A national sample of kindergarten teachers (N=3595) were surveyed regarding their use of transition practices for children with special needs. The most frequently reported transition practices were sending letters to parents and arranging visits to first grade classrooms. Least frequently used practices were home visits and meetings to discuss the…

This article discusses practical strategies to assist parents in becoming a more inclusive part of the Individualized Education Program process. Characteristics of effective teams are provided, and strategies are listed for providing social support, increasing distinctiveness, ensuring fairness, providing a sense of similarity, and for enhancing…

Dissatisfied with their present parent-teacher conference format, an Iowa middle school perused the literature on student-led conferences and established three program implementation phases: initial preparations, conferences, and evaluations. Students selected portfolio items, decided what to discuss with parents, and rehearsed the conference…

Analyzes discourse in six teacher/parent conferences in Swedish special schools, focusing on work around moral values by parents and teachers in the conferences, as well as on possible threats to such work. Argues that the discourse is, to a large extent, consensus oriented. (Author/JL)

Discusses a program for improving parent-teacher communication by means of advocate teachers who observe a small group of children and conduct conferences with their parents. Describes the implementation of this program in one nursery school, including program evaluations and parent satisfaction. (JPB)

Reliability methodology needs to evolve as validity has done into an argument supported by theory and empirical evidence. Nowhere is the inadequacy of current methods more visible than in classroom assessment. Reliability arguments would also permit additional methodologies for evidencing reliability in classrooms. It would liberalize methodology…

AS A RESULT OF A STUDY BY THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON THE NEEDS OF MIGRANT CHILDREN, A GRANT WAS OBTAINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR MIGRANT YOUTH IN THE EXTREMELY ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS, SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS SITE WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE OF ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A LARGE MIGRANT…

This paper presents findings of a study that investigated elementary school principals' perceptions of parent-involvement practices in their schools. A survey was mailed to 75 principals of high-achieving elementary schools and to 75 principals of low-achieving elementary schools. The perceptions of 39 principals of high-achieving schools were…

Teachers can follow several guidelines for conducting productive parent-teacher conferences. These include: (1) respecting the parents; (2) being patient; (3) avoiding the use of jargon; (4) discussing the importance of homework and independent reading; (5) establishing a friendly atmosphere; (6) discussing reading and television viewing habits;…

This paper describes the nature of "community," provides several examples of what such a community looks like in elementary schools, builds a case for the importance of family-school relationships in the building of community, and describes the family conference as one approach for building a community of learners. Data are based on 2 years of…

During five meetings conducted in different states by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) to gain insight into the status of 55 parent involvement programs from their organizers and implementors, parental involvement in the secondary education level repeatedly emerged as a shared concern. Following the meetings SEDL…

One teacher through five years of schooling? That's how it's done in Italy. Author considered the Italian elementary school program in view of whether such a system would work in American schools. (Editor/RK)

This pamphlet is designed to help teachers of young children (in preschools, day care centers, or kindergartens) improve their working relationship with parents through productive parent-teacher conferences. Several steps to be taken early in the school year or even before school begins include establishing and maintaining communication,…

This resource packet presents some of the arguments for, and research about, parents playing an active role in the education of their children--not just by being supportive at home, but also by being involved in the school. The issues covered include: (1) the need for parent involvement; (2) goals of parent involvement; (3) types of parent…