The article considers the beliefs and practices of elementary-aged children who write for personal fulfillment. Mobilizing Lips-Wiersma's (Lips-Wiersma & Morris, 2011) notion of "meaningful work," I examine the ways in which these children experienced writing and sharing their work in a voluntary after school writing workshop and at…

Ethnic minority parents often appear to be less involved in school functions and activities than their culturally dominant counterparts. Their invisibility is usually assumed due to a lack of either interest or parental capacity to oversee their children's education. However, the simplistic equation between parental involvement in children's…

This paper shows how parents' perceptions of parent-teacher relationship practices differ between different types of schools with respect to children's special needs and the socio-economic status of these children. Using a questionnaire, we compare parents' views from two special education schools, two at-risk schools serving low SES-children, and…

In a 5-year longitudinal study of typical literacy development (Grades 1-5 or 3-7), relationships were examined between (a) parental responses to questionnaires about home literacy activities and ratings of children's self-regulation at home, both completed annually by the same parent, and (b) children's reading and writing achievement assessed…

This study examined parent-teacher interactions during a photo-sharing project at three early childhood centers that serve as clinical sites for early childhood preservice teachers. Families were provided with a digital camera for one week to document activities they used to support children's early learning and development. Families then…

A survey of parents of 1269 students in 82 first, third, and fifth grade classrooms in Maryland was conducted to investigate the effects (on parents) of parent involvement techniques (used by teachers) for learning activities at home. Some of the teachers were recognized by their principal for their leadership in the use of parent involvement,…

A survey was taken to measure how 3700 elementary school teachers and 600 principals in Maryland school districts feel about parent involvement in home learning as a teaching strategy and to see how widespread this teaching strategy is. This summary of survey results provides information on the extent and use of varied techniques to involve…

Parents of mildly-disabled (learning-disabled, behaviorally-disordered, mild mentally retarded) six- to eight-year-olds (N=14) called a telephone service to hear weekly spelling lists, suggested techniques for helping children learn the words, and children's performance on weekly spelling tests. Results showed an increase in the average number of…

Data from a survey of 1269 parents (of whom 24 percent were single parents) were used to study whether single and married parents differ in their interactions with elementary schools and teachers. Results indicate that initial differences between single and married parents' perceptions of teachers and teachers' evaluations of single and married…

An experiment which assessed the effects of parental involvement in the teaching of reading showed highly significant gains by children (aged 6 to 9) who received extra practice at home in comparison with control groups but no comparable improvement by children who received extra help at school. (Author/MJL)

This paper reports the results of an ongoing study of home school programs incorporating the fourth through twelfth grade levels of large urban school districts. It examines the nature and scope of programs designed to improve student learning through parent involvement in tutoring, managerial and socializing activities as they relate to…

This report presents an evaluation study of the Recorded Telephone Message Project which used teacher-recorded telephone messages as a means of encouraging parents to help their children learn basic skills. Each week for 31 weeks, three third grade and three fourth grade teachers from an elementary school recorded a 2- to 3-minute telephone…

Survey data from 3,698 teachers in 600 schools in Maryland are used to explore the determinants of teachers' use of parent involvement strategies. Two questions are addressed: (1) How much do elementary school teachers organize their teaching practice to facilitate parent involvement in home learning activities? and (2) Which factors in the…