THIS MANUAL DESCRIBES MEASURES USED IN "THE COGNITIVE ENVIRONMENTS OF URBAN PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN" PROJECT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. THE SAMPLE FOR THE STUDY CONSISTED OF 163 NEGRO MOTHER-CHILD PAIRS SELECTED FROM 3 SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES BASED ON THE FATHER'S OCCUPATION AND THE PARENTS' EDUCATION. A FOURTH GROUP INCLUDED FATHER-ABSENT…

The purpose of this study was to investigate what, if anything, was lacking in training teachers for the classroom. A brief questionnaire was give to 12 teachers with two or less years of teaching at an elementary school in Oxford (Mississippi). All respondents stated a need for parent-teacher conference training. A review of relevant literature…

Contributors suggest ways to (1) motivate student reading, (2) improve reading skills in the content area classroom, and (3) communicate with parents. (FL)

The hypothesis that the relationship between the technology and social structure of a school or classroom affects teacher behavior is explored with longitudinal data from a case study of faculty who attempted to replace letter grades and report cards with individualized, descriptive student assessment. (Author/GDC)

Offering Internet training sessions can encourage parents to attend parent-teacher conferences and become more involved in their children's schooling. Topics can include filtering software and integrating the Internet into the curriculum; brief lab sessions can acquaint parents with e-mail and World Wide Web "bookmarks." Tips for…

This article discusses provisions of Public Law 99-457 and suggests that this law sets the stage for the development of family-centered services for young children with disabilities. The approach presented emphasizes identification of families' strengths and needs as a basis for implementing community-based programs, with professionals serving as…

Describes the use of student-led conferences in place of traditional teacher-parent conference. Notes that conferences reflect curricular change to reading and writing workshops and thematic studies, belief that students should take responsibility for their own literacy behaviors, and use of portfolio assessment. (TM)

Presents results of a study of parental involvement in curriculum planning and enrichment in four London (England) primary schools. Reports that the program implementing parent teacher cooperation was successful in terms of student achievement, parental enjoyment, and teacher satisfaction. Discusses the importance of home, school, and the outside…

Describes the planning involved in implementing child-led parent/school conferences to review student portfolios in one second-grade classroom. Notes that the second graders conducted parent conferences very effectively, there was almost 100% attendance at the portfolio night, and no parent asked for a private conference with the teacher. Includes…

Reports on an ethnographic study of parents' evenings at British secondary schools as seen from the perspectives of all involved. Collects data from in-depth interviews with staff, parents, and students, and by observation. Indicates that meetings are unique interactional events that create problematic interface between the power bases of home and…

This article presents a model for communication among providers and families of children with disabilities about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It discusses treatments for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cerebral palsy, including the Feingold diet, herbal treatments, CranioSacral therapy, therapeutic…

An overview of South Asian and Southeast Asian Americans is discussed to aid teachers in understanding behaviors exhibited by Asian students. Culture influences in the following areas are explored: family relationships, respect for age, social interaction, communication style, family expectations, humility, school situations, decision making, and…

Introduces an issue on family literacy in urban education, describing three approaches to family literacy. Articles highlight the sense of place, community, and identity; Hispanic parents' use of literacy-rich environments; discourse between teachers and Latino parents during conferences; identifying teaching practices that connect home and…