Read Morrison, Storey & Zhang (2010)
Morrison, Storey & Zhang (2015)Complete the handout while watching the video below:
Answer the questions below:
- Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
- How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
- What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
- What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
- What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
- What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
Reply to 2 comments!
1. Families should be involved in early childhood programs because this can help extend teaching outside of the classroom. Which will create a more positive experience for children . This experience will help children perform better in school.
2. Parents may feel afraid , unsure and scared. Why? because they are unfamiliar with the place and not aware what going on.
3. The things that could be prohibiting families from being involve in early childhood programs, are the lack of time, some could have busy work schedules. Some might have smaller children , and might not have a baby sitter. Some might have a long list of other responsibilities.
4.Teachers can let parents know ahead of time so they are involve in early childhood programs, They can do it at a certain time of the day like early mornings , or before the day ends.
5. My school did PTA and it was a bit different each parent was in charge of helping a teacher with a program, then there was also parent involvement day , here the teachers would let the parent know what the children were learning and they would give out handouts.
6. My school would have tried to just keep encouraging my family to get involved. try to work around there work schedules.
Hi Emily
Good answers.
Hi Emily,
I too feel the same way for your answer for #2, if you’ve never met the teacher and are new to a center those feelings are completely accurate. Once trust and relationships are built with the teacher it will be much easier to feel at ease leaving their little one for most of the day.
I agree that schools should try to work around the parents work schedules because I believe a lot of parents would like to be involved but it is hard when they have to work.
Great job Emily !
Hey Emily, I like how your school’s PTA gave each parent an actual role in the school. That is a great way to engage parents in the school life.
Hi Emily
Good responses, I do agree with what you said
Answer the questions below:
1. Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
2. How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
3. What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
4. What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
5. What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
6. What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
1. Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Answer: When parents get involved they can easily establish a connection between what is learned at care center and what takes place at home. Also helps children perform better when they are in school.
2. How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Answer: Families may feel at ease, sometimes children can be a hand full and do need to be monitored 24/7 so to have a break for 6-7 hours may be a relief for families but some may be hard some parents have trust issues so leaving their kid with other people might not always be good and some families do hear stories about how day center neglect and mistreat children so some parents may be super protective
3. What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
Answer: Working , having a job can be the main reason. Many parents have full-time jobs which is hard to be supportive for their kids if they have work duties and are work majority of the time.
4. What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Answer; Provide resources helpful to parents, and make them available in a private website, a parent portal, Provide resources helpful to parents, and make them available in a private website, a parent portal, Encourage parents to volunteer in any actives we create in the classroom for the children, etc.
5. What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
Answer: PTA meetings parent–teacher association. It was an organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a school. To ensure the school offers the best learning experience for the students keeping in mind their needs.
6. What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
Answer: Work around families time frame. My parents worked a lot especially on the weekday so if they planned actives during the weekend it would have been a little much better.
Hello, I agree with your answers, with question 3 I agree . Sometimes parents have very busy work schedules.
Hi Janate
You have some good answers as always. I agree with yours answers. Number 3 and 4 is right on point.
I always with your answers and feedback
1. Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Families should be involved because most kids important cognitive development happens during their preschools years. Parent involvement helps extend teaching outside the classroom creates a more positive experience for children and helps perform better when they are in school.
2. How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Families may uneasy leaving their kids at daycare center, because they have trust issues and they are not sure how the child would adjust to a new environment.
3. What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
A parent could have a crazy work schedule that’s prohibiting them to be involved in the early childhood program as much as they want to. Parent could also be embarrass of the child is acting and don’t want to face the teacher.
4. What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Teacher could include families in decision making. Empower parents by creating a parent teacher group so they could see what’s going on. Ask parents for their feedback about classroom activities, field trips etc.
5. What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
My school guidance counselor had meeting with my mother and aunt about my progress in school, she explained what needed to be done in order for me to be successful in school. No it wasn’t successful because I wanted to do my own thing which I did, and thought I knew it all and I sure didn’t.
6. What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
Nothing, they tried their best. I thought I was too grown and I wasn’t. I learned from my mistakes.
