Education Enhancements

 

Volunteer Opportunities in Education Enhancements
Contact Susie Vanlandingham sbvanham@yahoo.com or submit your information in the Volunteer section of PTO Manager www.ptomanager.com, if you want to be an Education Enhancements Volunteer.
 

  • Junior Achievement: (Grades K-5)  Teach students basic business and economic principles through the use of fun, interactive activities. Volunteer training (45 minutes) and materials are provided. Volunteer time commitment is only 30 minutes to 1 hour, once a week for six weeks in the Fall. This is a great way to get to know the kids in your child’s class.

 

  • Junior Great Books/Reading Clubs: (Grades K-5)  Lead a book club consisting of your child’s classmates and friends. The volunteer time commitment is 45 minutes to one hour, once a week. A Leader’s Guide is provided.  You can determine the group size (5 kids up to your child's entire class), the meeting time, and the curriculum.  Junior Great Books curricula are available in the school library - or you can form a Reading Club and create your own list of books to read and discuss.  What a great way to impact your child’s love of reading, increase vocabulary, and strengthen critical thinking skills!

 

  • Name That Book: (Grades K-5)  Coaches and assistants are needed for K-2nd and 3rd-5th grade teams. Children read all of the books from a HISD “Name That Book” list. A Parker team for each level (K-2nd and 3rd-5th) attends a competition against other HISD schools to correctly identify books based on clues such as quotes, objects, and sounds.  Volunteer time commitment is approximately 45 minutes per week October through February (March for 3rd-5th grade team).   Name that Book improves vocabulary, reading comprehension, and analytical thinking in a team environment.

 

  • Odyssey of the Mind: (Grades K-5)  Coaches are needed for K-2nd and 3rd-5th grade teams. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides long-term problem-solving opportunities for students. Kids brainstorm, build, revise, and perfect their solutions throughout the school year with hopes of advancing from regional to state tournaments and World Finals.  Children in grades K-2 participate in a Primary Problem that does not advance beyond the regional tournament.  Teams consist of no more than seven students.  Volunteer time commitment is approximately 1-2 hours per week.