University of Tasmania, Australia

The School of Education strongly encourages all pre-service teachers to maintain regular contact with schools.

For this reason, volunteering in an educational setting or classroom is highly recommended for all students, regardless of study mode or pattern of attendance. In addition, many units require students to have access to an educational setting, so being involved in an ongoing volunteering arrangement would be highly beneficial.

We suggest, where possible, that you approach a school or educational setting with which you have already had some contact (e.g., your child attends the school, it is in your local area). Contact the school Principal or other appropriate person and make a convenient time to meet. In the meeting you should use the points below to explain what volunteering involves, and if appropriate, negotiate a regular time commitment.

The nature of the volunteering experience should be negotiated with the appropriate person at the educational setting, and may involve some of the following:

• Work in the same classroom/educational setting each week.
• Work with a teacher who is able to utilise you in a productive way each week.
• Work with individual children/students, on activities appropriate to the age group and educational setting.
• Provide assistance for the classroom teacher in preparing learning centres, resources, displays, etc.
• Observe children/students closely to monitor their learning.
• Observe classroom interactions closely to better understand the dynamics of the educational setting.
• Develop positive relationships with children/students, staff and others in the educational community.

In addition, please observe the following:

• Make yourself aware of policies in the educational setting in regard to behaviour, bullying, dress/uniform, computer use, etc.
• Do not take legal responsibility for ‘teaching’ the children/students.
• Do not manage the behaviour of children/students. You can remind children/students of the rules/boundaries and alert the teacher.