Grade level: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, k, e, p, i, t.

Provides advice for elementary teachers on collaborating with parents to enhance a child's educational experience.

At two of London's most exclusive prep schools, there are strict rules against parents fraternising with teachers. Well, that's the theory, in any case. Jenna, a Year 3 teacher at St Cuthbert's, catches the eye of the school's highest-profile parent, a world-famous action movie star, with far-reaching consequences. Meanwhile, over at Chiltern House, Astrid is still licking her wounds after her husband left her. Her daughter's PE teacher, Callum, may be her best chance of rediscovering her joie de vivre. Astrid's friend Natalia, whose life revolves around motherhood these days, finds herself questioning everything she's taken for granted when her husband becomes embroiled in a #MeToo scandal. Really, the only ones behaving themselves are the kids ...

With the insights she has gleaned from her close and subtle observation of parent-teacher conferences, renowned Harvard University professor Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot has written a wise, useful book about the ways in which parents and teachers can make the most of their essential conversation—the dialogue between the most vital people in a child’s life. “The essential conversation” is the crucial exchange that occurs between parents and teachers—a dialogue that takes place more than one hundred million times a year across our country and is both mirror of and metaphor for the larger cultural forces that define family-school relationships and shape the development of our children. Participating in this twice-yearly ritual, so friendly and benign in its apparent goals, parents and teachers are often wracked with anxiety. In a meeting marked by decorum and politeness, they frequently exhibit wariness and assume defensive postures. Even though the conversation appears to be focused on the student, adults may find themselves playing out their own childhood histories, insecurities, and fears. Through vivid portraits and parables, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot captures the dynamics of this complex, intense relationship from the perspective of both parents and teachers. She also identifies new principles and practices for improving family-school relationships. In a voice that combines the passion of a mother, the skepticism of a social scientist, and the keen understanding of one of our nation’s most admired educators, Lawrence-Lightfoot offers penetrating analysis and an urgent call to arms for all those who want to act in the best interests of their children. For parents and teachers who seek productive dialogues and collaborative alliances in support of the learning and growth of their children, this book will offer valuable insights, incisive lessons, and deft guidance on how to communicate more effectively. In The Essential Conversation, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot brings scholarship, warmth, and wisdom to an immensely important cultural subject—the way we raise our children.

Maximize your child’s potential in ways that extend beyond academics alone. Gain a clearer, more cohesive relationship with their teachers. A Teacher’s Inside Advice to Parents: How Children Thrive with Leadership, Love, Laughter, and Learning explains how to support and inspire all kids towards success and satisfaction. When parents and teachers share common goals and methods to meet a child’s essential needs, this wraparound effect flows seamlessly from home to school and back again. This affirming, practical parenting approach provides expert insight for connecting with the classroom and influencing your child in four fundamental aspects: Leadership supplies the appropriate guidelines and routines your child requires in order to feel a soothing sense of security, structure, and stability. Love offers the attention, encouragement, and acceptance that create a strong bond of trust and open communication between you and your child. Laughter adds the joy, excitement, and adventure that embolden and assist in your child’s personal exploration of creativity, purpose, and direction. Learning develops and reinforces your child’s knowledge, wisdom, and skills vital for a contributing, self-sufficient life. The Four Ls of Parenting directly lead to the cooperation, confidence, contentment, and capabilities parents and teachers both strive to foster in every child—all accomplished with increased efficacy and delight while nurturing and educating the kids they care about so deeply.

The present volume proposes different international scientific contributions coming from professionals and researchers interested in teaching, learning and social interactions within a range of various educational settings. These scientific investigations, as well as professional experiences as teachers, are interconnected because they are built around the connections between teachers, students and parents. The chapters offer a plurality of methodologies and approaches dealing with different educational aspects related to adults' and children's involvement in various cultures. The contributions propose a set of analyses of the relationships between school and family in risk situations and within different dialogical frames. The chapters assume specific perspectives in considering the family-school interactions and incorporate analytical reflections connected to specific situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the question of inclusive education. The volume intends to foster a new comprehension of the dynamics involving school actors and families. Each contribution looks at the interconnections between teachers, students and parents, in order to highlight the centrality of the role of social actors within various educational settings in which the processes of teaching and learning are developed. In this sense, schools and families are presented as communities continuously engaged in interpersonal relationships, and soliciting various processes of appropriation of cultural, semiotic, professional, and emotional resources. The volume proposes approaches that are useful to better understand how teachers, students and parents can contribute, in different and complementary ways, to build meaningful frameworks for the processes of teaching and learning.

Wherever you are in your family engagement journey, the values, research, testimonials, and perspectives collected here can provide invaluable guidance and inspiration as you continue to dig deep into engaging every family. You'll find examples of successes and challenges from families and educators, as well as reflection questions to support your own journey in evaluating and developing new strategies. This Parents as Teachers publication provides a framework for staff and administration in home-visiting, early care and education, and schools to examine and build family engagement initiatives based on 10 foundational values that drive authentic partnership.