ECE405 Week 3.1 Home-School Partnerships
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Central Texas College *
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499
Subject
Medicine
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
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Uploaded by AdmiralLyrebird299
As early childhood professionals, we recognize the impact that a positive partnership with parents can
have on a child's learning and development. The collaboration between educators and families is a
powerful tool that shapes a child's educational journey. I have constructed this document to explore the
role families play in their children's learning, how educators can effectively communicate with families,
and suggestions to help foster family engagement in learning environments.
The Role of Families in Learning and Development
Research consistently emphasizes the influential role families play in a child's learning and development.
The home environment serves as the first classroom, and parents are the child's first teachers. A
supportive home environment contributes significantly to a child's cognitive, social, and emotional
development. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HSS, 2020), strong family
engagement is central in promoting children's healthy development and wellness. When families are
involved, children have better social-emotional and behavioral development; cognitive development and
are better prepared and equipped to be successful in school. By actively engaging with their children's
education, families become essential partners in the learning process.
Effective Communication
Establishing open and regular communication channels between educators and families is paramount.
Ongoing communication with your child's teacher allows them to tailor their approach and apply
appropriate strategies to suit your child's needs and learning in class (Reading Rockets, n.d.). From the
perspective of our professional role, we need to prioritize weekly communication to keep families
informed and involved in their child's educational journey. This may include newsletters, emails, or
virtual meetings, providing updates on classroom activities, learning objectives, and ways parents can
extend the learning experience at home. It is our job to keep parents engaged.
Suggestions for Active Family Engagement
Some recommendations that can help to ensure that parents remain involved includes:
Organizing regular family events within the learning environment including themed family
nights, workshops, or even parent-teacher conferences where families can actively engage with
educators and other parents.
Provide families with take-home activities that align with classroom learning objectives. It is
important that parents understand different ways to teach their children and be involved in the
lessons and activities that are taking place at the school.
Create opportunities for parents to volunteer in the classroom or participate in school activities.
Invite the parents to read to the class, assist with art projects, or join field trips. This can ensure
that they have opportunities to be involved.
Resources
There are many resources that justify the positive impacts home-school partnerships can have on a child’s
learning and development. Two in-particular includes,
1.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC):
Explore NAEYC's resources on family engagement, providing insights into effective strategies for
building strong home-school partnerships. Visit their website at
www.naeyc.org
.
2.
Harvard Family Research Project:
The Harvard Family Research Project offers a wealth of research and resources on family engagement in
education. Access their publications and tools at
www.hfrp.org
.
References
Building parent-teacher relationships. (n.d.).
Reading Rockets
.
https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/parent-engagement/articles/building-parent-teacher-relationships
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2020). Family engagement.
Office of Early Childhood
Development.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/family-engagement#:~:text=Strong%20family
%20engagement%20is%20central,transitioning%20them%20to%20kindergarten%3B%20and
Hello Allision,
Great post! I like the strategies that you mention to keep families actively engaged and involved in the
learning environment. What I found most interesting was your suggestion for parents to be bus monitors,
snack organizers, school garden volunteers, etc. Many of your strategies weren’t necessarily academically
inclined. Nevertheless, it keeps the parents involved. I can recall my mother visiting my schools growing
up. Her mere presence kept me engaged. I knew that she loved and supported me because of how often
she showed up to the school.
A resource that would be good for you would be Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM, 2021)
article, “Child Development: The Importance of Positive Attention”. This article merely discusses how
important it is for parents to be involved and give their children attention. Showing up at the school,
volunteering at the school, being active at the school will help their children feel loved.
James, C. (2021). Child development: The importance of positive attention.
Indiana University School of
Medicine
.
https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/pediatrics/child-development---the-importance-of-positive-
attention
Hello Tiffany,
Your article was short and sweet, but very informative. I appreciate your suggestions for how families can
actively engage in learning environments. Family workshops, volunteering opportunities, and
participation in classroom events create a sense of community and collaboration. These experiences not
only benefit the child but also contribute to building a supportive network among families.
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