10-307-195 ECE: Family & Community Rel
Course Information
Description
This 3-credit course will examine the role of relationships with family and community in early childhood education for children from birth to 8 years of age. In this course, students will complete the Strengthening Families Training.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Integrate strategies that support diversity, equity and inclusion
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    describe variations in family structures, beliefs and values
    describe how a family’s culture influences their values, perceptions, beliefs, celebrations and parenting practices
    analyze the influence of your own family experiences on your perceptions and attitudes toward diverse families and on your caregiving practices
    explain why teachers have responsibility to understand family life and how it impacts teaching
    outline the importance of involving families in the development and implementation of celebrations and activities that respect their traditions and values

  2. Analyze family patterns and trends
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    develop a definition of family that is inclusive and diverse
    explore various family structures (i.e. nuclear family, one-parent family, foster family, same sex parents family)
    describe trends affecting families
    analyze circumstances in families’ lives that influence child and family members’ actions
    explore literature and classroom resources related to diverse family patterns and trends

  3. Identify strategies to strengthen and support families
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    define factors that protect families against stress
    analyze factors that protect families against stress (i.e. Strengthening Families Protective Framework)
    identify strategies to support families in developing protective factors
    assess program practices in supporting and strengthening families in the protective factors
    analyze a strength-based approach to working with families
    explain how trauma informed care supports children and families

  4. Analyze effective communication strategies
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    utilize effective communication techniques
    identify barriers to effective communication
    recognize how personal patterns affect communication style
    identify strategies for conflict resolution
    develop strategies for communicating with families in ways that are culturally sensitive and respect the family’s home language and communication styles
    explore the responsible use of technology to communicate with families

  5. Discover strategies for developing respectful and reciprocal relationships with families
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    identify strategies for initial encounters with children and families
    identify techniques for building cooperative partnerships with families
    recognize the progression in teacher-family relationships
    analyze barriers to teacher-family relationships
    analyze common sources of tension between families and teachers

  6. Analyze strategies to promote family engagement in early childhood education programs
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    identify a range of levels of family engagement
    recognize the barriers to effective family engagement
    identify strategies that promote and sustain meaningful family engagement

  7. Outline formats for meeting with families in their contexts
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    identify strategies to conduct successful informal and formal family-teacher meeting
    recognize the purpose and goals of family-teacher conferences
    examine how home visits are used in a variety of community agencies

  8. Advocate for children and families
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    describe your role as a child and family advocate
    explore public policy that affects children and families
    examine the role of public policy
    identify a range of advocacy strategies
    apply advocacy strategies to address a specific need or issue

  9. Identify community resources that provide a range of services for children and families
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    describe the types of services needed by diverse families
    analyze a broad range of services provided by local community organizations
    develop a collection of resource agencies
    describe how to match local services to the needs of a family