Because parents of upper elementary school students are less likely to attend school conferences, reading teachers at this level must find unique ways to communicate with the home. Techniques for improving communication include the following: (1) holding workshops at the start of the school year to explain classroom goals and procedures, (2) presenting student skits or plays during parent-school meetings to improve attendance, (3) writing short letters suggesting how parents can stimulate skills developed in the classroom, (4) assigning student letters telling parents what they are doing in school, (5) extending specific invitations to parents to visit the school, (6) sending "happy grams" telling parents when their child has done something special, (7) telephoning rather than writing parents about a serious problem, and (8) extending invitations to parents to observe classes at specific times of the year. (MM)