Apply the Chapter Concepts; Case in Point ? Maria Gonzalez
Maria Gonzalez is a first-year Head Start teacher. She is enjoying her work but is particularly challenged by one of the families in her classroom. The Martinez family consists of Rosa, a young single mother; Diego, a charming four-year-old who is very shy; and an elderly grandmother who speaks no English.
- How might Rosa benefit from her daily conversations with Maria?
- What are some of the things Diego learns as he watches his mother and teacher talk together each day?
- How might Maria benefit as a teacher by her close communication with this family?
- Consider any potential barriers that Maria should be aware of and ways these could be overcome.
- Create a list of behaviors and attitudes that may act as barriers from them?that is, what would make parents feel uncomfortable with teachers, and teachers uncomfortable with parents?
Chapter 5
Benefits and Barriers in Teacher-Family Partnerships
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Preview Questions
What do you think children gain when their teachers create partnerships with their parents?
What do you think parents gain when they work closely with their children?s teachers?
How do you think teachers benefit when they create partnerships with families?
What are some of the reasons that forming effective partnerships can be difficult, for both teachers and parents?
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Benefits for Children
Security and decreased anxiety in school environment and improved academic performance
Sense of self-worth when they perceive that others value and respect their parents
Knowledgeable and consistent responses from all adults in their lives
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Benefits for Parents
Feelings of support for parenting
Knowledge and skills to support parenting and support their children?s education
Enhanced parental self-esteem when invited to participate and make a contribution to their child?s school life
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Benefits for Teachers
Increased knowledge about individual children, their backgrounds, and their needs
Positive feedback increases teacher confidence and social skills, and supports their efforts
Parent resources for enriched learning experiences in and out of the classroom
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Think About It (1 of 2)
A five-year-old child newly immigrated from Russia is entering your kindergarten class. How will he and his family benefit when the teacher reaches out to welcome his family into full communication and partnership? How will you benefit as the teacher?
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Why are There Barriers?
Reasons for barriers
Human reactions, communication, and external factors
Seven role dimensions and distinctions between mothering and teaching (Katz)
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Parents and teachers often have very different perspectives on children
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Barriers Caused by Factors in the Relationship
Maneuvering over turf
Issue of trust
Differences in expertise
Essential differences between teaching and parenting
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Barriers Caused by Emotional Responses
Emotional responses of both parents and teachers
Reactions to other?s role
Harmful emotional responses: jealousy, guilt, resentment
Fear of criticism
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Barriers Caused by External Factors
Time
?Busy-ness?
Old ideas of parent involvement and families
Administrative policies
Personal problems or style
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Think About It (2 of 2)
In the scenario described earlier, of the 5-year-old Russian immigrant child entering kindergarten, consider all the possible barriers on both sides that could make forming a partnership difficult. For each barrier identified, reflect on possible solutions.
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Summary
There are benefits for children, parents, and teachers when parents become involved in partnerships with teachers. Name several of each.
Barriers to partnerships may be found in factors that influence the relationship, in emotional responses of both teachers and parents, and in external factors.
Gestwicki, Home, School, and Community, 9th Edition. ? 2016 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
