Discusses the Comer Parents' Program Model, a structure to develop and plan effective parent-school partnerships. Describes the program's three levels (broad-based participation, parents-as-volunteers, and parents-as-decision-makers). Notes the need for a comprehensive plan. Discusses the four key elements of the plan: information exchange,…

A project called the Science Partners Program (SPP) is described. The thrust of the SPP is to develop an avenue whereby students and parents can explore related events around the home and community during out-of-school hours. Advantages of the SPP in enhancing an existing elementary program are presented. (KR)

Describes a Chicago, IL, family literacy program that offers simultaneous and connected education for Latino adults and children. Discusses how the Parents as Teachers and ESL parts of the program are connected; how to construct a family literacy curriculum; what language should be used for family literacy instruction; and what happens in a…

Notes arguments supporting the importance of parent education to help parents become better teachers of their young children. Describes two projects of the Parents as Teachers Program (NPAT), one in the state of Missouri; the other, a related pilot project in Australia's New South Wales. Notes the positive evaluation results from Missouri's…

Describes a program that will provide parents with some knowledge of emergent literacy development and with simple literacy activities in which both parents and children can participate at home to encourage the development of early reading and writing skills. (SG)

Describes the attempt to reinitiate conversation and dialogue between teachers and parents through a Book Club called "Parents and Teachers as Readers" in which teachers and parents from one elementary school came together to read and discuss children's books. Looks at how assumptions regarding teaching, parenting, and reading became…

Describes how one school-based program (Parents as Partners in Reading) continued to influence the ways in which a group of low-income mothers assisted other low-income mothers and fathers in sharing books with their children after the program developer was no longer actively involved in monitoring the book-reading program. (SR)

Describes two models of preschool "playrooms" developed in Serbia based on British playgroups as an alternative to professionally run creches and kindergartens. Playrooms are managed and staffed by parents and promote play as an authentic activity for preschool children. Traces program development and cites research results comparing the…

The manual provides an overview of Project ForSight, a program to assist parents in teaching their preschool multihandicapped, visually impaired children at home. Chapter 1 presents background information and describes procedures for locating, screening, assessing, and programing the children it serves. Also offered are procedures for replicating…

Although Montessori parents recognize the importance of early second-language acquisition and would like to help their children obtain these skills, they often lack the knowledge that would enable them to take an active role in supporting such learning. The staff of the Montessori Center of Nyack, New York, devised three simple ways to bring…

Describes a parent volunteer tutoring program, called "Reading Together," that is run by members of the community, and that provides opportunities for kindergarten and pre-first-grade children to read and write in a playful environment. (SR)

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education developed a pilot parent education program that began in 1981 and was available to parents of children in the state's 543 school districts. In 1984, the state legislature provided funding for the program and mandated that it be made available to all parents of children under 3 years of…

Described is a program which encouraged parents to become involved with their children in a science program at home. Discussed are the activities and organization of the program. A list of resources is provided. (CW)

Describes Special Parents Are Reading to Kids (SPARK), a program at an elementary school in Clute, Texas, which is a family literacy program for both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parents, which teaches them how to share books with their children. (SR)

Describes an Australian program, called Talk to a Literacy Learner, which involves parents more intimately in the literacy development of their children. Focuses on the strategies parents use to interact with their children as they read and write. Discusses program effectiveness. (SR)