Reviewed by Laura Weiss

Education is at the top of the national agenda today generating debates at the national, state, and local levels. Numerous school reform efforts are underway, and it seems that everyone has an opinion about what's wrong with our schools and what should be done to fix them.

Federal policy debates and massive school reform initiatives, however, have very little to do with what actually happens in primary grade classrooms day by day. What parents most want to know is: what is going on in my child's classroom. What Every Parent Needs to Know About 1st, 2nd & 3rd Grades meets that need with clear descriptions of how children learn and what classrooms look like when children are learning. The authors' clear message is that the schools of yesterday are not good enough for the needs of tomorrow. They take you inside exciting classrooms where children are challenged to become thinkers, problem-solvers, and enthusiastic learners.

The book begins with basic questions parents ask and provides a checklist for parents to use as they analyze their child's classroom. A chapter on what the classroom should look like gives parents guidance on what they should see and why. Subject chapters on reading, writing, math, social studies, and science use actual classroom vignettes to describe teaching methods that meet children's needs. The authors, experienced educators all, guide parents in ways to evaluate whether there is appropriate balance in their child's learning experiences. They attempt to get beyond the whole language/phonics debate by talking about how children actually learn to read and write.

Each chapter also guides parents on how to support their child at home and offers specific
questions they can ask their child's teacher. With Web sites, a glossary of education terms, and information on surviving homework, this book will empower parents to become effective partners in and powerful advocates for their child's education.