cute, but this is school!
• You are welcome to enforce the
classroom rules and please ask if you
don’t know what they are ‐‐ you are not
stepping on my toes.
• I'd love a Room Dad or Grandpa, as so
many children don't have a male role
model in their lives.
• How very valuable you are, and what a
great role model you are for the children!
OrderLunches.com
gives your school
the control and
flexibility to create
or maintain a high
quality lunch
program, available
to parents 24/7.
Teacher Love
www.orderlunches.com

Ask class parents to save reusables for class art projects:
 Paper tubes
 Egg cartons
 Wrapping paper
Room Mom as Art Mom
In pre‐school and early grades, the Room Mom is often an Art Mom – preparing
supplies, helping with projects, and packaging masterpieces to take home.
 Fabric and felt scraps
 Colorful wire
 Beads and buttons
 Milk cartons (rinsed)
 Catalogs and magazines
 Frozen juice containers
Volunteer Tip:
Prepping art kits for class projects is a good job for
extra busy or working parents who can’t help in the
classroom. With a little planning, parents can
volunteer from home and involve their kids in
helping out too!
Room Mom Survival Guide / www.VolunteerSpot.com DOING GOOD just got easier!

Classroom Organizational Tips
from Mabel’s Labels
Helping kids stay organized in the classroom means teachers
can stay on task leading learning.
When everyone has a full set of school supplies, they are less
likely to get lost when borrowed or shared. Label school
supplies so kids can get straight to work instead of searching
for missing items.
Crayons Glue Markers Scissors
Help kids return from school with the stuff they bring to
school. Encourage class parents to clearly label:
Clothing (especially outerwear like coats & mittens)
Backpacks (Just inside the top zipper is a great place so they
can easily be identified without letting strangers know your
child’s name.)
Lunch Containers can easily get lost, but have no fear, you
can use labels that are dishwasher safe so you don’t end up
with a sticky mess when you wash them!
www.mabel.ca

The School Auction
Room parents often organize class contribution to
the school auction. Here are some popular
options:
A Unique Class Creation
A collective craft designed by all the kids, e.g.: a quilt, a
bookcase with all the students’ handprints or a canvas
picture made from the kids’ thumb prints.
A Themed Basket
Each parent donates one small item to the class basket.
Fun themes include board games, birthday parties,
kitchen, crafts, spa, kid’s books, parent’s night out, etc.
Craft Items
Children make an individual item
to auction (to their parents), e.g.:
painted mugs, decorated greeting
card sets or a framed self‐portrait
Fundraising Tip from our
sponsor:
Online Auctions are a
PROFITABLE and FUN
way to improve your
fundraising efforts.
Raise More Money
and enhance your next
fundraising event.
www.biddingforgood.com

Class Party Planning
Enjoy the following fun class
party craft ideas by
www.makeandtakes.com
Memorable class parties share similar key ingredients:
 Simple decorations
 Fun music
 Craft activity
 Story
 Game
 Snack or treat
Make and Takes gives you ideas and crafty tidbits for
class and home. They aim to bring fun and learning into
your classroom or just about anywhere. We are sure
you’ll find something to Make and Take today!

Crunchy Leaf Pictures
• Collect dried leaves, crunch the leaves. On heavy
cardstock paper add white craft glue (form a design or image),
sprinkle the crunched up leaves on the glue,
shake off the excess leaves and allow dry time.
• For Older Kids: Crunch the leaves finely to create
intricate designs ‐ spell out fall themed words or
their names.
Fall Party Ideas
Apple Prints
• Have a few colors of paint poured out onto a paper plate. Cut
the apples in half (vertically or horizontally will make a fun
print) Dip the exposed apple halves onto the paint. press the
the apple onto paper. You will see the fun shape that comes to
life from the pressed apple.
• For Older Kids: Let each apple print dry and turn them into
greeting cards. They can be given to friends or their teacher.
Find more fun craft ideas at

Snowball Obstacle Course
• Take a spoon or toothpick of “snow” (marshmallows or
cotton balls) through an obstacle course around the room
and try not to drop the snowball. Make it through to add the
item into a bucket, Santa hat, snow boot, etc. Team up or
take turns.
• For Older Kids: Make it challenging, extend the distance, add
obstacles, or have them hold their "snow" in on their head.
Winter Party Ideas
Chocolate Dipped Spoons
• Melt chocolate (careful to avoid burns), dip a plastic spoon
into chocolate and place on a paper plate to decorate. Line up
mini marshmallows for a snowman, mini chocolate chips for
eyes, coconut for a scarf, crushed peppermint for snow or dip
in peanut butter for decor and flavor. Once it is close to being
firm, place plastic wrap over the spoon and tie with a bow.
It’s now ready to stir up some hot chocolate!

