Involving Parents of Students With Special Needs

Jill C. Dardig is a professor of education at Ohio Dominican University, where she teaches a variety of courses and supervises student teachers. She has trained intervention specialists for the past 30 years at the university and was the first recipient of Ohio Dominican′s Booth-Ferris Master Faculty Award. Dardig has served as president of the Teacher Education Division of the Ohio Federation Council for Exceptional Children. She worked previously as a curriculum specialist for the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, a special education faculty member at Russell Sage College, a research assistant for the Northeast Regional Media Center for the Deaf, and a parent educator for Project Change. Dardig has written a variety of books and other publications about and for parents.

"This book makes a great contribution to the field of not only special education, but also general education. Teachers across specialties will find these strategies helpful for facilitating communication with parents and caregivers."

• Special Feature FiguresPrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author1. IntroductionParent Involvement Is Important and Up to You!Your Personal Philosophy of Parent Involvement2. Getting StartedStrategy 1: Personalized LetterheadStrategy 2: Parent Contact LogStrategy 3: Introductory LetterStrategy 4: Parent Volunteer Invitation3. Designing Your Classroom to Educate ParentsStrategy 5: The Visible Curriculum4. Group Written Communication and InteractionStrategy 6: Suggestion Box LetterStrategy 7: Class Newsletter5. Personalized Written Communication and InteractionStrategy 8: Weekly Progress ReportStrategy 9: Parent Appreciation LetterStrategy 10: Print Resource LetterStrategy 11: Internet Resource LetterStrategy 12: E-mail Communication6. Telephone CommunicationStrategy 13: Phone Call to an OrganizationStrategy 14: Phone Calls to ParentsStrategy 15: Voicemail7. In-Person MeetingsStrategy 16: Parent Group MeetingsStrategy 17: Pre-Conference Parent SurveyStrategy 18: Tips for Successful Conferences8. Helping Parents Teach Their Children at HomeStrategy 19: IEP/IFSP Practice LetterStrategy 20: Home Activity CalendarStrategy 21: Home Response CardsStrategy 22: Make-It-Take-It WorkshopStrategy 23: Summer Activities Letter9. Challenges to Parent InvolvementStrategy 24: Conflict SituationsObstacles to Parent Involvement10. Staying Organized and Planning for Next YearStrategy 25: Parent Involvement PortfolioParent Involvement Action PlanReferencesIndex