Hello, I enjoy reading your responses, for question 1 you gave a detailed answer. I agree preschool years are important.
why should family be involved in early childhood programs?
it is important that families are involved because they know how to engage with there children and is also an huge part of cognitive development. It also brings more teaching to a children outside of a classroom
how might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
trusting and safe if not theres no point of leaving them
what could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs
parents may have long work hours, meetings especially ones that can not be rescheduled
what should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
send out emails letting parents, speaking to them during pick up time about the idea and then once an agreement is made, Then try to perform easy task then harder
what did you school(s) do to include your family? was it successful?
my school reached out to both my parents through text everyday as reminder that my learning was important and them being apart of it would make me be a great and smart person.. so they took that information and ran with it so yes it was successful
what could have you school do differently to include your family>
nothing I think they did great
Hi Delesahn
Regarding question two, do you think it is appropriate for parents to feel anxious and scared to leave their kids? In my opinion (i’m not a parent) it can be scary to leave your child for the first time in any setting. You have to build trust, I don’t know if that can be built before parents ever meet the teacher or see the classroom. For that reason I respectfully disagree with your answer.
1.Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
This allows parents to be involved in their child’s learning in school. They can carry this to their home and continue with the conversations and explorations. This helps the children to keep developing and expanding their knowledge.
2.How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Families may feel anxious and a bit hesitant if it is a new place for both kid and parents. However, soma families may be very open and feel more than okay leaving their child at a center, feeling it is trustworthy and safe.
3.What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
A family may have limitations in engaging with programs due to work schedules. In addition to work taking the time commute between work and their child’s school. Even having more than one child may make getting involved more difficult, specially if the children attend different schools. If there is only one parents in the picture it may also make it more difficult to engage. If the family does not recognize English as their first language it may make it even more difficult to feel like they can join and be a part of the classroom.
4.What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Teacher should send out weekly newsletter stating what they have done for the week, the curriculum they studied and follow up questions they can ask their children. The teacher can also put up bulletin boards with sign up sheets to volunteer, this bulletin board is also useful to display the children work. Setting up a classroom website with photos from various activities will make parents feel like they are more involved. Directing parents to the schools website to see what is coming up is another way to include families. Making sure the emails, handouts, and websites can be accessible to families in their native language.
5.What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
My schools provided translators for my parents and sent out handouts in different languages. At times at least one principal, counselor and nurse spoke Spanish as it was the second most common language. Even though it was helpful my parents never felt welcomed or accepted, if they attended anything they couldn’t community with most parents and my teachers. This made it difficult for my parents to be involved in most of my school life.
6.What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family
My school (s) could have set up a international breakfast for parents, added parental groups lead by cheaters that spoke different languages so they could communicate. This would have allowed parents to address concerns they had and feel important and acknowledged. My school could have also sent flyers home since most handouts get lost in backpacks at the end of the day. It would have also been helpful for administration to make it known that parents could speak to them regardless fo language differences.
I agree with your answer to question #4 because everything you said would help include families be involved. What I like most about it is that they can be involved even if they cannot physically be in school. This is important because a lot of families work during the day.
Hi Maria. I think its great that your school provided translators and hand outs in different languages to help them comprehend what was going on. This is important because schools shouldn’t only favor in the child’s behalf but the parents behalf as well. Building that community is so important in schools regardless of culture and background
1. Why should families be involved in early childhood programs?
Families should be involved because positive family involvement leads to better social, behavioral, and academic outcomes. Families being involved in early childhood programs can extend learning from the classroom into their home.
2. How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Families might both feel relieved and anxious. They might feel relieved that their child is being left with professionals. They might feel anxious because they are not there themselves.
3. What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
A busy schedule is one thing that could prohibit families from being involved in early childhood programs, most parents need early childcare because they need child care while they are at work. Another thing that can prohibit families from being involved is not feeling comfortable, for example, if they speak another language and no one else in the center does.
4. What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Teachers should communicate with the families; include families in decisions; provide volunteer opportunities, and collaborating with the community’s local services and resources to help children learn.
5. What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
My school did family lunches, had a PTA and school performances. We also had a guidance counselor that cared for his students deeply. He saw that the school was not providing the education it should and suggested schools to our families that would help us learn better.
