Presents the Massachusetts Parent Involvement Project (MassPIP) comprising 59 local community coalitions of businesses, service organizations, school personnel, parents, and children. Describes steps coalitions follow in planning events and presents community success stories. The project developed a set of activities that parents can do at home…

Recounts the use of pets in a kindergarten classroom for children to experience pet ownership and to share the care of animals. Outlines the entire process of pet selection, program implementation, and reactions to the program. Notes that in addition to exposure to pet care, children quickly learned the days of the week and recycling concepts. (SD)

Describes St. Maria Goretti School's Home/School-Read/Discuss program in which parent, teacher, and child sign a contract for leisure reading. Both parent and child read and discuss the selected books. Responsibilities of each participant are listed on the sample reading contract provided. (SJL)

Describes a successful home-based parent-training program implemented in the Tyrone, Pennsylvania school district in l979 which supports the concept of training parents to work with their preschoolers at home as an effective approach toward improving learning readiness and achieving parental involvement in the early education of children. (NH)

States that strategic out-of-school learning opportunities (home assignments) can enrich social studies learning by providing for life applications of what is taught in school. Describes how to create a curricular unit, the purposes and functions of home assignments, and the parental involvement initiated because of these assignments. (CMK)

Explores the advantages of beginning or continuing a home visitation program as a method for developing positive school-home relationships. Reveals that home visitation is not widely practiced due to unavailable or uncooperative parents, lack of time, and safety concerns. Addresses strategies to overcome obstacles and program management concerns.…

Describes a kit containing mathematical enrichment activities and activity evaluation sheets that kindergarten students can complete at home. Thirteen sample activities involving weather, pattern recognition, counting, money, estimation, observation skills, weight, temperature, measurement, and time are included. Suggestions for utilization, care,…