This book aims to help teachers who are committed to whole language principles explain the philosophy to their students' parents. It addresses the concerns of parents who most likely grew up in a traditional, teacher-centered educational system, and who therefore might be unfamiliar with a whole language approach to language arts. Drawing on work by noted educators including Constance Weaver and Kenneth Goodman, the book proposes to demystify whole language, explaining practices such as invented spelling and writing process. Exercises and activities that involve parents in their children's learning are demonstrated, using parent-teacher groups. The book encourages teachers and parents to recognize each other as partners in children's education. It contains generous examples of parents' writing, detailing their interest and support of whole language. The book closes with a chapter on educational reform--the recent standards movement--which supports the position that parents must be viewed as learners and must be brought into the education system in an active way. (NKA)