Meeting with the teacher

Every teacher has their own preferences as to how they wish to organize their classroom. Above all else, as a room parent, working with the teacher will have the most benefit for your children. Here's a list of questions to ask the teacher before you start planning the parties.

(Thanks to everything elementary.com for the list!)

PARTIES:
Can you provide a classroom list so that all children can be acknowledged? (Important for planning party favors, food & craft planning, and number of helpers to recruit.)
Do you have a listing of the parents along with phone numbers/email addresses?
Do any of the children have food allergies or other special needs?
How do you prefer to be contacted with questions…email, phone, note, in person during lunch or recess?
Do you have any preferences for the party in terms of structure? For example, some teachers prefer to have one game, one craft, a snack and a book, while others give the room parents free reign.
Would you prefer that we feed the children at the beginning of the party, or the end?
Do you have a schedule of parties/dates for the year in which you will involve parents and/or need assistance?
Don't panic at the length of this list – most classrooms have an average of 5 parties per year
What are your thoughts on having pre-school siblings attend the parties?
Is it okay to set up the room before the parties begin?
Can we rearrange tables and chairs for the parties?
What is the time frame for each party?
Are there any school policies we should be aware of in our planning?
Is there any PTC/PTO money available for the parties, or should each family donate money or "goods"?
Are there any families with financial needs to consider?
Do you have a schedule of field trips for the year, and the number of parent helpers you will need for each?
What other "projects" will you have for parents to help with? (Cutting, special projects, making copies, organizing book orders, helping with centers in the classroom, compiling a classroom/individual photo albums, cooking days, etc.)