This book is a compilation of cultural information and Spanish-English phrases and sentences that will be useful to English-speaking teachers and administrators in a bilingual setting. The guide presents information on differences between Anglo and Latin cultures, Spanish words and phrases that are useful in a variety of settings, and sample…

Serious drawbacks can be cited for almost every form of student performance evaluation. The typical A-B-C-D report seldom tells anything really meaningful; the arguments against this system are many--unless you have straight A offspring. Written comments or reports are good if they tell, in a meaningful way, what the student is accomplishing in…

Discusses the Working Parents Project, a study of both single-parent families and dual-career families. This study explored working parents' perceptions of how personnel policies and practices affected family life. Topics covered include (1) short-term leave policies, (2) day care, and (3) how schools, community agencies, and employers can help…

Social workers' direct work with students can help to reduce the disparity between educational ability and achievement. Interventions with low achievers must include fostering linkages between home and school. Consultation and followup are necessary components for reducing underachievement. The intervention must be done in conjunction with school…

Noting that involved parents can improve their children's chances of succeeding in school, this packet of cards offers 100 tips created to help parents become more involved in their child's education. Following a card of general tips on becoming involved, tips are offered in the following topic areas: helping a child stay alcohol, tobacco, and…

Noting that involved parents can improve their children's chances of succeeding in school, this packet of Spanish-language cards offers 100 tips created to help parents become more involved in their child's education. Following a card of general tips on becoming involved, tips are offered in the following topic areas: keeping a child alcohol,…

This paper discusses the under-identification of Asian-origin students with disabilities and strategies for developing an educational environment sensitive to and supportive of the educational rights of all students with disabilities as guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It begins by discussing the unique problems of…

Evaluates formal authority, one of the major means of influence at the disposal of school-community agents, and its effect upon human behavior. (Author/RK)

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)

Due to the intimate contact they have with children, teachers are in a position to intervene when child abuse appears to occur. Preservice teacher education programs should train teachers to recognize abused children and to interact with them and their parents. (Authors/CJ)

Describes activities in a university child observation class to sensitize students to diverse parents' needs related to school involvement. Presents feedback regarding parents' needs from: interviews with adoptive parents; interviews with single parents; and interviews with parents regarding parent-teacher conferences. (KDFB)

Uses a psychoanalytic approach to examine effective ways to articulate concerns to parents about their child's difficulties. Presents methods for developing trusting relationships, planning prior to the conference, conducting the parent-teacher conference and post-conference follow-up, and meeting teachers' concerns. Describes two situations in…

A study examined the effectiveness of teaching five adolescents with mental retardation and behavior disorders to lead their own Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Students learned to introduce others at their IEP meetings, review their past IEP goals, discuss their future IEP goals, and close their meetings. (Contains references.)…

Reports on a study of "parent evenings," or parent-teacher consultations, examining the structure using audio-recordings. Identifies similarities with doctor-patient consultations. Argues that teachers do not maintain control of the conferences and that issues of power, identity, competence, and moral conflict are at stake. (CMK)

Parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity to communicate a belief in the value of a successful partnership between home and school. Productive parent-teacher conferences require effective communication techniques. Teachers can facilitate the process with active listening, positive use of attending skills, good questioning technique, and…