This booklet is the second in a series on educational practices that generally improve learning. Based on the view that schools can work with families to improve the curriculum of the home regardless of the family's economic situation, the booklet focuses on parents as children's first and most powerful teachers and presents principles related to what parents can do to help their children do well in school. The discussion of each principle includes a summary of research findings and a description of the implications for teaching that follow from them. The principles relate to: (1) the curriculum of the home; (2) the parent-child relationship; (3) the routine of family life; (4) family expectations and supervision; (5) homework; (6) school-home communication; (7) parental involvement; (8) parent education; (9) family-school relationships; and (10) families and communities. (Contains 46 references.) (KB)