Write a 2 to 3 page self-reflection paper describing your home-school-community connections experienced during early childhood and/or elementary school years.  Review the Beyond the Bake Sale checklist: “4 Versions of Family-School Partnerships” which helps to assess partnership practices.  In your paper, incorporate key concepts and professional terminology from your course readings and experiences.

In 1999, NAEYC created the first “Code of Ethical Conduct” for early childhood professionals.  Our first group discussion requires us to examine NAEYC’s position and share our own experiences.    1. Read the brief article:  Freeman, N. (2013). Spotlight on ethics: Early childhood educators’ responsibilities to families. ABC Child Care. South Carolina Quality Improvement System.  […]

Advocacy & Action Plan Sharing                 Please read Dennis Vicar’s article “We the Parents” and think about how it connects to the Strengthening Families Approach.  Is there information in the proposed “Parent’s Bill of Rights” that can be incorporated into your advocacy and action plan?   Use this forum […]

What is the significance of “human connections”?   Why must teachers implement authentic family and community engagement?   What messages are you taking away from this video?   DQ2 Community Strengths, Needs and Resources              In this course, you have accomplished a tremendous amount including your work as:   researchers […]

Caring Communities         Read the article “Laws of Physics Can’t Trump the Bonds of Love” and view the video on “Wright’s Law.”    View the Parent Leadership Training Institute 8-minute video.   Identify at least one message from each video that portrays caring communities.    Share specific thoughts on how you can advocate […]

Children’s Defense Fund: Status of Your State?                 Please visit an explore the Children’s Defense Fund website:   http://www.childrensdefense.org/   Now visit the “State of America’s Children 2020″:  https://www.childrensdefense.org/policy/resources/soac-2020-fact-sheets   Read about the status of children in your home state (or a state you reviewed in a prior unit from […]

Knowledge about family diversity, strengths, and structures is critical for teachers and human service providers serving families with young children.  Hopefully this course has helped you to gain new insights for understanding and supporting families.   Now, please read “In Hartford, A Call For ‘Cultural Competence’ In Schools” (Hartford Courant), and “Addressing Differences: How Can […]

Ethical Responsibilities to Families   In 1999, NAEYC created the first “Code of Ethical Conduct” for early childhood professionals.  Our first group discussion requires us to examine NAEYC’s position and share our own experiences.    1. Read the brief article:  Freeman, N. (2013). Spotlight on ethics: Early childhood educators’ responsibilities to families. ABC Child Care. […]

Self-Reflection Home-School-Community Connections Write a 2 to 3 page self-reflection paper describing your home-school-community connections experienced during early childhood and/or elementary school years.  Review the Beyond the Bake Sale checklist: “4 Versions of Family-School Partnerships” which helps to assess partnership practices.  In your paper, incorporate key concepts and professional terminology from your course readings and […]

The final project requires you to create an Action Plan for your center, school and/or community.  This action plan is a culmination of the fundamental concepts, contextualist theories, NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, NAEYC Families and Community Relationships Standards, model programs, and strategies learned throughout the course. Using the knowledge and resources you have gained, […]