Flower Frisbee Toss:
• Cut paper or foam petals about 3‐5
inches round, use hot glue or glue
dots to place the petals on the outer
edge of a frisbee to form a flower.
Let the glue set before tossing
around for fun.
• For Older Kids: toss the flowers in a
pot or bucket to see if they can
"plant" their flower.
Spring Party Ideas
Ladybug Cupcakes:
• Make cupcakes for each child. Let them
decorate their cupcakes to look like
ladybugs. Frost, add red licorice for the
edges of two wings & antennae, place
chocolate candy for spots, two
gumdrops for eyes and enjoy!

Decorate Sunflower Cookies
• Bake or buy sugar cookies beforehand. The kids can frost
them with yellow or white frosting, add chocolate chips
or chocolate candy to the center of the cookie to make a
sunflower. Eat and enjoy!
• For Older Kids: Bring different colors of frosting so they
can make different types of flowers.
Bubble Blowers
• Use an empty paper towel roll to place a small 3x3 inch
paper towel piece over one end with a rubber band to
keep in place. Have the children dip the paper towel side
into some bubbles, lift out and blow. This makes fun
bubble shapes and snakes.
• For Older Kids: Create all kinds of shapes from items
around the classroom for added bubble fun.
Party Ideas: Year End

 Siblings: Ask the teacher before inviting
 Craft Projects: Ensure the craft parent
volunteer has EVERYTHING needed – e.g.
a trash bag for clean up. Don’t assume the
teacher will provide all items.
 Kids under 10: Divide them into small
groups, rotate them through activity
“stations” (10‐15 min each) and have at
least one parent per station.
Successful Class Party Tips
 Decorations: A colorful tablecloth adds festivity
and plastic ones are inexpensive. Balloons,
streamers, and curled ribbon also go a long way
to transforming a classroom into a party room.
 Memories: Pick a volunteer to take photos or
videos of the party and share with the parents
who could not come.
 Remember: Relax and have fun! The
elementary years go by quickly. Celebrate these
moments with your children.
 Prizes: Hand out pencils
or other school supplies
as favors.
 Snacks: Plan extras
for the teacher, staff
and parent helpers.
 Wagon: Hands‐down
the best way to tote
party supplies to/
from the classroom
Find these ideas and more
great birthday,
classroom and
fun party ideas at
SimpleFunKidParties
http://www.simplefunkidparties.com

Class Party Sign‐Up Example
“Do not be shy about giving
parents specific jobs or
asking them to bring party
supplies and treats. Most
are relieved you’ve made it
so easy to help and asking
with VolunteerSpot’s sign‐
up sheets makes it extra
easy!”
~Lori R
Room Parent & Mom of 2
Roswell, GA

Helping parents, teachers and volunteer leaders coordinate
activities and events simply and easily all year round!
• Soccer Snacks
• Scout Campouts
• Walk‐a‐Thons & Fun Runs
• Swim Meets
• Sports Tournaments
• Vacation Bible School
• Girl Scout Cookie Booths
• Neighborhood Cleanups
• Coat, food and toy drives
and more . . .
Simplify ALL Parent Volunteering

Click here for Sample Class Parent Letters:
vols.pt/back‐to‐school
See our other free eBooks with ideas and
best‐practices for:
• School Carnivals
• Teacher Gifts
• Family‐Friendly Volunteering
• Fundraising with Kids
• Bake Sales
• Talent Shows
and more . . .
www.VolunteerSpot.com/ebooks
Additional Resources

www.Pinterest.com/VolunteerSpot
Room Mom Ideas on Pinterest

Start planning now!
www.VolunteerSpot.com/Room‐Parent
Take a live or video tour at
www.VolunteerSpot.com
Check out our BLOG for ideas,
tips and stories about
volunteering
http://RoomMomSpot.com
Follow us on Twitter
@VolunteerSpot
Like us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/VolunteerSpot

Room Mom Survival Guide & School Party Ideas

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