Tips for successful parent-teacher conferences concerning children with special needs focus on preventing a conflict cycle and developing a cooperation cycle. Specific suggestions to reduce stress levels and involve parents positively are offered for preconference behaviors, conference behaviors, and postconference behaviors. (DB)

Offers practical tips to help primary teachers prevent or smooth out home and classroom values clashes and maintain friendly relationships with parents. The article recommends keeping the lines of communication open, asking parents about their expectations and concerns, becoming sensitive to cultural differences, and showing respect for parents.…

This article discusses practical strategies to assist parents in becoming a more inclusive part of the Individualized Education Program process. Characteristics of effective teams are provided, and strategies are listed for providing social support, increasing distinctiveness, ensuring fairness, providing a sense of similarity, and for enhancing…

This study investigated parents' perceived levels of involvement and satisfaction in the IEP (Individualized Education Program) planning process. Approximately half of the 98 parents interviewed expressed high levels of satisfaction with their involvement in their children's educational planning process, although 26 percent expressed definite…

This article offers educators of students with disabilities guidelines to facilitate better interaction with families of children who are culturally and/or linguistically diverse. It urges self-evaluation and reflection on personal interaction style and necessary modifications to facilitate cross-cultural communication. It suggests ways to…

The purpose of this study was to explore the opinions and perspectives of special education teachers and parents of children in special education regarding the implementation of individualized instruction within the special education system in the People's Republic of China. The study group consisted of a random sample of 344 parents of children…

This annotated bibliography lists 136 entries, divided among 9 chapters, on the collaboration between professionals and families of children with emotional disorders. Entries are listed alphabetically by author within each chapter and date from 1974 through 1993. The first chapter, "Need for Collaboration," briefly surveys the literature…

Designed to be used independently by parents or other family members with their preschool or kindergarten-age children, this book presents (in easy-to-read cartoon-style letters) specific ideas for developing literacy skills during day-to-day activities. The book provides practice for children in the following skills: 1) life skills (such as…

This booklet presents practices currently in use by teachers of students with attention deficit disorder (ADD) in elementary and middle school. Guidelines for diagnosing ADD and discussing diagnosis with parents are provided, and special considerations for working with students who are taking medication are presented. Teaching strategies to build…

This practicum report describes a gifted education program, for students in grades 1 and 2, which developed a newsletter to broaden the parents' knowledge of giftedness. The weekly newsletter, sent to parents of 43 children, addressed such topics as characteristics of the gifted, frequently asked questions, techniques used for instruction, higher…

This concept paper is intended to assist educators to understand why American culture has become so diverse, to review certain guiding principles and related research in effective educational practices for language instruction, and to present a number of instructional implications derived from the research. The recommendations for teachers which…

A kindergarten teacher implemented a practicum intervention designed to improve teachers' communication with parents of kindergarten children concerning curriculum and school activities. In particular, the intervention aimed to increase parental involvement in spite of the fact that parents were unable to spend time at the school. A computer and…

This resource guide aims to assist parents, other adults, and the school in providing a stronger continuum of educational opportunities for children at home and in the school. The introductory section provides background information on parent involvement. Section 2 discusses the physical, emotional/social, intellectual, and creative development of…

This pamphlet is designed to help teachers of young children (in preschools, day care centers, or kindergartens) improve their working relationship with parents through productive parent-teacher conferences. Several steps to be taken early in the school year or even before school begins include establishing and maintaining communication,…

The brief guide offers information on epilepsy to teachers and other school personnel. Types of seizures are defined (e.g., simple and complex partial seizures, generalized tonic clonic seizures), and management practices in the classroom setting for each type of seizure are described. Signs indicating that a seizure requires immediate medical…