EDEC 516: Home-School Collaborative Relationships

Credit Hours: (3)

This course is designed to provide knowledge and skills for teachers to build partnerships with parents, caregivers, and families.  The interrelationships among families, school, and community will be studied.  Parent involvement and parent education programs will be examined.  This course emphasizes the professional’s responsibility to initiate, implement, and foster continuous family/teacher teamwork for young children with diverse needs.

Detailed Description of Content of Course

I. Need for parent involvement

1. Historical overview
2. Parents as teachers
3. Home and school collaboration
4. Legislative mandates

II.  The family

1. Family structures
2. Family systems
3. Cultural diversity
4. Ethnic diversity
5. Religious diversity
6. Linguistically diversity
7. Other

III. Family and community connections

1. Building on family strengths
2. Networking support for families

IV. Effective home‑school‑community relationships

1. Roles of administrators, teachers, parents
2. Programs that encourage parent and community involvement
3. Recruiting and working with volunteers
4. Parent education
5.  Model programs
6. Training and educating parents
7. Parent resource centers
8. Referral and support services
9. Training for parent‑mediated activities

VI. Parent involvement

1. Model programs
2. Training and educating parents
3. Levels, responsibilities, delegated authority

VII. Establishing and fostering effective communication

       1. Communication methods

• verbal communication
• written communication
• non‑verbal communication

       2. Blocks to communication

       3. Home visits

       4. Parent conferences

       5. Other

IX. Agencies and organizations

1. Professional organizations
2. National organizations
3. State organizations
4. Local organizations and agencies
5.  Linking families and referrals
6. Teachers as professionals and reflective practitioners
7. Ethics and professionalism
8. Child and family advocacy

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

A variety of instructional strategies will be used, including, but not limited to:  lecture, written reactions and reflections, research projects, large and small group discussions, videos, role-playing exercises, simulation, student presentations, and guest speakers.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Student will focus on the critical interrelationships between classroom, home, and community.  Students will develop the following competencies in the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Program:

1.4. Conveys understanding of the role of cultural and family environment in supporting development (NAEYC1c, CC2K3, CC3K3, CC3K5, EC2K4, VECE3b)

3.1. Provides family centered service delivery (NAEYC2a, NAEYC2c, CC1K7, CC2K4, EC9S2, VECSE10)

3.2. Exhibits understanding of multicultural issues and influences on families (CC1K10, CC3K4, CC9S6, CC10K4, VECSE10a)

3.3. Demonstrates understanding of family and community characteristics (NAEYC2b, CC10K4)

3.4. Creates respectful, collaborative, reciprocal relationships with families and community (NAEYC2c, EC9S3, CC10S2, CC10S3, CC10S5, EC10S5, VECE3c, VECE3d, VECE3e)

3.5. Reveals knowledge of methods to improve communication between programs, schools, and families (CC10K4, VECE3f)

3.6. Evidences knowledge of ways to increase family involvement in child learning at home and in school (NAEYC2d, CC10S4, VECE3g)

3.7. Assists families with identifying their concerns, resources, and priorities (family focus) (CC10S4, EC9S3, EC10S6)

3.8. Communicates with families appropriately and sensitively (CC9S6, EC10S5)

3.9. Effectively engages families in program (VECE3d)

7.4. Links curricula to children’s language, culture, and community (NAEYC4b6, CC7S8)

8.1 Utilizes culturally responsive factors that promote effective communication and collaboration with individuals, children, and families (CC7S3, CC10S9, CC10S10, EC10S2)

16.1. Demonstrates knowledge of the models, theories, and philosophies that form the basis for early childhood education (EC1K1, VECE3)

17.1. Uses verbal, nonverbal, and written language effectively (CC9S8)

17.2. Is an informed advocate for children and families (NAEYC5e, CC9S1, CC9S3)

17.3. Affiliates with the profession and professional organizations (NAEYC5a, EC9K1, EC9S6)

17.4. Applies ethical considerations (NAEYC5b, CC9S1, CC9S4, CC10S1, VECSE11)

17.6. Critically applies research and effective practices in working with young children and families (NAEYC5d, CC9S2, CC9S10, EC9S7, VECE1)

17.7. Reveals cognizance of personal cultural biases and differences that affect one’s teaching (CC9K1)

17.8. Recognizes the impact of culture on self and others (CC9K1)

17.13. Professional qualifications are demonstrated (communication, conduct, interpersonal skills) (RU ST 6g) (NAEYC5a, VECSE11)

18.2. Trains, supervises, and evaluates paraprofessionals (CC5S15, CC7K5, CC10S8, CC10S11, VECSE8e)

Assessment Measures

Assessments will be based on tests, projects, simulations, presentations, and written papers.  Graduate students will do an additional project and present it to the class.

Other Information

This course will be of interest to graduate education students in elementary, special education, early childhood, reading, and curriculum and instruction.

This course will be co-listed with EDEC 416. 

Graduate students will do an additional project and present it to the class.