6. What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
They could have included families in decisions. They could’ve also held school performances after school instead of during the day for families that worked during the day. The PTA was small, maybe they should have reached out to more families to join.
Hi Kenneth Soto,
I agree with you when you mentioned that parents could be uncomfortable because they do not talk language. They might not only have a lack of language but also certain parent might have a limited education. consequently, they hesitate to involve them self in the child schooling as well as they might struggle to help there children at home which will impact negatively children learning.
Hey Kenneth, I like your answer for question #2 because that is something I thought about but didn’t mention. A good amount of parents just dropped their child off and assume they are in good hands, which should always be the case. But it can be risky and damaging not knowing who you are leaving your child with.
Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Because children can do better in school when parents are involved. And also, families can more understand the curriculum, behavior and forwarding of the classroom.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Child is a big world for a family. They leave their child in a center because they trust the center. Their feelings would be a little negative emotion. Trust is the foundation of really any good early childhood program. Every teacher needs to build a trust and intimate relationship with the student’s family.
What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
Culture differences, language differences, they are not educated, or they don’t have more time involved in early childhood programs.
What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Teachers should invite every parent and explain how a parent is very important in a school program. And then, teachers need to share the knowledge foundation of the children’s learning such as extending the learning from the classroom to home. And also, the teacher should provide a parent weekly newsletter to every parent. And looking to volunteer and develop relationships with parents.
What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
My parents were always busy when I was a child. So, it was not successful because they don’t want to participate.
What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
The school could provide knowledge about child behavior, skills and milestones to all of the parents. It would be very nice when I was a child.
I agree because some families do not understand child development and how their household life and family attributes can affect ones learning. Some people are misinformed that children only learn in school and that learning only involves books and pencils which is simply not the case.
Yan, I support the newsletter suggestion but if you start a weekly one, you must maintain it. Weekly might be too time consuming, however, do it if you have the time. If you go above weekly issue of the newsletter, you can give them individual communication (memorandum, notice, letter, note etc.).
Hey
This is Luis Martinez,I agree that the Four primary barriers to parental involvement includes time, uncertainty, cultural barriers and lack of t supportive environment. This could be due to language barrier, in most immigrants’ homes families are not well informed about how the school’s curriculum work in terms of meetings, conferences, PTA reunions and info on programs that children qualified for better care and education.It is also true that school often do not reach out to parents.
Why should families be involved in early childhood programs?
Parents get more experiences so they can become better teachers at home. They can learn the different stages of development and recognize which stage their child is at. Studies show that children do better in school when parents are involved.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Families might feel scared but they also may feel their child is safe, depending on the teachers. They should feel good because the children get to learn.
What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
Some parents don’t like the teachers raising their kids. Parents often have to work and don’t have time to be involved.
What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
They should have more functions like PTA, bake sales or mother and daughter, father and son days, etc. They should invite parents to go on field trips with the class.
What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
It was successful because my mother was a note taker for me. She came on trips and was always in the PTA. This helped because it helped me to understand the notes. We also had movie nights, pajama nights and other little school activities. My mother was in charge of all of that because she wanted her kids to be successful in school.
What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
The schools could have involved more parents on school trips. We could have had more bake sales and other activities. More parties involving parents and more family game nights. Teachers should have always conversed with the parents and principal about what has been going on at school, how the child has been acting, and how the child can improve their skills.
Hi Shayna,
I support your idea when you said that school should involve parents in school trips, I had same idea in my comment. This will permit them not only to observe their children’s behavior, reactions and interactions as they explore the area. but also it permit to have the opportunity to communicate with their educator about certain points. Therefore, both teacher and parent could share their analyze and concern. what Bronfenbrenner’s in his theory called proximal system.
Hi Shayna,
I always agree with your answers and feedback!
Shayna, I support your response to the last question. Having those activities strengthen the relationship between parents and school. What helps is giving some of the reliable parents key roles/responsibilities so that the pressure will not be on selected school persons to do the planning and execution of those activities.
1. Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
I support the idea that parents should be involved in early childhood program because this will help not only to build trust with them but also to benefit child’s learning and development. working in collaboration with parents helps to provide an organize and coherent way that lead to provide great follow for child’s development. parent will know about the ways we adopt to support their kids and they will understand why we use those ways and strategies. Therefore, they will be helpful with the educative staff. Parent will feel more comfortable and less stress when they see where they leave their children. Children will respond smoothly to learning and they will feel more secure.
2. How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
In my opinion the parent’s feeling differs, it all depends on the parent them self, educators, and the center reputation. Generally, some parent might feel stressed and anxious, especially if they do not know whether the sitting of their children is safe and advantageous. While others might feel calm because school gives them break from the struggle they live daily with their children and different occupations.
3. What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
There are several things that could prevent parents from involving in early child program being engaged in full time work and they are incapable to follow their kids schooling. Parent with disabilities, parent might have a limited education and knowledge, or they are not mastering language they get embarrassed about that.
4. What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Organize parent meeting and provide them with their children improvements and needs, offer educational courses for parent who have limited knowledge about childhood education. Send a weekly newsletter, hire people that master different languages to communicate with parent language that helps them to understand more. Involve them in certain educative school tripe.
5. What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
There is an organization called Student guardians association who occupy of anything related in involving parent and school. School provide meetings for parents to provide them with information about their children or any information related to school. They send newsletter if needed. Yes, I think it was a successful way at certain points because it permitted them to be informed. However, these ways did not provide direct help specifically for the child in his or her development.
6. What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
They could involve them in certain activities such as organize invite them to assist courses in class with their children or certain activities. organize school tripe to the museum or zoo with parents.
Hi Yasmina, Wow I didn’t even think to consider how a parent(s) with limited education might feel embarrassed causing them to not feel comfortable being involved in their child’s program. This is important because there are so many reasons as to what might prohibit parents involvement, and this ties into being able to create strong relationships with the parents to make them feel comfortable and build that trust with them.
Hey Yasmine,
Great Job because you really went into dept in each of your responses especially question three you really thought outside the box.
Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Families should be involved in early childhood programs because children do better when their parents are involved. Building trust with the family allows the children to gain trust with the teachers and allows for intimate relation with the children. Parents who are involved also have better insight in what is being taught in the classrooms and how and could use certain teaching methods or tecniques to help at home.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Families might feel separation anxiety, especially if it’s their first child. They can be nervous and scared being away from their child for such a long period of time without being present .
What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
Depending on the family, a lot can go into consideration as to what might prohibit family from being involved in early childhood programs. Some families consist of one parent, and that parent might have to work during the hours of child care. Both parents could be working during the hours of childcare. Language barriers can also prohibit involvement or if there are multiple children in school at the same time.
What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Teachers should have a specific day where families are allowed to sit in and interact with the children with the teachers. Classrooms should not only be child friendly, but family friendly. Teachers also want to make sure that they are communicating efficiently with the parents and keeping them involved in their child’s development and sending home different projects for the child to do with the families.
What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
My school had parent teacher conference every month which allowed my parents to be involved in my progress throughout the school year. My teachers got to know my parents and before moving up to the next grade, that teacher would reach out to the parents, introduce themselves and explain to them what to expect the upcoming school year. This was very successful because it gave my parents the confidence that I was in good hands when they weren’t near. It also allowed them to prepare for certain subjects so that they can better understand and find ways to help me at home.
What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
I can only speak on behalf of grade school from 3rd grade and up because that is what I remember mostly. When I was able to attend Catholic school My parents were involved more because my teachers and principle made it their business to get to know the parents and hold conferences, bake sales, book sales etc. But when I transitioned into public school, I saw a big difference and the teachers and faculty weren’t as involved. For the public school I feel they could’ve been more involved with the parents, held more conferences, got to know each child better and done more outside of the classroom.
Hey Taina,
Good Job! I agree with your answer to question six because its true public schools are not as involved as other schools like charter and catholic schools.
1.Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
-Families should be involved in early childhood programs because family inolvement in early childhood classroom benefits the children.staff,and families and also creates a strong relationship between them.
2.How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
-Families might feel anxiety and a mixure of relief because a family can know their child is in good hands but they can’t be with there child every second of the day.
