The author believes that parents need to understand the reasoning behind the techniques employed in the classroom. He believes that this would facilitate an increase in parental involvement and strengthen the link between home and school. The workshops' structure, designed to build trust, ownership, and participation, is described. The book recommends that the workshops consist of fifteen to twenty parents, a few teachers, the school social worker or psychologist, and two co-facilitators. The workshops should include a mix of experiential activities, guest presentations, journal writing, and shared books.
Special attention is given to activities at home that support children's learning at school.
In one activity to work on self-esteem issues, parents are asked to view life as a stream and the important changes they have experienced as the stepping stones. From this starting point, they consider changes in their children's lives. The practical details of the workshops, such as location, transportation, and stipends for participants, are outlined as well. The book also provides a sample schedule of a six-week program, examples of work that parents have produced, and frequently asked questions. Samples of workshop materials and a list of additional readings are included.