To help parents select educational software that will supplement their child's schoolwork, purchasing guidelines are suggested. Two books for further reading are recommended. (JL)

The author reviews the argument that teachers, parents, and children are all interrelated and function within a complex ecology. He summarizes existing models for facilitating teacher-parent interaction and analyzes inappropriate assumptions concerning this interaction. Implications and recommendations for improving the school-community…

This article discusses ideal roles for both parents and teachers in parent-teacher conferences. Parents should use a team approach, prepare questions for the teacher, and listen to what the teacher has to say. Teachers should prepare students for the conference, create a welcoming environment for parents, and plan a general outline for the…

A survey of parents of children with severe disabilities examined parental perceptions of professionals, expectations of the curriculum, parental views of integration, and knowledge of the 1981 Special Education Act. (CL)

Teacher or principal home visitations help schools better understand students and create a strong school-home link. Basic home interview questions are provided. (DCS)

Suggestions are offered for educating teachers to plan, conduct, terminate, and follow-up conferences with parents of handicapped children. (CL)

A curriculum unit on conferencing and communicating with parents of handicapped children featured simulation activities to promote an understanding of parents' feelings. Evaluation of the activity indicated that simulation did involve participants in the choices and difficulties facing parents. (CL)

At a Florida high school, students who break school rules face predetermined consequences that are ascending in severity. The success of the system is contingent on staff training, communication, recordkeeping, administrative support, and evaluation. (MLF)

Transactional analysis can help teachers build effective partnerships with parents of gifted and talented students by increasing awareness and skills when dealing with parents' concerns. Definitions and techniques for analyzing ego states are provided; ego state transactions (i.e., communications) are reviewed; and methods for identifying and…

A teacher describes the value of making home visits to her learning disabled students. She cites the positive aspects, including the student's anticipation of and preparation for the visit, the buildup of trust, and the chance to communicate with the student's family. (CL)

A program is described that successfully involves parents in their child's education at a middle school in Louisiana. (MD)

A model is offered to encourage an alliance between home and school by promoting teacher well-being (through such activities as relaxation, visualization, and centering) and psychological comfort of parents of handicapped children. (CL)

As parents adapt to meet today's changing definition of literacy, they are often left with many questions about what is happening in their child's classroom. To help address parents' concerns, this guide uses clear, everyday language and classroom examples to explain and illustrate some of the key concepts and terms in literacy acquisition and…

This study of parent-teacher communications was in response to an administrative inquiry regarding the status of home-school interactions at a suburban Florida middle school. The Parent Communication Survey (PCS) was developed to assess parents' concerns relative to parent-teacher communication (what parents wanted to hear, how they wished to be…

Author offers examples to show that teachers are in the classroom because they like their jobs and get satisfaction from helping students solve their problems. (Author/CB)