Getting More Parent Participation
We all want more parent participation. It’s going to look different depending on where you teach. You can change the culture, but it will take time. There’s no magic fix. It’s a process. If you’re new to a program, give it some time.
At the start of the year, I send out a form. You can also create a google form to use. It includes a band pledge. Students promise to practice regularly, to come to concerts, to give their best in class every day. The form includes a check box area for parents.
Here’s a sample…
Parents, we need and want your help. Please place a checkmark next to ways you might be able to help out…
Help set-up for concerts
Chaperone band trips
Bringing Baked Goods
Organizing others to bring baked goods
Supply a case of water or snacks for marching band
Filing music
Towing the marching trailer
Other _______________________________
I always leave a section for “other”. Sometimes you may get a parent who has a master’s degree in euphonium performance and they want to help out in sectionals. In my experience, most parents are willing to bring baked goods/snacks, but many of them are too busy to do anything else. You’re building relationships. That takes time. It’s the same thing with getting parents to participate.
It’s ok to let things go for a while. For example, a parent said to me, “It would be great for the marching band if we had water and snacks for the students at halftime.” I told her it was a great idea, but also said I didn’t have the time to organize that. I asked if she was willing to organize it. She jumped right on it. She called parents. We had to set aside part of a practice room for snacks and water. We had enough for the entire season for 60+ students. That worked well for several years. When her child graduated, I could not get anyone else on board to organize that. I let it go.
Don’t assume that parents are receiving your emails. I don’t know if it’s communication overload (be careful about contributing to that), but many parents tell me they don’t see my emails. If you don’t hear back from a mass email, don’t be surprised. It can be tempting to think “nobody cares; I can’t get parental involvement.” Try sending single emails. Instead of a mass email, “Is there anyone who can do _________,” try “Good Morning Mrs. Smith. I’m looking for someone to do _____________. Are you possibly available?” I get 100 emails a day. Maybe five of them are ones that I want to keep. Everybody is inundated with emails, inundated with Facebook messages, inundated with all kinds of notifications. Sometimes it might be best to pick up the phone. Parents want to be involved. Many are just very busy in their own lives.
James is the author of Almost Everything I’ve Learned About Teaching Band. He has served private, suburban, and Title 1 schools and now teaches at a charter school. Find out more about James at www.jamesdivine.net Subscribe to his podcast Almost Everything I’ve Learned About Teaching Band.