Strong relationships that develop and blossom into mutually respectful partnerships with families are a foundational component to effective programs within the early childhood field. Consider the following scenario:

You have just been hired as the director of an early childhood education program serving children between the ages of birth and 5. In your first weeks on the job, you spend an extensive amount of time visiting each classroom and getting to know the teachers. When you ask about the relationships they have developed with children and their families, one response you receive seems to encapsulate the general attitude: “We are very busy making sure our curriculum meets state standards; we like to get to know the children but have to stay focused on getting these children to learn what the standards say so they will be ready in every way for kindergarten.” When you ask about building partnerships with families, you receive a related response: “Families are most concerned that their children are learning and that they will do well in kindergarten. In fact, the families of the children in my class don’t seem to want to be bothered with what’s happening on a day-to-day basis; they’re interested in ‘end results.’”

Based on these conversations, you know that you need to work with staff to cultivate a shared understanding regarding the importance of building relationships to ensure family involvement and effective partnerships. To that end, you decide to develop an engaging workshop that provides information on current research and theory, practical applications, and benefits and challenges staff may encounter as they work to engage families; develop rich, respectful partnerships; and involve families in the lives of their children at your school.

For this Application Assignment:

• Review the Required Resources on the topic of Partnering with Families
• Print and complete the Workshop Outline form below
• Complete the Reflection below

 

Reflection

After you have completed the Workshop Outline, reflect on the process you experienced while developing it, as well as how building relationships and partnering with families is a critical component of effective early childhood programs. Envision a program of your own and what you would like to develop in terms of engagement and partnership between teachers and families and in terms of your own relationships/partnerships with families of the children in your program. With this in mind, articulate:

• Three goals related to building relationships and partnering with families
• Ways in which you would help staff recognize positive outcomes of building relationships and partnering with families, work with challenges, and realize possible biases
• Related areas and issues you would like to learn more about

  Assignment length: approximately 3 pages 

 

As you have been learning, understanding, and valuing relationships with parents and other significant adults in children’s lives within the context of early childhood education is essential to children’s healthy development and learning. At the core of these relationships are the early childhood practitioner and his or her ability to cultivate such relationships with children and families, as well as strengthen relationships between children and families, both of which can create a substantive and lasting impact. Consider the research presented in your Learning Resources highlighting the significance of cultivating relationships with children and families and building family partnerships. In addition, review the media segment “Building Relationships and Partnering with Families.”

After you have considered these factors:

By Day 3

Post:

• A research-based rationale* as to why relationships and family partnerships are essential to effective programs and practices within the early childhood field
• Why understanding your own biases is critical to developing effective partnerships
• Factors you need to explore further to be completely open to forming effective partnerships with every family.

Note: A research-based rationale responds to a central question or questions, based on current resources provided in and outside the course. To complete your rationale for this Discussion, use at least two current articles or other sources (published within the last five years). Cite each source within the body of your response. Your rationale should be approximately one page in length. For information on how to cite sources correctly, consult your Pocket Guide to APA Style or visit the Walden Writing Center at