This paper describes a practicum designed to increase parent and business involvement in the educational experiences of students in grades 4-7 at a rural school in the southeastern United States. Teacher surveys and other data indicated that the students had very little experience or understanding of the business world in which they eventually…

The focus of this paper is on the immediate and long-range advantages of parent involvement, the definitions and implications of varying levels of parent involvement in child care center operations, and the general means by which a chosen level of involvement might be achieved. The advantages of parent involvement are discussed briefly in terms of…

A typology of teacher encounters was derived from observations of elementary school teachers for the purposes of ordering field data and indicating teaching experiences outside the classroom which affect, through sociocultural forces, classroom teaching behavior. From observations of teacher encounters in the auditorium, faculty room, school…

Home visits can encourage parents to appreciate, respect, and care for the school program and to offer support and assistance to their children in that program. (Author)

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…

Decries the promotion of euphemism in teachers' communications with parents. States that true professionalism requires teachers to present problems with students in straightforward language. (MM)

This two-part article advises parents and teachers on maximizing benefits from the parent-teacher conference. Teachers are advised to: prepare a checklist of discussion topics; set the agenda; be good listeners and cautious with criticism; keep confidences. Parents are advised on preparation, questioning, and follow-up. (IAH)

This case study evaluated one site of a California teacher home visit program. Home visits have been an important means of connecting families and schooling. In 1999, California inaugurated a statewide home visit program to promote effective partnership between home and school for low-achieving schools. At this site, families in 3 kindergarten…

Teacher professional identity is a concept defined and researched in a multitude of ways (Beijaard, Meijer, & Verloop, 2004). This manuscript approaches teacher identity formation from the foundations of situated cognition, social learning, and identity in community practice. Focusing on a unique teacher development intervention designed to…

This technical assistance paper presents information designed to assist school personnel in assessing the strengths and needs of children and planning developmentally appropriate curriculum strategies. The first topic addressed is assessment strategies, which include developmental screening, diagnostic instruments, teacher observation, parent…

This paper reports on the effectiveness of the Realistic Parenting Skills program, an intervention program for parents of preschoolers designed to influence children's religious education which was field tested at 7 sites in Ohio. Subjects were 37 families and their 3- to 5-year-old preschoolers. Seven group meetings were conducted for parents at…

Describes the Sharing Center component of the Macomb, Illinois, 0-3 Rural Project enabling parents in rural communities and small towns to join their disabled children in activities and to share experiences with other parents of disabled young children. Discusses Center establishment, participant characteristics, staff preparation, activities,…

The debate about whether to include all kinds of students in the general education classrooms is a current topic in the European and Scandinavian educational policy. This paper comes to grips with this topic by focusing on the process through which professionals define educational possibilities and risks for one group of children considered as…

THE LOWER-CLASS NEGRO MOTHER HAS A DIFFICULT LIFE AND SEES HERSELF AS A SUFFERING MATRIARCH WHO CONFINES HER LIFE TO HER HOME, DEIFIES HER OWN WISDOM, FEELS NO ROOTS IN SOCIETY, AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REARING OF CHILDREN WITHOUT A STABLE HUSBAND OR A FRIENDLY SOCIETY. SHE FEELS THAT SHE MUST SUPPRESS HER CHILDREN'S INTERNAL IMPULSES AND…

TWO PILOT STUDIES OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENT CHARACTERISTICS AND THE READING ACHIEVEMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE REPORTED. THE FIRST STUDY COMPARED THE BEHAVIOR OF MOTHERS OF HIGH AND LOW VERBAL GIRLS IN TWO SEMISTRUCTURED INTERACTION SITUATIONS. TEN HIGH VERBAL AND 10 LOW VERBAL GIRLS WERE SELECTED FOR STUDY ON THE BASIS OF SCORES ON THE…