Handling upset parents, unexpected kid behavior, and touchy school politics are some of the toughest parts of a teacher's job. As such, it never hurts to have an emergency plan or two tucked away and a few tried-and-true strategies one can count on. In this article, the author presents several sticky situations and corresponding solutions for…

The key to building good school public relations is good communication, i.e., the quality of the personal contacts between teachers, who are employees, and the parents of students, who are employers. Here are suggestions for helping teachers get their message across to parents and for evaluating their progress or PR rating. (Author/RK)

Examines several ways for teachers to improve public relations with parents through the media, parents' night activities, and parent teacher conferences. (JMB)

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…

Offers research-based suggestions for strengthening home-school partnerships, with emphasis on the significance of communication. The article discusses qualities of the teacher-leader, five types of parent involvement, and dialog development; it includes a checklist for an effective parent-school partnership. (SM)

This article explains how teachers can use tact and diplomacy to minimize potential problems with parent-teacher conferences. A checklist of tips to help teachers prepare for conferences and conduct them positively is given, along with ideas for keeping in touch with parents the rest of the year. (PP)

Two articles offer suggestions for primary level teachers to help their students grow. The first discusses how teachers should respond to violence and help students regain a sense of safety. The second presents 10 everyday ways to help children appreciate many cultures, noting how teachers can examine their own biases. (SM)

Offers suggestions on helping foster children adjust and succeed at home and school. Drawing on advice from a child psychologist and an adoption/foster care expert, the paper discusses how foster care and adoption work, how the school can help, and what the families need. (SM)