Presents examples of teacher-parent interactions designed to help teachers communicate with parents. The scenarios involve a teacher communicating with parents about a struggling student, a teacher communicating with parents about a student's behavior problems, and a teacher attempting to communicate with a confrontational parent. Teacher prompts…

A speech pathologist designed and implemented a practicum study for the purpose of strengthening the conference skills of kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers at three elementary schools. The primary goal of the practicum was to provide the teachers with a method and the skills needed to promote effective cooperation between parent and…

The paper presents four steps to effective parent-teacher conferences that enable teachers to make parents partners in a team effort to strengthen students' academic, social, and emotional well-being. Preconference worksheets for both parents and students to complete are attached. (SM)

Suggestions to make parents of children with disabilities more comfortable in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting include contacting parents personally before the meeting, having a school staff member greet the parents, appointing an "interpreter" to monitor educational jargon, and videotaping or audiotaping a few conferences to…

Tips for enhancing parent-teacher communications include volunteer, get to know the teacher, make an appointment before seeing the teacher, provide positive feedback, contact the teacher early with problems, suggest PTA-sponsored communications workshops, respect teachers' perspectives, express anger elsewhere, accept positive and negative…

This paper briefly discusses the rationale for and importance of establishing effective communication between parents and their children and between parents and schools. Five steps parents can take to develop positive communication with their children are outlined, and 14 general communication guidelines for carrying out a successful…

Getting along with parents can sometimes be tough, but a little tact can go a long way. Good communication skills are important in any profession, but for the successful teacher, they are essential. Drawn from their new book, "Teacher Talk!" (Jossey-Bass, 2005), the authors present some snapshots of typical conflicts with parents, paired with…

Sixteen teachers of preschool handicapped children were assigned to a microcounseling group and 16 to a didactic lecture control group. Microcounseling training included viewing of a parent-teacher videotape model and discussion of appropriate communication skills such as clarification, reflective listening, and dealing with parental resistance to…

Filled with time-tested techniques and relevant examples, this user-friendly guide aims to empower educators with the confidence and tools necessary to communicate effectively, efficiently, and honestly in all situations. The resource guide uses clear-cut language, to-the-point insights, and pertinent advice--reflecting the many suggestions found…

Skills for creating an atmosphere that enhances communication in the individualized education program (IEP) conference are discussed. Among suggestions are expressing major points in a clear and nonthreatening manner, beginning and ending the conference on a positive note, and using the parent's and child's names. (PHR)

Encourages close communication between parents and early childhood teachers. Initial contacts and contacts throughout the school year help to convey general information about the school to parents. Visits, notes, and telephone calls can be used to provide specific information about individual children. (GH)

Research has shown that parents can make significant contributions to the education of their severely emotionally disturbed children if given appropriate guidance by education professionals. To actively engage parents in educational processes, educators need to be skilled in effective communication strategies. Working with parents on one focused…

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…

Strategies must be developed to assist in making the parent teacher conference run smoothly. The feelings and goals of the parents need to be taken into consideration. Nonverbal as well as verbal strategies should be designed. (JN)

Tips for successful parent-teacher conferences concerning children with special needs focus on preventing a conflict cycle and developing a cooperation cycle. Specific suggestions to reduce stress levels and involve parents positively are offered for preconference behaviors, conference behaviors, and postconference behaviors. (DB)