To meet diverse student needs, a Minneapolis K-8 school began individual goal-setting conferences with parents about 10 years ago. In 1991, teachers reformatted goal setting to reflect Harold Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences involving intrapersonal, interpersonal, world-understanding, linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily…

A Rhode Island elementary school decided to include students in their parent-teacher conferences. The idea was to increase student responsibility for learning and improve student achievement. Revamped portfolios that focused on the quality of student work provided the key to success. (MLH)

Outlines the six-stage process used at Gustine Middle School for student-led parent-teacher conferences. Discusses how this encourages students to participate actively in evaluating their own progress, which motivates them toward personal initiatives to inspire learning, and improves student communication about learning with both parents and…

Because teachers are usually the first to observe that a student may have a learning problem, it is often their job to suggest to parents that an outside professional evaluation of their child be considered. This is particularly true for teachers in private and parochial schools, because the typical public school support staff is usually not…

A male kindergarten teacher spells out ways he is learning to communicate with as well as to parents. (Editor/CB)

Tells how school boards can foster report card reform through the development of wise policy. (Author)

Describes a system by which teachers can show parents their child's academic performance in relation to other students in the class. Students are rank-ordered by date of birth and tests scores, allowing comparisons with other class members based on age and performance. (MDM)

The Parent-Teacher-Student Network Model was developed to aid in development of open communication among parent, teachers, and students. A description is given of this model for parent-teacher-student conferencing which was designed to allow participants to discuss educational goals, resolve conflicts, plan strategies for achievement, and evaluate…

Guidelines are offered on the technique of establishing understanding between pupil, teacher, and parent by formal and informal conferences. Means of establishing goals for individual students are suggested, and methods of evaluating performance are given. The importance of communication between parent and teacher by means of conferences and…

Reliability methodology needs to evolve as validity has done into an argument supported by theory and empirical evidence. Nowhere is the inadequacy of current methods more visible than in classroom assessment. Reliability arguments would also permit additional methodologies for evidencing reliability in classrooms. It would liberalize methodology…

This field research report examined the efficacy of the Spectrum Assessment Model (SAM), a measure used to provide teachers and parents with a broad profile of preschool children's abilities, skills, and interests. The measure was developed by educators at Harvard and Tufts Universities in 1984 and assesses young children's cognitive abilities in…