This report reviews 5 years of work involving the Parent Empowerment Project (PEP) and also examines the results of a study that was undertaken to plot the changes in school performance of at-risk children and youth that have occurred since their parents became involved with PEP. It includes: (1) a summary of the demographics and characteristics…

A practicum was designed to provide an intervention for preschoolers who were at risk for academic difficulties. A developmentally appropriate curriculum was used to increase the developmental levels of the children, and training was provided to parents to enhance their parenting skills and knowledge, and consequently to guarantee the stability of…

School-initiated activities to change the home educational environment can strongly influence student learning, even in schools serving low-income and minority families. This sourcebook shows various ways that schools can take the initiative in reaching out and working with families as equal partners; and explores how family life, school programs,…

This final report describes the activities and accomplishments of a 3-year project to enhance the knowledge and skills of special and general educators as well as parents of children having attention deficit disorder through the development of training materials and workshops. Over 15 professional development activities on the topic of attention…

Parenting is the toughest job there is, and yet, there is very little training. Most parent their children by the methods their parents used. Parenting involves skills that must be learned. Even among good parents there is always room for improvement. This series of workshops is designed for persons who want to be better parents or guardians. Four…

This study explores how selected course experiences at the University of Memphis (Tennessee) influenced preservice teachers' perceptions of their comfort and competence levels in planning and implementing parent involvement programs. The course required of all elementary and early childhood education students, called "School/Community…

This practicum aimed to increase parental involvement in an elementary school through the fourth grade. Objectives were that: (1) parental attendance at PTA meetings would increase by 25 percent; (2) the number of parent chaperons per field trip would increase from zero to two; and (3) one parent would help out with classroom activities each week.…

This curriculum guide presents learning activities for use by facilitators in Parent Time sessions in the Family Literacy Program, a part of Kentucky's Parent and Child Educational Program (PACE). In Parent Time sessions, PACE instructors share information with parents, and parents practice family life skills. The learning activities used in the…

This practicum was designed to expand the scope of the inservice mathematics manipulative training program to address the lack of parent and teacher understanding of the use of manipulatives that are used by Chapter I math tutors to remediate students. A second aim was to acquaint and assist parents and teachers with remediation of educationally…

Conducted in a school serving mainly Hispanic children, this practicum implemented an intervention designed to increase parents' involvement in the learning activities of their children. Practicum goals were to: (1) increase parents' attendance at Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings; (2) increase parents' attendance at parent-teacher…

The reading activities collected in this handbook were used in parent workshops organized to increase the involvement of parents of Italian descent in teaching their children reading skills. The goal of the lessons was to increase parents' activities directed toward reading skills and to familiarize parents with what their children were learning…

Thirteen Negro mothers of preschool children who attended a day care program participated in a series o f six weekly meetings led by an educator and devoted to (1) discussion and demonstration o f ways the mothers could expand their children's learning skills and (2) discussion of aspects of the mother-child relationship. The reason for these…

The goal of this module is to expand the teacher's skill in working with parents of young handicapped children to foster the children's learning. It is designed to extend the teacher's skill in exchanging information with parents, and provides guidelines on working with individual families as well as conducting group meetings with parents.…

Maintains that parents of a handicapped child, for example, a child with cerebral palsy, are "walking a tightrope." Successful intervention with the disabled child in the classroom is possible only when there is strong teacher-parent communication. This position is illustrated by an account of a parent's personal experience. (BB)

This report evaluates the Chicago Public Schools' 1992-93 Prekindergarten Program for 3- to 5-year old children at risk of academic failure. During the 1992-93 academic year, the State Prekindergarten Program served 10,735 3- and 4-year-olds at 286 sites throughout the city. The report describes and evaluates the program's four components: (1) a…