CDA 138 - Building Parent and Classroom Connections

3 Credits, 3 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 0 lab periods
Analysis of the specific attitudes, philosophies and practical techniques in building relationships with families for teachers. Includes families today, overview of family involvement, benefits of and barriers to teacher family partnerships, at the beginning with parents and children, informal communications with families, parent teacher conferences, home visits, families in the classroom, community involvement, working with families from diverse backgrounds and families in particular circumstances, resolving troublesome attitudes and behaviors, and parent involvement programs that work.

Information: All CDA courses require college-level reading and writing.

Course Learning Outcomes

Explain the family and community factors that influence the relationship between parents and teacher/caregivers (NAEYC 1b, 2a).
Explore and describe ways of supporting and empowering families and communities in the child’s development and learning (NAEYC 1a, 2b, 2c, 5c).
Discuss the program’s philosophy, policies, practices and curriculum with respect to implementing positive relationships and supportive interaction techniques with parents (NAEYC 1b, 1c, 2b, 4a, 5c).
Identify challenges facing a diverse population and some community resources to assist families in meeting those challenges to promote positive outcomes (NAEYC 2a, 4a, 5c).
Identify a variety of techniques for resolving cross-cultural communication conflicts (NAEYC 2a, 2b, 2c, 6b, 6d).
Promote family involvement practices that honor diversity of culture, language, abilities, and economics (NAEYC 2a, 2b, 2c, 6b, 6d, 6e).

Outline:

Family and Community Influences
1. Demographics of modern families
2. Diversity
3. Economics
4. Education
Overview of Family Involvement
1. Perspectives on family involvement
2. History of family involvement in the schools
3. Research on child development as motivation to include parents
4. Should schools mandate parent involvement
5. Concern for family support
The Educational Program and Parental Involvement
1. Philosophies
2. Policies
3. Practices
4. Curriculum
Challenges and Potential Barriers to Teacher-Family Partnerships
1. Work
2. Schedules
3. Finances
4. Language
Resolving Cross-Cultural Communication Conflicts
1. Identifying cultural conflict
2. Understanding roots of miscommunication
3. Negotiation and compromise
4. Ongoing management of unresolved conflict
Promoting Family Involvement
1. Assessing parents comfort levels
2. Keeping families at the center of curriculum
3. Assessing and honoring family strengths
4. Utilizing family strengths

Effective Term:
Full Academic Year 2018/19