Home, School, & Community Relations

by Gestwicki, Carol

• ISBN13: 9780766863071
• ISBN10: 0766863077
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-04
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Author and Early Childhood Consultant Carol Gestwicki draws on the standards for teachers in working with families espoused by the National Association for the Education of Young Children in her newest book Home, School, Community Relations: A Guide to Working with Families. Her approach to the subject of the importance of teacher-family relationships is refreshing. She presents important material in a positive manner, while acknowledging and discussing the difficulties that exist. Gestwicki has created a reader-friendly format that optimizes the use of case studies, examples, practical activities, photos, cartoons and tables, as well as lists of references, Web sites and additional reading. Education students, teachers and parents will find this to be a tremendous resource in helping children succeed in school, at home and in the community.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
Section I Introduction to Families
Families Today	2	(48)
What Defines a Family?	3	(14)
Demographics of Modern Families	17	(22)
Why Study Sociological Trends?	39	(11)
Parenting	50	(52)
Roles Parents Play	52	(34)
Parenthood as an Emotional Experience	86	(14)
Appendix: Touchpoints Model	100	(2)
A Day with Two Families: Diversity of Experience	102	(20)
The Lawrence Family	103	(4)
The Ashley Family	107	(3)
Implications for Teachers	110	(1)
Diversity	111	(11)
Section II Teacher-Family Partnerships in Early Education
What Is Family Involvement?	122	(39)
Perspectives on Family Involvement	123	(2)
Brief History of Family Involvement	125	(4)
Research on Child Development As Motivation to Include Parents	129	(7)
Mandated Parent Involvement	136	(13)
Community Concern for Family Support	149	(12)
Benefits of Teacher-Family Partnerships for Children, Parents, and Teachers	161	(24)
Benefits for Children	165	(5)
Benefits for Parents	170	(6)
Benefits for Teachers	176	(9)
Potential Barriers to Teacher-Family Partnerships	185	(26)
Why Are There Barriers?	186	(6)
Differences between Teaching and Parenting	192	(3)
Maneuvering over Turf	195	(1)
The Issue of Trust	196	(2)
Differences in Expertise	198	(6)
Barriers Caused by External Factors	204	(7)
Foundations of a Successful Partnership	211	(29)
Teacher Ideas and Attitudes	212	(8)
External Factors	220	(20)
Section III Methods for Developing Partnerships
At the Beginning with Parents and Children	240	(35)
Initial Contact between Teacher, Parent, and Child	241	(17)
Dealing with Separation Experiences	258	(17)
Informal Communication with Families	275	(33)
Communication Methods	275	(33)
Parent-Teacher Conferences	308	(39)
Importance of Regular Conferences	309	(4)
Groundwork for a Successful Conference	313	(11)
Strategies for a Successful Conference	324	(7)
Pitfalls to Avoid for a Successful Conference	331	(9)
Conference Evaluation	340	(7)
Home Visits with Parents and Children	347	(22)
Purposes of a Home Visit	348	(6)
Undertaking Home Visits	354	(2)
Post-Visit Responsibilities	356	(2)
Advantages of Home Visits	358	(1)
Disadvantages of Home Visits	359	(1)
Home-Based Educational and Support Programs	360	(9)
Families in the Classroom	369	(33)
Advantages and Potential Problems	370	(6)
Getting Parents Involved	376	(19)
Teacher's Role	395	(7)
Parent Education	402	(26)
What Is Parent Education?	404	(10)
Implementing a Parent Education Program	414	(7)
Parents As Decision Makers	421	(7)
It Takes a Village: Teachers, Families, and Communities	428	(38)
Corporate Involvement	432	(4)
Legislative Initiatives	436	(2)
Linkages within the Community	438	(6)
The Role of Advocate	444	(8)
Community As Educational Resource	452	(14)
Section IV Making a Partnership Work
Working with Families from Diverse Backgrounds	466	(43)
A Rationale for Teacher Attention to Diversity	467	(10)
Strategies for Teachers	477	(6)
Negotiating with Cultural Conflict	483	(3)
Common Cultural Issues That Arise in Classrooms	486	(9)
What Does Working with Diversity Look Like?	495	(14)
Working with Families in Particular Circumstances	509	(71)
Working with Families Undergoing Change Due to Divorce	510	(19)
Working with Parents of Children with Special Needs	529	(11)
Working with Parents of Infants	540	(10)
Working with Families When Abuse Occurs	550	(12)
Working with Adoptive Families	562	(18)
Working to Resolve Troublesome Attitudes and Behaviors	580	(27)
Hostility	582	(7)
Indifference	589	(4)
Over-Involvement	593	(3)
Frequent Causes of Tension between Parents and Teachers	596	(11)
Looking at Parent-Involvement Programs That Work	607	(28)
Lakewood Preschool Cooperative, Charlotte, North Carolina	608	(8)
Family Resource Center, Fort Myers, Florida	616	(6)
Gorham House Preschool, Gorham, Maine	622	(4)
Auraria Campus Child Care Center, Denver, Colorado	626	(9)
Appendix: Resource Directory	635	(4)
Glossary	639	(3)
Index	642