How to Become a Room Mom

The classroom mom is usually the person who plans class parties, aids teachers, assists during class instruction, gives out student gifts and helps supervise children on field trips. Some classroom teachers require a lot of involvement from their room mom while others prefer a "hands-off approach." If you have great social skills with children and teachers, can organize and plan well, and have a flexible schedule, you have the necessary requirements to become a room mom. This is not an opportunity for you to "cozy up" to the teacher and expect impromptu parent/teacher conferences.

Instructions

1. Approach the teacher about becoming the room mom for the class. Ask early because there may be many people requesting to do it. A good time to ask is immediately after you find out who your child's teacher is going to be. This is usually done at back-to-school night.

2. Direct a request to the school principal to become the room mom. Put it in writing and give it directly to the principal. Ask the principal to give it to the teacher once it is determined who the child's teacher will be.

3. Determine how much volunteer time is required from the classroom teacher to be the room mom for her class. Be sure that you have ample time in your schedule to devote to becoming a flexible and successful classroom mom.

4. Schedule frequent meetings (if it's okay with the teacher) and communications with your classroom teacher. This can done in face-to-face meetings, emails, phone calls and notes sent to the school by your child. Keep a clean line of communication with your teacher in whatever method works best for the both of you. This ensures that you both will avoid any problems or issues that may arise concerning classroom party issues.

Tips & Warnings

• Send a thank-you note to the teacher at the end of the year thanking him or her for allowing you to be room mom.

Resources

• Reasontoparty.com offers tips and craft ideas for room moms.
• RoomMom.itgo.com is a website just for room mothers.