Discusses five strategies that can enhance the communication among parents and early childhood educators: (1) Keep parents well informed about what is happening in the classroom; (2) help parents to introduce themselves in the classroom; (3) create dialog in newsletters and bulletins; (4) post questions rather than reports; and (5) disseminate…

Applies key components of the Reggio Emilia approach to Hearts Home, a Houston school: (1) parent-teacher-child interdependence, including home visits, communication, training sessions, and field trips; (2) children's competence; (3) utilizing functional and beautiful learning environments; and (4) teachers as partners in co-construction of…

This study examined parent factors and teacher strategies fostering parent involvement and efficacy in a Canadian preschool intervention program in the Toronto area. Both English-as-a-second-language and English-speaking parent groups participated in school-based Parenting and Readiness Center programs with their 4-year-olds. Findings suggested…

Presents Soviet secondary teachers' opinions on their responsibility to promote student sobriety. Data obtained through surveys show teachers rate the importance of their example second only to parental influence. Concludes that women teachers were more earnest and willing to involve parents in antialcohol efforts. Reveals teachers' views on which…

A graduate course at the University of New Hampshire is intended to help special educators of young children to develop communication and collaboration skills. Program evaluation has indicated that attitudes of professionals and their interactions with parents were changed in the direction of greater empathy, increased respect, and more…

Teacher education programs must help teachers handle children from diverse family backgrounds. Knowledge of family structures, acceptance of changes, and techniques for improving communication with parents should be included in preservice and inservice teacher education. Children's literature provides one way for teacher educators to increase…

Presents one teacher's experience of and reflections on the use of her teaching-for-thinking program as opposed to the traditional methods of teaching. (BB)

A national survey of 502 general education teachers found that teachers perceived communication problems among teachers and parents as a serious impediment to the effective use of homework with mainstreamed students with learning disabilities. Problems included frequency and quality of communication with parents, role of the special education…

Creating partnership between special educators and parents who are Mexican American often poses unique challenges for all involved. Historically, the fact that these parents may not share mainstream values, traditions, and customs has often been perceived by special education teachers as part of the problem and not as valuable new sources of…

This qualitative study investigated mothers' views about their role in their children's education and their expectations of their child's preschool. A particular focus of the study was to contrast the views of mothers with differing degrees of parenting self-efficacy and to contrast the perceptions of working-class and middle-class mothers.…

Designed as a guide for early childhood professionals, this book outlines specific success strategies for getting men--fathers or any significant male in a child's life--involved in early childhood education and child care, moving away from the traditional view of these fields as women's domains. The first section of the guide focuses on…

Parents can play a key role in attaining the United States' National Education Goals, a main component of which is that all children will be ready to learn when they enter school. This guide for parents provides basic information on factors related to school success and a series of activities that parents can do with their children, ages 5 through…

In child care centers, parental involvement as well as staff sensitivity toward children and parents are essential for managing cultural diversity in a way that is beneficial for both migrant and indigenous families. Defining and improving the quality of center education from a multicultural perspective require discussions between staff and…

This handbook provides educators with a step-by-step guide to partnering with parents. Introductory materials include research findings and beliefs about parent involvement in schools and a checklist to determine if the educator is ready to develop a partnership with parents. The eight steps to a parent/school partnership follow. Step 1, define…

This book offers guidance for parents concerning their children with disabilities who are being educated in inclusive settings. It provides background information about how children learn and the specific difficulties experienced by children with learning problems. It suggests strategies for creating better learning environments at home and at…