This book helps parents develop good working relationships with their children's teachers and become involved with the school. Suggestions are provided for dealing with school bureaucracy and individual teachers. Emphasis is placed on parent empathy with the teacher's role. Topics discussed include: skills specific to effective communication with schools; a blueprint of a typical school system; a look at the teacher's day; how to address problems when they occur; when to go to the teachers; and the issues and circumstances that warrant going to the principal. Six chapters are entitled: (1) "But I Communicate Just Fine!" (2) "What Makes Teachers Tick"; (3) "How the School Is Working for You"; (4) "How To Develop the Parent-Teacher Relationship and Keep Things Running Well"; (5)"Addressing Problems: Approaching the Teacher and Keeping Your Cool"; and (6) "Bringing Concerns to the Principal." Effective communication requires that the parent pay attention to the school's efforts to communicate, through notices or any other avenue, and that the parent be involved in the school, unafraid to raise even small concerns, and ready to react to major issues in a nonconfrontational way. Volunteer involvement can be key in understanding how the school system works and in gaining the respect of teachers and administration. (SLD)