Teaching every child, Teaching every child, Reaching every familyReaching every family

Children come with increasingly diverse Children come with increasingly diverse developmental, cultural, linguistic and developmental, cultural, linguistic and

educational needseducational needs. .

Objective:Objective: Explore ways in which Explore ways in which

early childhood early childhood professionals can professionals can

embraceembrace and and celebratecelebrate the cultural, linguistic the cultural, linguistic

and and

ability diversity of children ability diversity of children in our classrooms by in our classrooms by

establishing establishing

respectful relationships respectful relationships with familieswith families..

Who’s in the room?Who’s in the room? More @ Four Teachers and Assistants More @ Four Teachers and Assistants Directors, Principals, Administrators Directors, Principals, Administrators Quality Enhancement Quality Enhancement Head StartHead Start Even StartEven Start Title OneTitle One Others who are involved in supporting Others who are involved in supporting

positive outcomes for young childrenpositive outcomes for young children

What is a family?What is a family?

Family is a group of people who Family is a group of people who care for one another.care for one another.

“…family involvement is a complex phenomenon, influenced by class, race, culture, and school and community supports.”

Heather B. Weiss, Ed.D

Founder & Director Harvard Family Research Project

“Developmental and education research confirms that parental attitudes, styles of interaction, behaviors, and relationships with schools are associated with children’s social development and academic performance.”

(Christenson & Sheridan, 2001; Phillips, Brooks, Gunn, Duncan, Klebanov & Crane, 1998)

The sixth domain

Family

Things to ponder…Things to ponder…

Start with youStart with you(Ask yourself, why did I take this job? (Ask yourself, why did I take this job?

Why did I decide to work with young Why did I decide to work with young children?)children?)

Deal with your internal /external Deal with your internal /external fearsfears

(Openness/Willingness)(Openness/Willingness)

Build trusting authentic Build trusting authentic relationshipsrelationships

(When do I start?)(When do I start?)

Use communication verbal and Use communication verbal and non-verbalnon-verbal (How do I hear, not how can I be heard)(How do I hear, not how can I be heard)

Be intentionalBe intentional

Embrace all abilitiesEmbrace all abilities (Children with different abilities test (Children with different abilities test

your ability)your ability)

Individual Education PlansIndividual Education Plans (Value parents options)(Value parents options)

Break down the barrier walls and turf Break down the barrier walls and turf issues issues

(It’s not about you, it’s about (It’s not about you, it’s about positive outcomes for children)positive outcomes for children)

Value differencesValue differences

Build your resourcesBuild your resources (Research the community, ask (Research the community, ask

parents, ask other teachersparents, ask other teachers))

Get out of the box and dare Get out of the box and dare to try new experiencesto try new experiences

(Principal and the bus route)(Principal and the bus route)

Find the other wayFind the other way (When families don’t respond (When families don’t respond

find another way. Pet Stories find another way. Pet Stories included book and small tape included book and small tape records, disposable cameras)records, disposable cameras)

Do you believe?Do you believe?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMLOnSNwzA

What happens when families What happens when families are included…are included…

Children’sChildren’s

EmotionalEmotional

IntelligenceIntelligence

is enhancedis enhanced

Children’sChildren’s

AcademicAcademic

outcomes are outcomes are higherhigher

Families support is stronger

Expectations are clear for everyone involved

African ProverbAfrican Proverb

““It takes a It takes a wholewhole village to raise a village to raise a child.”child.”

““If it is to be, it If it is to be, it must startmust start with me.” with me.”

-unknown-unknown

What steps can you take to start What steps can you take to start forming your village?forming your village?