Laurie Berkner's Tips for Making Your School Rock!
The kids are headed back to school! You've bought school supplies. Check! Packed lunch they've actually agreed to eat. Check! Got them new haircuts that won't totally embarrass them. Check! You've finally finished everything on your back-to-school to-do list. But if you really want to support your kid's education, there's a lot more school work you can do. We checked in with musical mom Laurie Berkner, who shared some rockin' ways she volunteers at her daughter's school, and some easy tips for how you can get involved too!
- Become a class parent!
"I was a class parent in my daughter's class last year," says Laurie. "And I'll volunteer to do it again." As a class parent, you might help collect money for supplies and teacher gifts, organize parent volunteers and help the teacher pass out class info. Yes, you are the designated organizer, but it's also a great way to get to know other parents and be a cheerleader for your kid's class!
- Help Your School Go Green!
Laurie joined the Green Action Group at her daughter's school. If your school has a green committee, join and help make your school more environmentally friendly. If not, start your own "go green" group to teach your kids to care not just for their school, but for the planet. And check out Laurie's "One Seed" video that's all about passing down an environmental message to your kids!
- Support the arts!
As a mom, musician and former music teacher, Laurie says the arts are fun and fundamental to a kid's education. "If you make music fun and integrate it into everyday life as often as possible, kids will associate music with joy and will naturally be interested," she says. "Sharing in the pleasure of music with your kids will help them to associate it with the love they feel for and from you. To me, there is no better association than that for a child."
- Share your talents!
Okay, we all can't be Laurie Berkner—she's performing a benefit concert for her daughter's school! But, remember, we all have special talents and skills. Share what you know, and not only will it help out your school, but it will probably make your kid super proud of his awesome school mom.
- Don't have time to volunteer?
An easy way to support your school is to collect "Box Tops for Education". Just clip Box Top logos from your favorite products, and send them in to earn money for your school.
Submit!
