We usually have 3 speakers a year. They always speak first. That way they can be excused and then we have our meeting.
One topic we are having is a teacher of the SAT/PSAT is talking about how the test will begin to change in March 2005. Although we are in Elementary School, many parents of our 5th and 6th graders are very interested in this topic. Also many parents have middle school children as well. This meeting should be well attended.
Good luck
We have two workshops a year, one each semester. These are separeate from our regular meetings (actually, in place of them). One workshop is devoted to extracurricular activities and we invite organizations in which our students participate to present or have a table or"booth". Examples are Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, chorus, library club etc. That workshop is always well attended because the parents of those students come! The second workshop is focused on some aspect of education. We might have a Board member discuss the budget and how it affects our school (if that's a controversial issue), or have the district curriculum director discuss trends in elementary school classrooms. We structure those workshops as discussion forums so it's not a boring lecture. Those aren't as well attended as the student-focused ones, but do offer some food for thought!
This year we added forums to our PTA meetings focusing on two grades levels each month. We will also hold forums on specific topics, such as math for the 5th and 6th grades. At the meetings, we hold the forum first since the grade level teachers are presenting and they have been in school with our little darlings since 8:00 a.m. Our PTA meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. The format that works seems to be:
- 20 minutes on teacher presentations and Q&A
- break into smaller groups with teachers and parents in each group. 20 minutes brainstorming and exchanging ideas on how parents can help the children learn.
- 20 minutes spent with each group presenting their ideas to everyone.
The rest of the meeting is spent on general business; officer reports, principal’s report, new business, announcements, etc.
At our meetings we usually have guest speakers. As noted in another reply this does not mean an increase in participation. We try to limit the meeting to 1 hour, I usually do PTO business first followed by the guest with a 30-45min presentation. For the next 3 months we are having nutritional interns from a local college do presentations on carbs, healthy snacks etc. I try to pick topics that are current with the news or occuring things a the school. The guidance counsler likes to do a tips with homework program, or other hot topics within the behavior problems encountered in school. Reading support teachers are great to ask for tips on summer reading. One year we had teachers from different grades present a math tip night.
We've had some really good programs led by guest speakers on things like childhood obesity, Internet safety, and talking to kids about sex. For these we usually have a brief (30 minutes or less) business meeting at the beginning, followed by the speaker.
Unfortunately, the usually low attendance at our regular meetings doesn't necessarily increase for the sessions where we have the guest speakers, which can be VERY embarrassing. Sometimes we have gotten a great crowd for the speaker, but sometimes it's the same group of officers who always show up, regardless of offers of childcare, free pizza, etc.
Not really "workshps", but our middle school PTO is embedding performances in its general meetings.
We have different groups from within the school performing - Cheerleaders, One Act Play, Choir, Dance Group, Spirt Squad, etc. A different one is scheduled each month.
The first one was cheerleaders - I think they took about a 15 minute slot. And it was embedded about 2/3 of the way through the meeting agenda as an agenda item.
As far as true workshops targeted at your general parents, I think C. Brooks is on the right track.
