Chapter 32 Engaging Families

Vocabulary 1

100

Written communications shared on a regular basis that most often include information concerning a variety of subjects.

Newsletters

200

Twice a week

Biweekly

300

Providing opportunities to strengthen families’ knowledge and skills

family capacity-building practices

400

Patterns of participation in educational programs by family members, including mothers, fathers, grandparents, and siblings.

Parent & Family Engagement 

500

A written communication tool used by centers to inform parents about program or center news. Contains bits of news that families can discuss with their children.

Daily News Flash

600

Verbal and nonverbal feedback showing attentiveness to the speaker. Listening to what is said, then repeating it.

Active Listening 

Objectives for Family Engagement

100

 The relationship between families and teachers should be a partnership of this

page 814

mutual respect and support

200

A policy that gives families the freedom to visit the center anytime.

Open Door Policy

300

The purpose of family engagement  

 to promote family collaboration by exchanging ideas and information

400

Through their involvement, family members reap many benefits, such as feeling more knowledgeable and connected. These are other benefits that they may gain. 

• a greater understanding of child growth and development;
• increased confidence and enjoyment in their parenting roles (Figure 32.2);
• an understanding of their child’s strengths and areas of need;
• knowledge about their children’s experiences at the center;
• a better understanding of their children by observing other children;
• new skills for positively interacting with their children;
• more information about community resources;
• positive interaction skills to support their children’s well-being;
• learning that transfers from the center into the home;
• an understanding of how a partnership between the center and home can promote the children’s development; and
• an understanding that they are their child’s first and most important teacher.

500

This is the key to engaging families in their child’s growth and development.

Open and Ongoing Communication 

600

 What are ways to encourage family engagement?

daily interactions at arrival and pickup, written communication, class videos, parent-teacher conferences, advisory committees, and discussion groups. Newsletters, emails, and text messages

Written Communication & Conferences

100

This is one important reason written communication is popular for teachers.

they require less time and energy for the teacher than meetings or multiple telephone calls

200

These are?

• upcoming special events at the center;
• review of special activities;
• developmentally appropriate practices;
• importance of play;
• special classroom-related activities for children to do in the home;
• guidance tips;
• summaries of books or articles related to parenting;

• nutrition;
• child development information;
• a section asking for family volunteers;
• upcoming community events of interest to young children and their families;
• a “meet the staff” section;
• recognition for family contributions;
• reminders about center policies;
• welcomes to new families and teachers;
• classroom celebrations and birthdays;

Things you would write about in a typical newsletter to families

300

When working with families, always model this.

Page 827 

professional behavior

400

These are things you would include in the first letter home to families of the new school year. 

 introduce the teachers and staff, address classroom goals, rules, and expectations, welcome family members to observe and take part in center activities.

500

Address the parent and family letter to this, as opposed to “Mom and Dad.”

“Families”

600

Conferences will teach teachers these things

• the child’s reaction to the center, including likes and dislikes;
• how the child spends time outside the center;
• what home responsibilities the child has;
• special interests the child has shown at home;
• the status of the child’s health; and
• whom the child prefers to play with at home and in school

Conferences & Home Visits

100

These are the most common type of programs that utilize home visits with families. 

Head Start and Early Start

Head Start, Early Start, and other programs routinely use home visits as part of the teacher-family partnership.  

200

During a teacher-family conference, provide the families with an opportunity to talk. By exchanging information, you are showing them this. 

that you want to learn more about their child and family

300

Conferences provide an opportunity to do what? 

review each child’s progress and plan future goals.

400

During the conference process, this is the role that teachers play, and then the job that parents have. 

 the teachers role is to inform, and it is the parents’ or guardians’ job to decide.

500

This is what teachers can become more sensitive about when they complete a home visit with families. 

the child’s linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity

600

Questions a teacher may ask during a conference 

“What is a strength you see in (child) at home?” or “In what area has (child) shown the most progress?”

Vocabulary 2

100

Experiences that allow the teacher to enter the child’s world by spending time together in the family’s home.

Home Visits

200

A child’s backpack filled with games, puppets, storybooks, songs, chants, and a letter of introduction for the parents

Theme bag

300

A backpack in which children take home their favorite books, media, puzzles, or games to share with their parents.

Traveling Backpack 

400

File containing helpful information on problems families or parents may face.

Problem Solving File 

500

Feeling of not belonging

Alienated

600

Telephone calls made by teachers to families or parents to communicate praise and support for children.

Sunshine Calls

Family Resources & Activities

100

Family members can check out articles, magazines, and books and bring them home. Current books and magazines that relate to parenting. Make sure all the reading materials are available for parents in their home languages.

What is this?

Lending Library 

200

A place for meeting dates, newspaper clippings, community activities, and other center information. Informs parents of local events, library resources, and educational television programs.  

Parent Bulletin Board 

300

Family members may want to view books, brochures, professional articles, and other media; however, many families are not aware of where to find all this information. To meet this need, some centers provide a room or space designed as this. 

Family Resource Room or Area 

400

Traveling backpacks develop a connection between these two places 

early childhood program and home.

500

According to NAEYC, building positive relationships with the families of children in your care is not only a good idea, but it is also this.   page 836

 

your ethical responsibility.

600

What should you keep in mind when planning activities for children that will cost extra money that families have to pay for?   page 840

families’ economic situations. Unexpected requests for money for supplies, a field trip, or birthday treats can seriously impact a family’s finances.