What standardized tests can not do--indeed, what almost no test can do--is capture a child's essence. Tests don't speak to the internal factors that play a major role in life success: curiosity, effort, resilience, and compassion. Howard Gardner and Daniel Goleman have each noted that success stems largely from interpersonal skills. Educators know…

This article discusses how U.S. teachers can pick up on cultural cues from parents with roots in other countries and help smooth their children's transition to U.S. classrooms. In this article, the author presents a scenario where a U.S. teacher welcomed parents with roots form other countries into her classroom. Here, she discusses the importance…

This book is a tell-all guide to the euphoric highs and unimaginable lows of teaching. Mahoney and Purr present the naked truth of their own blunder-laden first few years in order to help new teachers, those who think they might want to become teachers, and those in the business of training and hiring new teachers, see the realities that cannot be…

Uses the analogy of dance to discuss development of positive relationships between teachers and parents of gifted children. Emphasis is on providing parents with necessary information, overcoming barriers to true partnerships, and rules of thumb for implementing the partnership on an ongoing basis, such as following the golden rule in…

In this article, the author presents the story of Tucker, a child who constantly looks for attention. The author assesses that children like Tucker frequently wrestle with feelings of jealousy and competition. However, Tucker's intense competitiveness is a bit beyond what one would expect, even for a young child who has a chronically ill older…

The terms ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are applied to several symptoms, including: difficulty in paying attention, distractibility, having a hard time following through on things, and sometimes over-activity and impulsivity. There are many different reasons why children have these symptoms.…

This paper discusses how educators can advance integration of students with disabilities by involving parents in the educational process. The paper suggests courses of action that can be taken to promote home-school collaboration, describing the importance of continuity of values between home and school, models of parent involvement, the…

A mother of a highly gifted son gives her observations of life with a gifted child, the educational needs of the gifted, and suggestions to teachers of the gifted. Stressed throughout is the fact that gifted children are first and foremost children with all the needs and characteristics of children. Stereotypes of the gifted child are exposed…

Blaming parents for perceived shortcomings in their children is one of the oldest teacher strategies for escaping responsibility. As difficult as it is at times, it is critically important that teachers see the goodness in every parent and understand that every parent wants the best for his or her child. What makes parenting difficult is that so…

Parents and teachers need to work together to help children with special needs develop meaningful friendships. Emphasis is on the need for parents and teachers to build structures likely to facilitate the development of friendships. (DB)

Asserting that the biggest mistake educators can make is to set themselves up as experts vis-a-vis parents as amateurs, Barbara and William Christopher emphasize the importance of continued education for the autistic individual and relate their experiences with the educational community as they sought help for their autistic son. (JC)

Summative evaluation of student achievement in reading emphasizes determining learner progress at the end of a unit of study, end of course, or end of the school year. Generally, state mandated tests stress an end of the school year percentile which is to indicate the present state of learner achievement. This paper discusses and analyzes…

Teachers can learn specific behaviors that will promote trust and cooperation in their communication with parents. Effective communication in the parent-teacher conference includes a friendly greeting, eye contact, readiness to listen, positive statements, open and reflective responses, discussion of problem areas based on work examples, and…

In schooling, a learning community is founded on its members, consisting of teachers, children, parents and people who care. As the person with the professional responsibility for building and sustaining a learning community, the teacher is challenged to attend closely to three key areas: classroom environment, curriculum, and social…

A more effective partnership for the advocacy of integrated educational options can be formed when parents and professionals work in concert. Eleven strategies for securing integrated options are offered, including working with the media, working within other advocacy organizations, influencing others in the school system, and consulting with…