As the dynamics of our classrooms across the county continue to change, so must our teaching practices. Multilingual students live in homes with varied cultural and literacy experiences. Since multilingual families may not engage in school-based literacy practices, teachers often overlook the development of students' language and literacy skills.…

This article illustrates several types of at-home science experiences that could be incorporated during grades K-2 to provide enriching science experiences that are motivating for students without requiring exhaustive work and preparation. These activities are designed to augment science interest and enthusiasm of students in the classroom and…

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…

While parental involvement's effect on student achievement has been explored in current research, and the relationship among parent, teacher, and student is often discussed, no definite guidelines have been stipulated for successful engagement between the three. The purpose of this project was to examine parental involvement practices…

A study to find out how teachers involve parents in learning programs is described. Teachers are advised to send letters to the parents of students they will be teaching the following year asking for support in overcoming summer learning loss. Specific activities teachers could suggest are offered. (MT)

THE PURPOSE WAS TO RAISE THE ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL OF UNDERACHIEVING STUDENTS. PARENTS AND TEACHERS WORKED TOGETHER TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCHOOL. OBJECTIVES WERE TO AWAKEN INTEREST IN PARENTS, HELP TEACHERS DISCOVER UNDERLYING CAUSES OF UNDERACHIEVEMENT AND UPDATE MATERIALS. A DESCRIPTION INCLUDED TEACHERS' AND PARENTS' DEVELOPING…

To encourage widespread parental participation in schools, both lay persons and professional staff should understand the primary assumptions which undergird shared efforts to create a unified, effective system of schooling. Proposed practice for an effective schooling system must be related to: (1) democratic concepts and their presumed strengths…

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,…

Describes a Missouri-based program, Parents as Teachers (PAT), in which professionals work with parents to develop literacy activities in the home. Discusses a new adaptation of the original PAT program, its observed effects, and implications for schools. (MG)

Home-based programs provide opportunities at a level far beyond what a traditional public school program can offer. To stem enrollment losses to homeschooling, or simply to help families interested in home-based option, public schools are enrolling children and sending them home, where they follow the school's curriculum under their parents'…

Project Step-Up, a federally funded program which serves primary-level potentially gifted and talented children who are economically disadvantaged, bilingual, or have special needs, developed methods to involve parents in their child's educational growth and development. Methods include parent education seminars, home-based activities, and a…

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…

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…