This study focuses on the effects of involving fourth grade students in an experiential learning task that improves the school and requires the students to call on community agency, area business, and high school student support. Data related to students' learning were collected by using evaluative writing surveys, student and parent conferences,…

The power of communication and community engagement utilized by teachers to actively involve parents and guardians in the educational process of their children is essential to the growth of the students. An important component to student motivation is a teacher's ability to leverage parental/guardian relationships. A teacher's ability to form…

Improving pupil attendance and behaviour are essential to improving teaching and learning in schools. Pupils who have the most problems in these respects are likely to need support that recognises the wider influences on these issues. Family Group Conferences (FGCs) are family-led decision-making meetings, that include the family and significant…

This investigation offers a programmatic perspective into how a certain group of elementary preservice teachers experienced and evaluated their teacher education program by periodically assessing progress with regard to needs being met. A Likert-scale survey including open-ended responses was administered to 123 elementary preservice teachers at…

The author surveyed a cross-section of parents about their preferences among thirty forms of home-school contact. First preference was for an evening open house with an interview with the class teacher. The total preference rankings are discussed in comparison to Plowden Report recommendations and actual school practices. (SJL)

Discusses the Working Parents Project, a study of both single-parent families and dual-career families. This study explored working parents' perceptions of how personnel policies and practices affected family life. Topics covered include (1) short-term leave policies, (2) day care, and (3) how schools, community agencies, and employers can help…

This study examined the development and effects of school-wide student-led conferencing (SLC) at four middle schools across four states, namely California, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. All site administrators, 30 teachers, and 524 middle school students and their parents in 30 classrooms participated in this study. Methodology included student…

Results of two surveys concerning preparation of special educators to work with parents found that, although most special education departments offer a course on working with parents, few inservice teachers have taken such a course. Such training was correlated with teachers' level of confidence in their ability to communicate with parents. (DB)

Compared traditional parent-teacher conferences with an alternative collaborative model that includes students (family-school conferences) in a suburban elementary school. Found that teachers and parents valued traditional conferences as opportunities for information exchange, but both groups reported anxiety that may interfere with communication.…

Reviews eight techniques for assessing family-school connections studied by participants in a two-year school personnel training program: informal observation and discussion; examination of pre-existing data; review of places, policies, and programs; focus group discussion; mailed survey; survey at school; telephone survey; and radio call-in.…