Customer Reviews (1)

A must-read for anyone considering student-led conferences!
I am a first-grade teacher in Palo Alto, California.When I was first interested in experimenting with student-led parent conferences, I came across this book and found it to be a wonderful resource.It was extremelyeasy to read, and it was full of great ideas for ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTINGstudent-led conferences in my own classroom.I especially appreciated themany real-life classroom examples, taken from the author's own experiences. I now incorporate student-led parent conferences as part of my program,and the parents love it!!I can't recommend this book enough for anyteacher interested in student-led parent conferences. ... Read more

Product Description
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 betweenthe 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.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Too much personal musings
I would not recommend this for the layman. The author is telling too many of her own stories.

Essential to any teacher
I bought this because because every teacher needs some help working alongside parents.I have yet to have a class (undergraduate/graduate) where we have been taught how to collaborate with parents. This is not a list of what to and what to not do with parents. Instead, this book shares many personal accounts of both teachers and parents.

As I work toward my doctoral degree, I will remember this book as a text in my teacher-training classes.

A truly engaging book.
This is certainly a "must-read" for both parents and teachers alike, in order to align their performance desires and expectations.This book paves the way for dialogue that isneeded between parents and teachers. ... Read more

Product Description
This book can be used for report card comments (both English and Spanish), notes to parents, parent conference, and telephone communications. *Save hours of teacher time *Use for parent conferences and composing report card comments *Use for notes and phone calls to parents *Vocabulary lists facilitate substitutions *Save cost of hiring translators * ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Parlez vous espanol si vous plait?
One of the downsides of 12 years of instruction in French was the unfortunate inability to find a Spanish verb when writing a parent letter in Spanish in teaching situations. This book is awesome. Want to say a comment on a weekly report (that I do send every week for these at least 25 years) or want to give good or thoughtful comments this book allows you to use Spanish for those parents that need this. And in the process you learn to speak at least this functional aspect of your teaching job.
I do like playing in tech, spending an hour everyday on Rosetta Stone to learn to speak to families is not quite the same as this. This is sort of old school pen and pencil, paper,a report copying out style of what you want to say from a plethora of possibility. Very useful. It isn't elegant but it allows functioning. Clear meanings, written appropriately. Positive.
Mine is 20 years old, well 1990. But I had to go here and buy two for peers that were looking with envy at reporting time.
Yes, you can use the Babelfish. I just prefer this. I am at 49 fairly old school. I took it to the docs office recently sitting for my chemicals and did five report cards.
Pretty reasonable $ used. Comments cover discipline, praise,need improvements, reading, math, social skills, curricular areas. Very comprehensive. I wish I had the Family Letters in Spanish as well.

ESL Teacher's Best Friend
This is my new best friend.It helps so much during parent conference time or for writing notes home.It has so many different phrases to choose from and is very specific and easy to use.I recommend this for any teacher who needs to communicate with Spanish speaking parents.

Reporting to parents in English and Spanish
I am a librarian at a bilingual school.My teachers love this book when report card time comes.It helps them put into words what they need to say on the report card in a very professional way.I highly recommend it for school libraries and teachers.Since it is in English and Spanish it works well for all teachers. ... Read more

Product Description
Although teachers hold many conferences with parents, most receive very little training in crucial communication theory and conferencing skills. This guide identifies the purposes of parent conferences and demonstrates skills including how to hold an effective conference; how to deliver an unwelcome message; and how to handle an uncommunicative parent. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Childhood Education, published by Association for Childhood Education International on December 22, 1997. The length of the article is 1731 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Parents can contribute to the school performance of their children by taking advantage of parent conference time. By attending meetings with teachers, parents are able to convey their beliefs and concerns about the learning of their offspring and, with the cooperation of teachers, find solutions to problems that may be troubling them. Parents should share information about the non-school activities of their children, demonstrate genuine interest in their children's performance and put teachers at ease. They should also set meetings outside of scheduled conferences with the school if necessary.

Citation Details
Title: Parent conferences: a conversation between you and your child's teacher.
Author: Rita Newman
Publication: Childhood Education (Refereed)
Date: December 22, 1997
Publisher: Association for Childhood Education International
Volume: v74Issue: n2Page: p100(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Research has shown that good family school relations are vital to a child's success in school. Should I Go to the Teacher? provides guidance to parents to help their child receive the best educational experience possible. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great resource for teachers or parents
This book is a terrific source for learning how to deal with your kid'd teacher. The explainations are terrific and the advice first rate. I highly recommend this to anyone with a child in school!!! ... Read more

Product Description
...based on the premise that suitably trained educators are the most appropriate resources for collaboratively serving the needs of parents and families of children with exceptionalities ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Intervention in School & Clinic, published by Pro-Ed on September 1, 2001. The length of the article is 2020 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Enhance the Involvement of Parents from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds.
Author: Angela Flett
Publication: Intervention in School & Clinic (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2001
Publisher: Pro-Ed
Volume: 37Issue: 1Page: 53

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Product Description
This digital document is an article from Phi Delta Kappan, published by Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. on June 1, 1997. The length of the article is 1859 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Parent-teacher relationships are important for the improvement of public schools. Forums conducted by the National PTA and Phi Delta Kappa were aimed in improving parent involvement and support. The forums will also improve public trust and support for public school teachers.

Citation Details
Title: Continuing a commitment. (public school teachers and parents)
Author: Shirley Igo
Publication: Phi Delta Kappan (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 1997
Publisher: Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.
Volume: v78Issue: n10Page: p771(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Childhood Education, published by Association for Childhood Education International on September 22, 1998. The length of the article is 5361 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Teachers could get to know more about the parents of their students by hosting a 'Parents Party' before a Parent-Teacher Association meeting. The party could be an informal one where each attendee can participate in an informational session. Teachers could also include their students in promoting the event's success by asking them to make snacks and refreshments and by encouraging them to hang decorations.

Citation Details
Title: Throw a parent party! (parent-teacher associations)
Author: Sherwin Washburn
Publication: Childhood Education (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 1998
Publisher: Association for Childhood Education International
Volume: v75Issue: n1Page: p61(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more