Twelve graduate students were trained (using written programed learning materials plus oral practice) in three categories of parent conference skills: (1) communicating diagnostic information, (2) communicating recommendations, and (3) organizing the conference and interacting with parents. Professionals and parents of developmentally delayed…

Current attitudes of junior class teachers in Great Britain concerning parents of children with special educational needs were evaluated. Results indicated that most teachers desired occasional but not frequent contact with parents. (DB)

This tongue-in-cheek article gives examples of ways in which educators give lip service to such principles as recognizing the rights of parents and valuing parent contributions but actually still try to avoid significant parent impact on their own work with students. (DB)

Outlines an entertaining one-hour teacher-parent talk designed to communicate a current perspective on reading and provide suggestions for helping young readers at home. (ARH)

Offers guidelines for teachers in telephoning to set up visits with parents and dealing with visits by irate parents. (CBC)

For use by teachers, administrators, and counselors in working with rural secondary students who are ineligible for special services, the Unsatisfactory Grade Adjustment Plan (UGAP) is described as a conference tool for charting and pinpointing student behaviors leading to unsatisfactory grades. (JW)

The author discusses problems associated with parent/educator conferences on the yearly plan for educational services for an exceptional child and provides five guidelines, including facilitation of parent's verbal participation. (MC)

A mother evaluates and praises the influence that her children's teachers have upon them. (RK)

Parent teacher conferences in an open classroom elementary school is described. (CB)

Author is the 1972 National Teacher of the Year. (Editor)

The study evaluated the effectiveness of two intervention strategies on parental contributions to the individualized education program (IEP) conference. Results indicated a greater amount of parental involvement in the conference attended by a parent advocate than those in which parents had received questions.

Suggests a design for parents' night in which the children, in this case first graders, show their parents around via a games-and-reward format. (SJL)

A strong home-school connection is crucial for students' success, and honest, open dialog during parent-teacher conferences can play an important role in strengthening this connection. This article presents research findings on parent-teacher relationships and practical suggestions for improving parent-teacher conferences. (EV)