My Tip of the Week: 3 Fun Ideas for PTOs and PTAs
No real theme this week -- I just thought I'd highlight three of my favorite crazy ideas from PTOs. Fun is good. Can you make one of these work for your group?
No r
real
real theme this week -- I just thought I'd highlight three of my favorite crazy ideas from PTOs. Fun is good. Can you make one of these work for your group?
Flock 'em
Go out in the dead of night and surprise someone by putting a whole flock of pink flamingos on the lawn. This one can work as a fundraiser (pay to have them removed), but I like it as a fun-raiser. An old toilet that someone is getting rid of in a remodel also works.
Teacher profile in your newsletter
Who said that your newsletter had to be only updates and calendars? Think like a magazine editor. Make it fun. One great tradition -- a profile of one teacher each newsletter. If you do this, definitely go for fun over facts with questions like: Favorite TV show? One hobby all your students would be surprised you have? Favorite ice-cream flavor? Those are what spark interest.
Principal on a roof
Or principal in a Chewbacca suit. Or principal in a...you get the idea. This is one of the best incentives out there and has the added bonus of really adding spirit and fun to your school. If your principal is game for some craziness, take full advantage. And this doesn't just have to be a fundraising goal. What if your students read for 1 million minutes? Or collect more than 5,000 pounds of food for a local pantry? One of my favorites was the nun who is the principal of a Catholic school arriving at school (and doing circles around the recess area) on a motorcycle as her part of a schoolwide reading bet. Very cool.
You'll find a ton of quick, great ideas like these in our Idea Bag section and elsewhere on ptotoday.com. Enjoy.
Flock 'em
Go out in the dead of night and surprise someone by putting a whole flock of pink flamingos on the lawn. This one can work as a fundraiser (pay to have them removed), but I like it as a fun-raiser. An old toilet that someone is getting rid of in a remodel also works.
Teacher profile in your newsletter
Who said that your newsletter had to be only updates and calendars? Think like a magazine editor. Make it fun. One great tradition -- a profile of one teacher each newsletter. If you do this, definitely go for fun over facts with questions like: Favorite TV show? One hobby all your students would be surprised you have? Favorite ice-cream flavor? Those are what spark interest.
Principal on a roof
Or principal in a Chewbacca suit. Or principal in a...you get the idea. This is one of the best incentives out there and has the added bonus of really adding spirit and fun to your school. If your principal is game for some craziness, take full advantage. And this doesn't just have to be a fundraising goal. What if your students read for 1 million minutes? Or collect more than 5,000 pounds of food for a local pantry? One of my favorites was the nun who is the principal of a Catholic school arriving at school (and doing circles around the recess area) on a motorcycle as her part of a schoolwide reading bet. Very cool.
You'll find a ton of quick, great ideas like these in our Idea Bag section and elsewhere on ptotoday.com. Enjoy.
