I am focusing on early childhood mental health, DAP
practices, and parent involvement.
In this module I wanted to focus on parent involvement and creating classroom communities. I observed in a preschool and a pre-k classroom and talked with the teachers as well as the administrative assistant about how the classrooms and the center tries to foster a sense of community in the classrooms and how they try and encourage family involvement in the center.
In this module I wanted to focus on parent involvement and creating classroom communities. I observed in a preschool and a pre-k classroom and talked with the teachers as well as the administrative assistant about how the classrooms and the center tries to foster a sense of community in the classrooms and how they try and encourage family involvement in the center.
Looking around the classrooms home and school connections
were evident. I noticed pictures of the children and their families throughout
the room as well as a family of the week posted outside each classroom. In both
rooms there were class rules posted, and it was evident that the children knew
the class rules. There was also an area called a “safe space” meant for one
child where they can go if they wanted to be alone or if they were having a
hard time. I also noticed posters on the
wall with some problem solving strategies. I didn’t see these used much in the
time I spent, but in talking with the teacher she stated that when the children
are having a conflict, they go over to the posters, which are very visual, and
the teacher helps then determine which strategies they should try to work it
out.
When talking with the administrative assistant, she told me
that they have a lending library for families to take home books to read with
their children. She also said that the classrooms have weekend take home packs
with activities that are signed out by the families (2 families per week) that
are used to increase parent involvement. There are also a couple parents
involved in an action team that meets monthly to plan special events and a
couple former parents on the board of directors.
The center also does a monthly newsletter, has a web site
and a Facebook page. They use technology to try and reach the parents and share
information regularly.
I also noticed good daily communication between the families and the teachers at drop off and pick up times.
If anyone has any information on strategies you use to increase parent involvement or on building classroom communities please feel free to share that info.
Hello Jennifer, your post was very well-written so that I had a clear picture of what you were observing in your observation environment. I found it interesting that you noted the behavior problem solving charts but saw little use of them. I have noticed that many helpful tools like that are difficult to observe during the second-half of the school year as children begin mastering problem solving skills independent of teacher assistance. The best time to learn how to establish classroom management tools is during the first month of school when these tools are in full use by students. I like that the school has a web site and a Facebook page. When I was a head teacher, I used to keep a blog for parents to be able to view online as well for regularly posted information. The internet can be a helpful tool in giving parents an additional involvement resource.
ReplyDeleteThe environment you are observing in sounds excellent! I like the ideas of “safe spaces” in classrooms. Children do need a special place to be left alone or to go when they feel overwhelmed. Can the children use this area at any time? I think lending libraries are a great asset to a program or center. Unfortunately some families do not have money to buy books for their children, so these types of programs are great. Finally, I like that the program is taking advantage of the internet to keep families close, as many people use the internet daily.
ReplyDelete--Brooke B.
Yes the safe space can be used at any time. Some children go there on their own when they need a break and sometimes teachers guide children there if they are having a meltdown moment.
ReplyDeleteAnother parent involvement idea is having family fun nights. It is a way to get to know the parents in a less formal setting. Parents and teachers tend to let their guards down a little. You can have attendance prize and serve them dinner to get them there. Everyone usually has a great time. You get to see the children with their parents and how everyone acts around each other.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though the site you are visiting has some really good family involvement activities in place. I really like the idea of having the family centered packs that the parents can check out to take home and do with their families. Many of the things that they are doing we also do at our center. We have a lending library for both the children and the parents. We have a monthly newsletter and daily notes for the parents. We also have many different family nights at our center. We do a yearly literacy night, science night, conferences twice a year, open house, orientation night and a holiday program. We have found that these types of activities help to encourage a sense of community and helps our staff and families get to know each other.
ReplyDeleteThe environment sounds awesome! Are you familiar with the stars program through NAEYC? It sounds like that is heaven for the rating scales! Check it out if you haven't already.
ReplyDeleteA well put together environment is important for social emotional skills as well as a great learning environment. I would agree with the statement I have heard some teachers make stating that the environment can be more than a tool, it can be another teacher.
I love how the teacher uses the posters to help the children with conflict resolution. If I may I would like to suggest something I have done in the classroom that helped me with that. It was called a "Peace Table" I allowed the children to decorate it and the area with peaceful things. This included flowers on the table, pictures like the posters you described, and it was set up away from everything in its own corner. When children had conflicts they were, at first, directed there by the teachers in class and we facilitated the conversation. By the end of that school term they went on their own to the peace table to resolve problems. It was a pretty cool thing to watch!
Also, I was glad to see the classroom you described had a quiet area for children to get away as well.
I will look into the stars program through NAEYC. The center is star rated in the state of Ohio but does not have a NAEYC rating. I LOVE the peace table idea!
DeleteI love the idea of the safe place. That is an excellent idea for children to feel that they have a place they can go to calm down. You mentioned that the spot was not used often while you were there, did you see it used at all? If so did the teacher tell the child to go there or did the child go willingly? I would find it interesting for a young child to be able to sense the need to walk away for a moment and cool down.
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of the take home packs. However, what type of work does that entail? How long does the family have to complete it? I am a big believer in parent involement but there are many families that have numeroue events on the weekends and I would hope more time would be allowed to complete work. Parent involement should be fun and interactive, not an additional chore for the parents.
The take home packs go home on a Friday and are supposed to be returned on monday. They include a book, and some activities and questions based on the book. If families don't bring it back on Monday it is ok, as long as it is back before the following Friday so the next family can check it out.
DeleteI have seen the safe space used both teacher and child directed. The children tend to go there themself as they get closer to the age of 5...the young 4's and 3's tend to be directed there as needed.
just checking my link :)
ReplyDelete