3.What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
-They need coaching in asking questions, not having time,and language barrier.
4.What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
-They can families to be more in the classroom,provide parent newsletters,have the highlights of the day on white board,ask parents to volunteer, giving them hand-on materials,and having meetings.
5.What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
-My schools did book fairs, lunch ins, bake sales, monthly meetings, sports events, and provide newletters.I think it was but it wasn’t successful because going to school in the bronx where many low incomes families lived the turn out to these events wasnt always big because most parents had to work or didnt have child care or couldnt reach the school due to not having money or a car.
6.What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
-I think they could had schools votes, they could had parents video chat in as well, could had child care or free transportion, and they could had better communcation of when these events were taking place give chance for parents prepare better.
Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
It’s important families should be involved in early childhood programs so they can know what is going on with their child’s development, what they are doing, and what they are learning. It’s important to know who your child is spending half of their day with. Educators are trusted with children in some of their most impressionable stages of life. When engaged educators are able to work with parents to learn more about the child to come up with the best plan of action that benefits the child’s development the most. Without the parent educators can only learn so much about a child. Family engagement/participation has been proved to be associated with high reading achievement, low rates of retention, and the families just have a better understanding of their child’s education.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
When leaving their child at a center it can be very overwhelming, uneasy, and cause a lot of anxiety for families which is why it is important to meet and collaborate with the person who you are leaving your child with. Educators have a heavy impact on every child’s life, so meeting them will allow families to gauge wether it’s going to be a positive impact or a negative one.
What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
One thing that can be prohibiting families from being involved can be time issues. Schedules may conflict and there are some parents/guardians that may possibly be working more than one job so they only have so much time to sit and talk. So it’s important to connect with the families in other ways like email, over the phone, or even mail to understand if they have my possible free time. Language barriers can also be an issue that prohibits families from being involved, it may be difficult to communicate therefore results in no communication at all.
What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Teachers can sometimes send emails or mail home that acknowledges families or asking for their opinions/suggestions on what they want to see or what the teacher can improve in the classroom. Teachers can also connect families to free online resources where they can do worksheets and watch videos with their child. Creating opportunities for parents to volunteer is also important.
What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
All my early schools, elementary and middle school, really had was the PTA and I don’t remember them sending home a lot of information about it. That wasn’t really successful, but it worked better in elementary then in middle school. I think as children get older parents become less engaged in school unless it has to do with grades or until it’s time for college. For high school I went to a private catholic school and I do remember they had a virtual newspaper that they emailed to all the parents and constant updates that were also emailed. Students were given chrome books and email accounts, so even if the parents didn’t have access the students did. This was very successful because there were times where my mom knew information about my school that I didn’t even know, there was a point where she was a lot more engaged than me.
What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
Schools could have just tried to engage parents more than they did. Any important papers they wanted to mail home they would give it through the child, which was insufficient because I remember losing a lot of those papers. There was just a lot of miscommunication during my early elementary school days between my teachers and parents. The only time families and staff came together was twice a school year for parent teacher conference where it was just a crash course of how the semester was going.
I believe alot of our school systems and teachers have failed us. I grew up in a low-income community with no support to get to where I am today. I had to do everything on my own when my teachers has a platform they could have used in order to establish safer communities, awareness, or programs to keep us safe and our families safe they just left a lot of us on our own in the world maybe because they think its the parent’s job, but some people are less fortunate to have parents involved in outside culture.
Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Families should be involved in early childhood programs because it allows them to be connected to the child in their new environment. This helps to incorporate family inclusion and diversity of cultures it has been proven that this helps students build confidence in their social skills among peers and earn better grades.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Families might feel like they are abandoning their children in a center with people they do not know. This is why it is important to establish and build trust and communication between the families in order to bridge the gap from school and home life.
What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
Sometimes parents work a lot which can prohibit the families from being involved in early childhood programs and they can’t manage their time or having other children at home or family to care for.
What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Teachers should include families in early childhood programs by having days such as show and tell, offer volunteer morning read aloud, or creating a space online so that the families who can’t participate have a clear understanding of their child’s classroom culture.
