Getting & Keeping Parent Support

Contents:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences as a Major Challenge
• Frustrations of Both Sides About Conferences
• A Look at the Current Situation
• Avoidance is Not the Answer
• The Necessity for Cooperation
• If Not Us, Then Who?
• Advantages of Reforming the Relationship Between Schools and Parents

Contents:

• Changing Demographics in America
• The Changing American Family
• Stresses From Outside the Home
• Lack of Support for Parents and Children
• Pressures facing today's schools
• Lack of Support for Teachers and Discipline
• Bridging the gaps between home and school

Contents:

• Making First Impressions Count
• What do Parents Want From Teachers?
• Do's and Don'ts for "Back to School Nights"
• What do Parents Need to Know?
• What do We Need From Parents?
• The First Phone Call and How to Make the Most of It
• Planning for a Successful Start

Contents:

• Parental Involvement and Student Achievement
• Parental Involvement and Behavior
• Cultural and Age Factors in Parental Involvement
• Importance of Involvement at All Grade Levels
• How Involvement Helps Students, Parents, and Families
• How Involvement Helps Teachers, Schools, and Communities
• How Involvement Improves School Quality
• Involvement in form of "Reading to Children"

Contents:

• Communications That Reach and Support Parents
• Helping Parents be Successful in Their Difficulties
• Ways Parents can Support Student Learning
• Gaining Support Through Parent Volunteering
• Involving Parents in School Improvement and Decision Making
• Utilizing Community Resources
• How cultural differences effect teacher/parent relationships

Contents:

• Issues and Needs of Parents and Teachers
• Setting the Stage for a Successful Conference
• Ways of Remaining Positive and Constructive
• Appreciating and Supporting Each Other
• Keeping the Focus on Helping the Student
• Setting Realistic Agendas and Goals
• Sharing Fair and Reasonable Responsibilities

Contents:

• A Model for Understanding Emotional Reactions
• Predicting Escalation and De-Escalation
• You-Messages vs. I-Messages
• The Power of Really Listening to the Other Person
• The Necessity to be Proactively Professional
• The Practical Advantage of Communication Skills
• Achieving Your Goals in a Conference

Contents:

• What the Parties Want/Don't Want in Negotiations
• The Importance of Fairness and Impartiality
• Resistance to Pressure or Imposed Solutions
• Resolution Methods and Cautions
• The Importance of Identifying Each Party's Needs
• The Power of Brainstorming
• Methods of Reaching Consensus
• Investing in a Long-Term Solution That Will "Stick"

Contents:

• Do's and Don'ts in Record-Keeping
• What an Anecdotal Record is and What it is Not
• Involving Parent Early and Continuously
• Teacher Reticence and Parent Backlash
• Working to Build a Cooperative Team Approach
• Remain Open to Input from All Sides
• Involving the Student and Parent in Improvement Plans

Contents:

• Advantages and Disadvantages of a Team
• Making a Team Approach Less Threatening
• Genuinely Involving all Parties
• Openness to Differing Input and Approaches
• Being Honest About Concerns
• Hearing and Supporting Feelings and Needs
• Avoiding Jargon and Using Clear Explanations