Describes how an elementary teacher implements student-led parent conferences four times throughout the school year. At the first conference, students, teachers, and parents set goals. At the second and third, students share their portfolios with their parents and teachers. At the fourth, students demonstrate what they have learned to their…

Tapping parents' willingness to be involved, planning productive exchanges, and reaching the hard-to-reach parent are addressed in this article. Ways to establish a partnership with parents are suggested. (MT)

A teacher describes her method for ensuring effective, productive parent-teacher conferences. Suggestions include: scheduling conferences during the first two weeks of school; keeping a flexible schedule; preparing a simple parent questionnaire; explaining expectations and obtaining parents' expectations; making a problem solving agreement; and…

Presents suggestions to help teachers work with parents during conferences. Before the conference, they should document difficulties, communicate concerns, solicit support, and test out tactics. At the conference, they should welcome parents, take notes, weigh all words, allow for anger, seek parents' suggestions, have responses ready, and partner…

A psychiatrist gives his opinions on the "casualty" of the parent-teacher conference and how these conferences can be preserved to the benefit of the teacher, parents, and child. (Author/RK)

Suggestions for teachers conducting open houses, in which parents see the progress and work of their children, are presented. Various ways to display student work, make a positive impression, and elicit parent participation are described. (CJ)

Eight teachers contribute their ideas for successfully working with parents. Included are: a parent information/resource center; guidelines for parent teacher conferences; ideas for using parents as classroom volunteers; and skill development activities that parents can use at home with their children. (SJL)

Suggestions for helping teachers answer questions parents may ask on discipline, reading, and family situations are offered in this article. Teachers and parents can work together to solve problems dealing with their children and students. (DF)

Teachers, principals, and other educational leaders in the United States were asked what is being done, what works, and what can be used to build a successful parent-teacher team. Here are the results--hundreds of workable ideas organized into a four-part process that combines the best from schools across America. (Author/RK)

Three articles present suggestions to help elementary teachers promote student development. The first describes games that encourage a sense of community. The second deals with making parent teacher conferences a positive experience. The third discusses how to give confused children who are involved in custody battles an alternative to acting out.…