What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
My school did not include my family in anything really the only time parents would come to the school was to watch us perform for shows or come to sporting events.
What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
My school should have allowed families to engage in their classrooms by bringing families together spreading awareness about community issues and how they can make a difference, also by providing services for those families who were struggling since we went to school in low-income communities with high crime rates, but my schools never cared about outside culture and establishing safe communities or programs to keep us safe.
1. Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Involving families in early childhood programs will help the families understand what the children are learning and how they are developing.Children tend to do better when families are involved
2. How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
The family might experience some anxiety when leaving their child in the center.
3. What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
The family might need help on how to ask their child questions on what they are learning. By becoming involved they’ll learn to ask the proper questions and how.
4. What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Childcare centers can provide newsletters to let parents know what they are learning. Also a good habit to do is telling how the child was through the day and the activities he or she participated in.
5. What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
My mom worked at my early childhood program so she knew exactly what was going on. As I became older my elementary school and high school would have parent teachers conferences I don’t think it was as successful, because they were so spaced out through the year and not frequent enough so my family had a hard time helping me.
6. What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
They could have communicated with my family more frequently especially if I was struggling.
Hey Camila! I def agree that when I was young my school barely sent letters home or let my parents know what was going on in my school. when they did the letters were in english and my parents could hardly understand them! Communication with parents is super essential to our children’s development!
1. Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
ANSWER: it allows the parents to be connected with the child and gives them that open space of mind to know their child is doing well.
2. How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Answer: Relief, knowing their child is in the proper care after they have attended a meeting.
3. What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
ANSWER: conflict on schedule may not correspond with the schedule that is available at the time, other responsibilities.
4. What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
ANSWER: Teachers can send home a notice or let them know during drop of or pick up time. They can also post up a notice on the bulletin board.
5. What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
ANSWER: My son’s school usually has different activities such as family fun night, family cook shops, family work out and even movie night. I think it really gets family and kids motivated to get together as one. you meet other parents and have time to speak with teachers about different programs they offer for the school.
6. What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
ANSWER: Compared to my school and my son I feel like my son’s school welcomes parents with open arms oppose to my school they just had regular PTA meetings.
Hey Kelly, When I was little all my school had was pta meetings and my mom that did not speak english found them pointless! Its great that for the most part now a days schools do make us parents feel super welcome and just like another home for our babies!
Module 9 Assignment #2: Families
1. Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
When families are involved in early
-childhood program, the children perform good in school. Trust is an import factor because it allows teachers to develop an intimate relation with parents and teachers will be able to have a better relationship with parents.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
-Families have a sense of relief when leaving their children, knowing that their children are in good hands, considering they are not there. It is reassuring to know that their children will be well taken care of.
2. What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
-Sometimes families schedule cannot fit into their children programs. Some schools do not have supportive environment, so parents are not encouraged to be a part of their child’s education, there is no school – family partnership.
Uncertainty can cause problems, because parents do not know what to expect or what is expected of them when it come to their children’s education. Also, cultural barriers (language, communication, literacy, customs, relationships) can prevent parents from participating.
3. What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
-Teachers can have school and family communication exchanges, family decision making roles, meaningful volunteer opportunities and a positive parenting process. Create a comfortable homey family center where teachers and families can have conversations and a notebook for families to write comments and questions. Have a computer with internet access for families to use. Prepare take home bags with books and games for families to use home and continue learning with their children. A family notice board in a noticeable area where various information can be posted. Try to identify flexible time family-teacher conferences.
4. What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
-Have an ongoing telephone communication informing parents about their children’s progress and sending them emails. Parents appreciate our effort because many of them do not have time to login and track their children’s performance in PupilPath. Family-teacher conference, where our school prepares a warm and welcoming environment, refreshment and students aid providing service and escorting parents around. Also, parents are free to contact teachers about their children’s progress. The conference is not fully supported most time with the exception of grade nine parents, but 10-12 do not have a large turnout. We are seeing that when students just enter high school, their parents are eager to keep in touch, but when they move up some parents do not think it is that important unless they have to come because something is not going well with their child.
