Presents information on a seminar called "Developing Mathematical Ideas" with the goal of piloting a new curriculum and charting a new path for parents, schools, and children in mathematics. Explores central issues in the development of constructive, thoughtful, and generative relationships between parents and school community through parents'…

Describes an 11-step process for screening students with academic and/or behavior problems. (MD)

A teacher, worried that parent-teacher conferences were not informative enough, invited the students to participate in their own conferences. The students have an added stake in the conferences, and parent attendance has increased because of the children's involvement. (MT)

Tips to break the tension and make parent-teacher conferences productive are offered. A reproducible page with suggestions for parents entitled "How To Get the Most Out of Parent-Teacher Conferences" is included. (MT)

A teacher describes her method for ensuring effective, productive parent-teacher conferences. Suggestions include: scheduling conferences during the first two weeks of school; keeping a flexible schedule; preparing a simple parent questionnaire; explaining expectations and obtaining parents' expectations; making a problem solving agreement; and…

Outlines effective ways to establish, conduct, and followup on parent-teacher conferences. Includes a list of six rules. (MD)

This article discusses ideal roles for both parents and teachers in parent-teacher conferences. Parents should use a team approach, prepare questions for the teacher, and listen to what the teacher has to say. Teachers should prepare students for the conference, create a welcoming environment for parents, and plan a general outline for the…

For a successful parent-teacher conference, three main steps need to be addressed: preconference homework, communication during the conference, and followup. Each of these steps is addressed in this article, and a sample form for conference record keeping is included. (IAH)

Presents suggestions to help teachers work with parents during conferences. Before the conference, they should document difficulties, communicate concerns, solicit support, and test out tactics. At the conference, they should welcome parents, take notes, weigh all words, allow for anger, seek parents' suggestions, have responses ready, and partner…

This tongue-in-cheek article gives examples of ways in which educators give lip service to such principles as recognizing the rights of parents and valuing parent contributions but actually still try to avoid significant parent impact on their own work with students. (DB)

For use by teachers, administrators, and counselors in working with rural secondary students who are ineligible for special services, the Unsatisfactory Grade Adjustment Plan (UGAP) is described as a conference tool for charting and pinpointing student behaviors leading to unsatisfactory grades. (JW)

Offers five tips that teachers can use to improve their skills in communicating with parents. Discusses each tip and provides a scripted example emphasizing how each tip could be used in a parent-teacher conference. (MS)

Suggestions are offered for resolving conflicts between parents of gifted students and educators. Specific guidelines are offered for both parents and educators to facilitate an effective conference. Additional guidelines consider conflict styles, problem solving, and the "caring confrontation" technique. (DB)

Presents tips to help teachers put parents at ease, involve them in student learning, and establish partnerships. The article describes how to send invitations, determine goals, prepare agendas, plan questions, create appropriate settings, conduct conferences, and follow up afterwards. Cautions and considerations are noted. (SM)

This handbook for teachers on conducting a successful parent-teacher conference offers suggestions on: (1) key factors of a successful conference; (2) kinds of individual conferences; (3) creating a positive conference environment; (4) preparing for the conference; (5) conducting the conference; (6) concluding the conference; (7) following the…