Family-Teacher Partnerships in High Poverty Schools

The importance of parental support for children's education can often be overlooked or misunderstood by both teachers and parents themselves. This brief introduction to improving communication between the two groups may be targeted to high-poverty institutions, but it's applicable to any school. Well-edited interviews with a diverse range of parents, classroom teachers, and administrators examine various obstacles to interaction—including socioeconomic and cultural factors—while exploring ways to overcome them. Creative strategies for “going beyond the parent-teacher conference” are presented, and the program includes advice for those who are new to the teaching profession. Some ideas may challenge educators who see their jobs as involving only a classroom stint lasting from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; however, the point made here is that when student success is seen as a priority, home visits or making oneself available via cell phone after school hours and on weekends can be well worth it. Recommended. Aud: E, I, J, H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)