Ok, that title was really cheesy but I couldn’t help it!
In the spirit of Father’s Day this weekend, I thought I’d post about this awesome program that I recently learned about involving dads and other father-figures. The program is called WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) and it is being used to increase the presence of positive male role models for students as well as enhance school security and reduce bullying. Father-figures (dads, stepdads, uncles, grandfathers, family friends, etc.) are invited to volunteer for at least one full school day. Their volunteer work is with the children so they may welcome students in the morning, help with bus duty, work on flash cards with students, read to students, sit with them in class, play at recess, eat lunch, keep an eye on the hallways, etc.
Schools need a stronger male presence and I think this is a cool way to achieve that! This program, specifically, has been shown to provide an additional deterrent to bullying, increase the presence of father-figures at other school functions, create a safe environment conducive to learning, and teach father-figures how to connect to their own students.
This is a resource that I am glad to have learned about and I can definitely see myself implementing it!
The Blooming School Counselor 
Never heard off this but I really like the idea. It’s a good idea to invite father’s in the morning for a “coffee hour” while many students are eating breakfast in the cafeteria.
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I just recently heard of it! I found out that a handful of elementary schools here have this program. One of the elementary schools here has almost 800 students and the ONLY male in the entire building is one of the school counselors. I really really like this program for getting a stronger male presence in the schools. I think it would be a good way to encourage males to be more involved in their children’s schooling in general, you know?
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Good point. There are few men in elementary staff. I feel that it would be really great to have a strong presence in the college selection process too. Students deciding what to do with their life might benefit from advice from parents generally, especially if they don’t have the support at home.
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