The family is a context in which young children can acquire a sense of purpose, dignity and worth, if ideas of individualism and privacy are tempered by a sense of community. The school, the parents' places of work and community institutions should be used as extensions of the family setting. (Author/RH)

Suggests ways to involve working parents with the early childhood education programs in which their children are enrolled. (MS)

To improve the relationship between educators and parents of handicapped children, educators should try to understand the feelings and attitudes of the parents of a child with a disability. Listed are seven suggestions for teachers to help them work effectively with parents and encourage parent participation in the education of handicapped…

Introduces a rationale for involving parents in assessments of their children, particularly in the early years. Notes that joint assessment encompasses the earliest records parents keep about their infants, and parents' and professionals' systematic exchange of information, views, and concerns about the child. Discusses three parental assessment…

School settings today are multicultural, yet, in many regards, educators have failed to change their expectations to match the children in their care. This article examines the often strained relationship between parents and educators regarding family involvement. She points out that teachers often have preconceived notions about how parents…

New kinds of productive liaison" are developing between parents and school professionals, based on mutual respect and shared understandings. (Editor)

Presents guidelines for school district personnel, school principals, and teachers who want to build and sustain an alliance with the parents of children in their schools. (Author/RH)

Summarizes recent ERIC documents and journal articles and highlights some World Wide Web resources that discuss the efforts of states to fund prekindergarten programs. Highlights resources including information on delivery systems, coordination among various programs, analyses of policy trends, program descriptions, and models of family-school…

Describes an expanded school mental health framework and its goal of improving the mental health status of children and adolescents through collaboration. Addresses current challenges including building advocacy, improving funding, increasing capacity, enhancing quality, and using and expanding the evidence base for mental health in schools. (SD)

Lessons to plan, meetings to attend, bulletin boards to keep up on, and students to educate are just a few of the challenges encountered during the first year of teaching. For many teachers, it is not the hours or workload that cause the most stress, but rather the very people they are trying to help. These people are the parents of the students.…

The adversities that today's families face are well-documented and staggering. Even in the midst of tough times, however, many families are able to display resilience. Family resilience refers to the coping mechanisms the family uses as a functional unit to recover from life's setbacks. In this article, the authors present guidelines for creating…

Describes a resource center program which involved parents in the collection of ideas and materials for teachers to use in learning projects. (SDH)

Teachers are instrumental in the diagnosis and management of the Attention Deficit Disorder. They should monitor the affected child's behavior; organize the child with regard to rules, homework and distractions; and provide directions, classroom management and self-esteem building. The importance of the parent teacher partnership should be…

Describes cultural awareness projects in two schools on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. (BR)