5. What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
-Since remote learning, teachers and other school personnel have forged good relationships with parents. Therefore, we are going to try and maintain these connections and to if we cannot reach each other via telephone, we will send them emails (those who have access) and view them regularly to send out announcements. This is different from what the parent coordinator uses to communicate with all parents. As teachers, we want to have a direct access to our student’s parents. We will also invite them to the platform that we are using to teacher and mark their children’s work. Thanks to remote learning, many parents had a better understand of that platform and will require their children to give them access and they can be informed about their progress.
Hey
This is Luis Martinez I agree with you parental participation improves students ‘earning, as children go through elementary school, parents need to support the learning that goes on in the classroom and to help their children form good study habits.
Answer the questions below:
Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Parent involvement also plays a big role into a child’s education and life outside the classroom, it has been said that parents involvement into the education of their children helps extend teaching outside the classroom, creating more positive experiences for children and helps children perform better in terms of grades and being able to socialize with friends and teachers, when they are in school. It is essential for parents to support the learning that happens in preschool settings at home as well. Engaging families in early childhood education can be successfully be done through making sure parents know the teacher and other school personnel, also encouraging parents to volunteer which is a very good idea to invite parents to be part of the classroom, by the way creating an ePortfolio will also work because parents will be able to see their child’s progress whenever they want.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
For many infants and toddlers, day care or preschool is their first opportunity to really mix with a lot of other children, in many ways this is their first exposure to a real community other than their own families and close friends.Families might feel anxious and worried about leaving their child at a school or at a day care center because for most parents they will be constantly thinking about their child’s behavior and thinking weather if the staff workers are really working to respond to the needs of their children , as we the first day for preschoolers is tough they tend to cry and beg their parents not to leave them alone, the first day of school for most preschool children, they will feel sad and not in the mood to form new bonding’s and trust and even not in the mood to participate in the lessons , so it’s important that ECE teachers guide young children with the best guide as possible through teaching specific set of skills to integrate, make friends, and learn how to work in pairs and in groups .Overall it important to communicate as much as possible with families in their prefer language or as well using community resources for translation in order to tell families about your practices, why you do things the way you do, changes you are considering or have made and their impact on children’s learning.
What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
The Four primary barriers to parental involvement includes time, uncertainty, cultural barriers and lack of a supportive environment. This could be due to language, in most immigrants’ homes families are not well informed about the curriculum of the school in terms of meetings, conferences, PTA reunions and info on programs that children qualified for better care and education. In other words, it important that communication both verbal and non-verbal is provide in different languages through newsletters, daily report forms, daily conversations, and parent teacher conferences.
What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Creating fun opportunities for social interactions and social play between children that promote respect and empathy. As well encouraging staff to join in, as modelling social skills helps children learn about them. Develop policies in collaboration with families. Involve families, children and staff in decisions that affect them.
What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
Parental participation improves students ‘earning, as children go through elementary school, parents need to support the learning that goes on in the classroom and to help their children form good study habits.
What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
I would strongly recommend my schools that I went to include family engagement in their curriculum because it improves student achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores parents’ confidence in their children’s education. Students with involved parents or other caregivers earn higher grades and test scores, have better social skills, and show improved behavior.
i reviewed this module
1.Why should families be involved in early childhood programs?
Based on many resources, family’s involvement in children’s early childhood education, the program of their classwork as well as voluntary work with school, indoor or outdoor activities show absolutely great results in children’s education, proximity and development and their achievements.
2.How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Usually parents feel and they know what the best for their children is. So, when they leave children in the center, they are not feeling fully secure that center could provide their children’s needs and understanding them or not, until teachers gain their trust. That relies mostly on continuous monitoring and clear and comprehensive pedagogy.
3.What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
The first obstacle is parents’ job not allowing them to find the time to spend with children’s early childhood programming.
4.What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
The best way to start involving parents into the child’s life while they don’t have time because of their work schedule, would be to meet them unofficially, to get to know them better, their culture, concerns and schedule. Always be in touch with them, mentioning the child’s achievement and development results. Work with their schedule and help them find some time the possibility to volunteer with their children indoor and outdoor activities. Let them have hands-on on some of the children’s kit work to do at home.
