An elementary school principal implemented a practicum to improve school-home communication at a school where administrators believed that a history of poor communication between parents and teachers negatively influenced the school's academic and parent involvement programs. Specific practicum goals were to improve: (1) school-home communication…

Because not all approaches to evaluating pupil achievement evaluate in the same facets of development, many methods are necessary to assess learner achievement in the different curriculum areas of the elementary school. This paper examines methods of evaluating pupil achievement, including: work samples, checklists, rating scales, sociometric…

This paper focuses on the first steps (Planning and Organization) of a three-stage model designed to help school personnel deal with problem-oriented parent-teacher conferences. Seven distinct steps of the Planning and Organization stage are described in detail: (1) specifying the problem; (2) organizing information; (3) specifying objectives; (4)…

This paper describes a family laboratory project designed to provide young children with opportunities to participate in learning experiences with babies, school age children, adolescents, adults who were single or married, parents and grand parents. A review of the literature focuses on the need for communication between children, parents,…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Tapped In, a multi-user virtual environment (MUVE), in facilitating parent-teacher conferencing. California Lutheran University had received a grant to prepare teachers to use technology and implement distance learning. Participants chose Tapped In, which allowed faculty to meet with preservice and…

This guide is a set of materials developed for use in adult education settings such as English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes, community-based organizations, and parent groups for the purpose of helping immigrant parents see themselves as active participants in their children's learning. These materials are intended to meet the following…

This book is intended to help parents of students with disabilities effectively proceed on their own through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Chapters cover the following topics: (1) child advocacy; (2) basic legal concepts of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the IEP, state special education laws, and some…

This book explains how teachers can serve as facilitators as students lead their parents through discussion of their work. The 9 chapters are: (1) "Philosophy and Purpose of Student-Led Conferences" (relevance, responsibility, and reporting to parents); (2) "Roles and Responsibilities of Participants" (teacher, student, parent,…

Stresses the crucial role that parents play in improving student motivation and achievement in school. Sees the parent-teacher conference as an invaluable tool for involving parents in their children's education and winning community support for public schools. Advises how to conduct a productive parent-teacher conference. (CH)

The implementation of a parent training session with 15 culturally diverse parents in Hawaii preceding a parent-professional conference on transition planning for high school students with disabilities resulted in increased knowledge about transition by participating parents but no significant differences in transition meeting participation…

The role of the classroom teacher in the success of parent and community involvement efforts in American public schools is this document's focus. Because schools need to discover new ways to foster parental and community involvement in education, this document outlines a new perspective concerning parental and community involvement that…

This book suggests that professional knowledge (knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and pedagogy) is not sufficient for becoming an exemplary teacher. It must be combined with interpersonal knowledge (relationships with students and with the educational and local communities), and intrapersonal knowledge (teachers ethics, dispositions, and…

This digest discusses factors associated with the acceptance and rejection of preschool children by their peers and offers a number of strategies that teachers and other adults can use in their attempts to help children achieve social acceptance. Behaviors and characteristics associated with peer rejection include aggression and misinterpretation…

A popular concept in education indicates that effective instruction requires the teacher to know the child. A study was conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in order to determine where this knowledge comes from. A group of 15 teachers enrolled in the graduate school listed their students and indicated which students they knew…

Written for American Indian parents, this fact sheet offers basic suggestions for building good parent-school relationships and helping children succeed in school. The first issue addressed is the education of children before they start to school, and the emphasis is on developing pride, self-confidence, and a desire to learn and do new things.…