In this book, parents will find ways to help teachers nurture important emerging math skills, from sorting and division of materials to early counting. Basic ideas and tools, including classroom-tested activities, will help support their child's math learning, both at home and in child care. Following an introduction, the book contains three…

Research shows that stress in the crucial early years of a child's life can pose dramatic, lasting challenges to development, learning, and behavior. This is the practical book early childhood professionals need to recognize stress in young children--and intervene with proven relief strategies before pressures turn into big problems. Developed by…

As parents adapt to meet today's changing definition of literacy, they are often left with many questions about what is happening in their child's classroom. To help address parents' concerns, this guide uses clear, everyday language and classroom examples to explain and illustrate some of the key concepts and terms in literacy acquisition and…

"Involving Parents in Their Children's Learning" is the story of the pioneering work of the Pen Green Centre for children and families. Showing how early years practitioners can collaborate effectively with parents, the book includes case studies of parents and children who have attended the centre, studies which chart developments in learning for…

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…

This book is a guide for educators to help them work with parents to improve schooling. It is particularly geared to dealing with some of the problems that have become greater in recent years owing to changes in family life such as high divorce rates, teenage parents, and working mothers. Chapter 1 deals with types of parent-school involvement,…

Partnering with parents is essential if an early childhood program is to succeed. "From Parents to Partners" explores the reasons and methods for developing ongoing partnerships with parents and other family members. It also provides the tools and strategies needed to build the communication and support networks within which these partnerships…

Intended as a practical resource for the busy teacher, this book focuses on meaningful and manageable ways teachers can communicate to parents why they approach writing as they do and how parents can assist their children at home. The book presents open-ended strategies for informing and involving parents that have been developed and successfully…

Written by teachers who are also parents, this guide provides proven and practical advice to help parents of children from kindergarten through middle school be active supporters of their children's educational experiences. Issues covered include transition to school, latchkey issues, and talking with teachers. The tips are categorized as follows:…

To answer the need for better communication between elementary school parents and teachers, this book begins with a theoretical and philosophical framework and reviews the research and current thinking about the need for and value of partnerships between home and school. The book also considers some special needs of parents in today's increasingly…

In most school systems today, curriculum development is the work of specialists who function as consultants to classroom teachers, administrators, and school boards. An alternative is the Citizen/Teacher Curriculum Council (C/TCC) approach, which calls for direct involvement of community members and classroom teachers in curriculum development.…

Solving school problems and making policy decisions require that we anticipate how people will feel about an issue or how they will behave. School leaders must understand the values, attitudes, and beliefs brought to different situations. "The School Leader's Guide to Understanding Attitude and Influencing Behavior" makes it possible for educators…

This is a guide for teachers to help them communicate more effectively with parents. The bulk of the guide contains a year's worth of letters that can be signed and sent out or changed to fit local circumstances. The first section, "Designing Your Own Powerful Parent Letters," offers "10 Steps to Effective Written Communication," outlines the…

This collection of 29 articles is devoted to the question of "what works" in regard to parental involvement. The two main objectives in compiling this volume were: (1) to provide general information about successful strategies and programs to interested educators and parents; and (2) to offer context-specific, "tailored"…

Teachers can help parents foster emerging literacy skills in their preschool children in a way that is developmentally appropriate and fun: by collaborating to develop their child's lifelong love of reading and writing. Incorporating selected teacher-tested activities from the popular book "More Than Letters," this accessible guide…