The booklet offers guidelines to help the educator in making meetings with parents more relaxed and productive, particularly in meeting the needs of special education students. Listed in an introduction are recommendations for productive parent-professional interactions, including that parents should be fully participating members of the team, jargon should be minimized, and parents should be given support and encouragement in coping with the problems and frustrations of raising a handicapped child. Eight basic conference techniques are described and illustrated in the remainder of the booklet: observing, listening, starting the conference, questioning, discussing relevant matters, handling personal questions, maintaining leadership/direction/redirection, and ending the discussion. (SB)