5.What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
The main meeting in my school was the end of the semester parent- teacher meetings. There weren’t one and one meetings, unless there was a troubled child and/or special attention needed from the parent’s consultation. Some parts were successful, and some weren’t. However, teachers knew more about children’s needs. When my parents tried to change different schools for me and my siblings, we weren’t happy about that and we shared our emotions with the teacher. Several days later the teacher visited our home and spoke with parents without involving us. As a result, my parents listened to the teacher and agreed to leave us in our school. It was very beneficial to solve problems by connecting parents and teachers in person.
6.What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
As I mentioned before, In my culture, parent/teacher meetings were not individual. Teachers were inviting all parents at the same time and discussing each individual child’s development in front of everybody, Which I believe was not very proper. Even worse, I believe it wasn’t beneficial for both children and parents. Meeting between teachers and parents individually is the best solution to progress children’s education, continuous development and achievements.
A3 In this module I have learned how teachers need to build trust with parents, involve parents in learning, invite parents to volunteer with their children’s activities, create parent involvement in all types of events. All this accountability benefits to the children by developing their better education, better achievements and easily readjust living and learning in a different environment. For me “a-ha” moments were how a huge difference made such a close relationship and collaboration between teacher and parents. And how amazing a result it can give for all of them: Children, parents and teachers. In my experience, working in a daycare program wasn’t anything closer to this program, because parents weren’t able to be involved in that type of activities with their children. I wish there would be more high-quality programs, where there would be more school and family communication exchanges, family-child collaborations, family decision making roles in schools, meaningful volunteer opportunities, which gives positive parenting processes.
Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Families should be involved in their child’s early childhood program because having a strong relationship with your child’s early childhood program is a critical component of developmentally appropriate practices. Parent involvement leads to better social behavior and academic outcomes.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
when leaving their children at an early childhood center or school the parents of a child might feel anxiety and relief. They might feel anxiety because they don’t really know what their child is doing while they are at the center or school. They might feel relief because they trust the teachers who are taking care of their child and know they are safe and in a good learning environment.
What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
Some things that could prohibit families from being involved in their child’s early childhood program could be their work schedules and language barriers. Some parents have very busy work schedule others dnt know or cant communicate with the teachers because they don’t know English.
What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
A few things a teacher can do to include families in early childhood programs could be; establish a liaison with childrens families, be aware of cultural differences and expectations, respect family traditions and cultures, Make a family center space, make family conferences flexible, make monthly or weekly newsletters, have a welcoming school environment.
What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
I think when I was young my parents were not really involved in my school things because of the language barrier. My parents spoke Spanish until we moved to NY and both my parents learned a little bit. I feel like schools need to make parents that do not speak English a bit more welcoming by having someone in the classroom or school that can be available to them so they can understand more about their child’s education.
What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
I feel like being a child with only Spanish speaking parents my family did not really feel like they were comfortable. I remember having to translate things for my mom when she would come to parent teacher conferences. Parents should be able to go to their Childs school and know that they will be understood and able to communicate with their Childs teacher. Teachers should have someone or something that can help them communicate with parents that do not speak the English language.
Why should families be involved early childhood programs?
Families should be involved in early childhood programs because that way kids can learn outside the classroom. Also, it helps their parents to understand kids behaviors as well.
How might families feel when leaving their child in a center?
Sometimes families feels sad because they’re not going to be next to their kids and because they feel scared if something bad is going to happen to their kids. On the other hand there ir families that are happy because they don’t have to deal with the kids until the late afternoon.
What could be prohibiting families from being involved in early childhood programs?
Something that can be prohibiting families from being involved is the language and their work schedule. There is parents that doesn’t know how to speak english to help their kids and to teach them.
What should teachers do to include families in early childhood programs?
Teachers should create a website where the parents can track their kids on how they’re doing at school and be flexible.
What did your school(s) do to include your family? Was it successful? Why?
What my school did to include families was activities at school where the parents participate with the kids. I feel it was a successful because I didn’t feel shy knowing. I was next to my mom and dad.
What could your school(s) have done differently to include your family?
They could’ve done differently is making educational trips which involved the parents.