Successful and meaningful transition services are the result of careful planning. This planning is driven by a young person's dreams, desires, and abilities. It builds a youth's participation in school, home and community living. Transition planning helps to prepare young people for their futures. It helps them to develop skills they need to go on…

Focus group findings from 34 African American parents in an urban southern school district unmask subtle and concealed aspects of involvement. In contrast to formalized school-sponsored parent activities, involvement is described by participants as their encompassing a physical presence at the school to monitor their children's behavior, receiving…

The IMPACT Project is a parental involvement initiative originating in London, England. This book aims at a kaleidoscopic approach reflecting a variety of perspectives on the work in this project over five years. Chapters are grouped according to particular aspects of parental involvement. Part I, "Starting IMPACT," contains only one…

Resources, suggestions, and examples are listed to guide parent-teacher associations who wish to hold interesting health meetings, focusing on teaching parents about their children's health and development issues, involving students, and facilitating parent-child communication. (CB)

Ways in which parent teacher associations can help teachers create a favorable learning environment and improve teachers' working and living conditions include: fostering parent involvement; integrating in-school and out-of-school activities; supporting efforts to upgrade teachers' salaries; and welcoming teachers into the community.

Presents suggestions to help parents prepare for an IEP meeting, including: meet with the teacher to discuss the child's strengths and weaknesses; contact people performing preliminary evaluations for the meeting; be attentive and listen to information presented; treat other meeting participants as partners; request a copy of the new IEP and…

This article provides suggestions on becoming an advocate for change in the educational services offered to a gifted child. The article emphasizes the importance of researching the situation before meeting with teachers and administrators, understanding the legal and political issues involved, networking with other parents, and formulating a…

Increased parental involvement of parents may well be the hope of every educator. However, many teachers report little if any constructive parental involvement in the education of the children in their classrooms. This paper reflects on the growing need for parents to increase their involvement with their children in the home as well as become…

In this article, the author shares some examples of her advice and tips on parenting. The author is a mother of four and a national expert on parenting and early childhood education. She willingly, often without solicitation, distributes "expert" advice to parents across the country. Currently she is on a quest to retrace her early childhood…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 helps to ensure that all children receive a high-quality education and holds schools responsible for making sure that all children are learning. The information in this brochure is consistent with this important law. The early school years are the foundation for school success, the time when children will learn…

A list of questions has been compiled to help teachers work with parents on common reading problems of students. (DF)

Teachers who have been recognized as outstanding share advice on how parents can work with teachers, encourage responsibility, reinforce learning, assist in adjustment to junior high school, and generally stay alert to a child's needs. (MT)

Interactions among parents and teachers are viewed from a transactional analysis (TA) perspective. Crossed transactions are depicted and adult-adult exchanges are cited as the bases of good parent/teacher relationships. (CL)

This column examines how to reconcile differences in parents' and teachers' ideas of learning and prevent the negative effects on children when teachers and parents do not agree, recommending that good conversation and communication are the best ways to prevent such conflicts from happening in the first place. (SM)

Understanding and creating art can teach students to work cooperatively and strive to achieve goals. Parents can encourage students' participation in art by supporting community art programs and helping to decide how art will be taught in school. The paper describes how to plan and conduct art education PTA meetings. (SM)