PURPOSEFUL ACTIONS

The handouts and PowerPoints are available athttp://speakerscore.com/empowered2

10 Tips to Nurturing Trusting Parent Teacher Relationships

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Abused or neglected every 28 minutes. # victims of abuse and neglect 18,541 Dies before first birthday every 10 hours. Percent of parents in the labor force 63.5% Fourth graders: unable to read at grade level 67.6% unable to do math at grade level 63.0%

Grandparents raising grandchildren 117,354 Single parent families 38% Child poverty rate 27%Unemployment rate 10.1%Freshman high school graduation rate 69.9% Juvenile arrests 38,046

www.childrensdefense.org/citswww.spotlightonpoverty.org

1. Prayerfully prepare for assignment

Listening to parents (Child’s interests, routines, and preferences)

Observation

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart,but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21

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2. Understanding the Family Dynamics

Most important function is Faith Development Socialization

The Family as a Social System Parents influence children Children influence behavior of their parents

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© 2007 Thomson Higher EducationChanges in parents & Changes in Families

Changing Family Systems in the United States

More single adults Postponed marriage Fewer children Working mothers More single parents More remarriage More multigenerational families

Traditional 12%

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Single Parent or Shared Parenting Families

2 sets of communication folders 2 conferences or the alignment of 4

schedules Storage for overnight supplies Extra lines on forms Documentation of legal issues (custody, etc.) Drop off/pick up authorizations Emergency contact priorities

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www.census.govwww.childstats.govwww.childtrends.org

USEFUL WEB LINKS TO EXPLORE FAMILY

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3. Compassionate/Welcoming Interactions

Open House/Orientation Greetings at the door Phone Calls Letters Volunteer Task List/Boards Visit/Stay (Drop off/Pick up routines)

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4. Ethical Policies and Procedures

Confidentiality Special needs care plans Competence-Professional Development Support natural language and culture ITERS and ECERS

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Your center has a strict no-sugar policy. The Parent's handbook makes it clear you expect birthdays and other special events be celebrated with healthy snacks. A mother who has been coming to the center for two months and speaks little English arrives on her child’s birthday with an expensive cake she purchased from the local bakery. You know the cake stretched her budget and represents her earnest hope that a festive birthday celebration will help her child enter into the social mainstream of the class-he is having difficulty making friends and fitting in.

Which principles should guide your decision-making?

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5. Provide Parent Training

Interpret Child Development Apply Theories at Home Monthly Meetings with Refreshments Modeling

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6. Provide Parenting Resources NCLB publications www.ed.gov/pubs/ Audio/Video Materials Books

Bringing up Boys/Girls By James Dobson

Raising Spiritual Champions By George Barna

Raising Children for Christ By Andrew Murray

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Parent Power: Build the Bridge to Success

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Provisions Related to Children With Disabilities

Free publications

Literacy Begins at Home

www.edpubs.gov/

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7. Connect to faith based support programs

MOPS Moms in Touch Better Brains for Babies Translators Intervention Specialist Counselors Marriage/Family Support Hospital Classes

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8. Help parents see parenting and their child through the eyes of Christ

Welcomed, blessed Advocated for Diversity of Learners (Personality,

Temperament, Developmental Stages)

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your

works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

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Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/actearly Developmental Disabilities - Learn the Signs. Act EarlyMaternal and Child Health Library http://www.mchlibrary.info/index.htmlParent to Parent of Georgia http://p2pga.org Roadmap To Services

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9. Caring interaction with parents

Consider personality styles Meet practical needs

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Seek First to Understand then to be

understood

– Stephen Covey, Habit 5

Effective caring communication

Win-win relationships

Professionalism

Perception differences impact credibility

Perceptions are based upon experiences

Practice paradigm shifting

Meet practical needs…

MealsLetters to soldiers, prisonersGrocery store gift cardsVolunteer recognition

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10. Communicate clearly, frequently and honestly

Teaching and Learning Objectives Newsletters

Student Progress-Milestone Checklists Upcoming Events Explain learn through play experiences Activity/Learning Center Visits Post Lesson Plans

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Family Name

Yes

No

Comment about their child:

Reflection:

Family Involvement Checklist: Self-ReflectionKeep track of how you are communicating information about each child to his or her parent(s) monthly. List family names; check Yes when you’ve made contact. Under the last column, indicate the method that you used: e-mail, phone, face-to-face, mail, electronic mailing list, other. Briefly note the nature of your comment about each child.

Reprinted Using Observation in Early Childhood Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Month: ______________________________Have I communicated with each family this month about their child’s development and progress?

Closed questionsOpen ended questions

Conversation skills-you get what you ask for:

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What is your name?What is the story behind the selection of your name?Where were you born?In what places did you live before you moved here?Where do you live?Where did you go to school?What was your most vivid school memory?

Closed or open ended question?

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How many brothers and sisters do you have?How does your family celebrate birthdays? Do you have any children?What is the most rewarding or challenging thing about being a parent? Where do you work?Would you suggest to your children to follow in your professional footsteps?

Closed or open ended question?

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Question creation chartfor richer conversation…

Is Did Can Would Will Might

Who

What

Where

When

How

Why More complex, high level

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Suggestions for Reducing the Negative Consequences of Rumors

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1.Announce timetables for making important decisions.

2.Explain decisions and behaviors that may appear inconsistent or secretive.

3.Explain pros and cons, of current decisions and future plans.

4.Openly discuss worst-case possibilities—it is almost never as anxiety-provoking as the unspoken fantasy.

Source: Adapted from L. Hirschhorn, “Managing Rumors,” in L. Hirschhorn (ed.), Cutting Back (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1983), pp. 54–56. With permission.

Parent/Family Ministry Component Assessment Tools

1. Parent Events2. Parent Concerns3. Cultivating Relationships4. Effective Parent Conferences5. Parent Education6. Valuing a Family’s Culture7. Changing Family Dynamics8. Parent Involvement9. Communicating Progress

UnexaminedUnexamined EmergingEmerging CompetentCompetent ExemplaryExemplary

Adapted from Supporting Families, articles by Leanne Leak and D’Arcy MaherEMPOWERED

Information Richness of Communication Channels

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Low channel richness High channel richness

Routine Nonroutine Source: Based on R.H. Lengel and D.L. Daft, “The Selection of Communication Media as an Executive Skill,” Academy of Management Executive, August 1988, pp. 225–32; and R.L. Daft and R.H. Lengel, “Organizational Information Requirements, Media Richness, and Structural Design,” Managerial Science, May 1996, pp. 554–72. Reproduced from R.L. Daft and R.A. Noe, Organizational Behavior (Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt, 2001), p. 311.

Supporting Families Through Meaningful MinistryPractical Tools

Assessing Parent Ministry Components Parent Teacher Conference Report (CD) Tips for Stress Proofing Children Sample Expected Outcomes List Parent Feedback Form Activities for Home MOPS Newsletters CEE Cover Posters (Spanish also)

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QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love,

endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

The handouts and PowerPoints are available at

http://speakerscore.com/empowered2

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