A review of the literature on parental involvement in the education of a child with a disability examines models of parental involvement, barriers to participation, and ideas for training. It concludes that parent-professional partnerships are intended to empower parents and enhance communication. Such partnerships cannot be established without…

Describes the compilation of family portfolios, which provide students an opportunity to practice home-school communication in parent education courses within undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs. It delineates the process used to gather information about selected children and families, to plan developmentally appropriate home…

This article examines the origins of parent-school conflict, identifies common errors that exacerbate difficulties, provides strategies for resolving conflicts and improving relationships, and proposes an alternate course of action if these approaches fail. Empathetic listening, trust building, and systematic and intuitive modes of problem solving…

Support groups for parents of hearing-impaired students, led by a team of school personnel and mental health professionals, can effectively provide parents with information, support, and a forum for open discussion of concerns. Suggestions are offered on getting organized and conducting the first meeting. Potential discussion topics are outlined.…

A teacher tells how she withstood physical threats by a 16- year-old student and verbal abuse from his parents. Another teacher and a school principal present their views on how she handled the situation, suggesting that teachers not overreact, avoid power struggles, and react calmly to students' bids for attention. (SM)

Ten strategies are offered to aid the special gifted class teacher to communicate better with parents, colleagues, and the local community. These include scheduling group parent meetings, encouraging parents to visit the class, using "one-minute" notes and phone calls to brief individual parents, and developing a program brochure. (DB)

Parents and teachers share responsibility for creating a working relationship that fosters children's learning. This digest examines the cultural context for parent-teacher relationships, suggests some general strategies for creating a climate in which misunderstandings and disagreements between parents and teachers can be minimized through…

Providing a low-key, nonthreatening way for teachers and parents to build partnerships for kids, this book presents short, concrete activities in English and Spanish to foster communication between teachers and parents and between parents and children. While the activities in the book are designed for grade 1, none of the activities have…

This training guide is intended to assist Head Start staff in meeting their communication goals and enhancing their relationships with parents. Each of the guide's modules details module outcomes, key concepts, and background information. Module 1 addresses communication in the Head Start community and is designed to help participants focus on…

This report describes materials identified during a study of professional training curricula in schools of social work, psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, special education, and child psychiatry throughout the United States. The purpose of the project was to locate innovative course curricula and other materials designed to promote…

Teachers and other professionals providing education-related services to exceptional children from different cultural backgrounds need to be aware of unique perspectives or communication styles common to those cultures, and need to be sensitive to the different values, experiences, and beliefs about special education that may be held by members of…

The second volume of a two-part resource guide for teachers of emotionally disabled students, this guide provides articles and informational items on aspects of serving this student population. The first section examines legal issues involved in conducting staffings, writing individualized education program objectives and understanding…

Intended for teachers, this book demonstrates the importance of teaching with real books. The first three chapters outline the components of a literature program, the settings in which it operates, and the human communities that shape it. Chapter 4 discusses literary elements: character, time, mood, layers of story meaning, place, point of view,…

As part of the demonstration aspect of its service, the Child and Family Development Center of the Chicago Child Care Society developed a day care program for 2-year-olds. Because children who had been at ease with teachers and comfortable without parents became less involved with play and more clinging and demanding when additional children were…

The student versions of two learning modules for teacher training in bilingual education are part of a series focusing on promoting parent participation in the school system. An introductory section discussing the overall objectives of the materials is followed by two modules, each consisting of introductory sections and two units containing…