Carmen Taylor ECE497: Child Development Capstone Course Februry 11, 2014 Jennifer Zaur

As a child development professional, I am able to work with students, parents, and other educators, in assessing children to find their areas of deficiency and help establish developmentally appropriate goal for each individual child. I use my knowledge about typical and atypical development to work with parents and teachers to help fulfill the educational and developmental needs of each student.
(Reid, 2014)

There are many benefits to a parent-schoolcommunity partnership including Improved attendance Higher test scores Increased pursuit of higher education Gains in skills and abilities

Microsystem: A students microsystem consists of relationships that take place in the students home, school, community, and/or work. These relationships are normally bilateral, meaning that what one person does will have an affect on other members of that microsystem, such as parents, siblings, and teachers, and all other community members the student has a relationship with.

Mesosystem The mesosystem concern the interactions that take place between the various parts of the microsystem
(Education Portal. (n.d.)

1. Parenting
2. Communicating 3. Volunteering 4. Learning at Home 5. Decision Making 6. Collaborating with the Community (Epstein, n.d.).

Establish home environments to support children as students.

Influence on child:
Awareness of family supervision; respect for parents. Positive personal qualities, habits, beliefs, and values. Balance between time spent on chores, on other activities, and on homework Good or improved attendance. Awareness of importance of school.

Sample practice:
Create a study quiet space for your child where your child is able to relax and focus on his/her assignments.

Effective communication between school and parents

Influence on child:
Awareness of own progress and of actions needed to maintain or improve grades. Understanding of school policies on behavior, attendance, and other areas of student conduct

Sample practice:
Provide parents with a parent handbook with information about school expectations for the school year. Send progress reports home to let the parents and students know how they are progressing in the school year.

Recruit and organize parent help and support

Influence on child:
Skill in communicating with adults. Increased learning of skills that receive tutoring or targeted attention from volunteers. Awareness of many skills, talents, occupations, and contributions of parent and other volunteers.

Sample practice:
Gather information from parents that may be interested in volunteering at the school level Set up a school and classroom volunteer program to help students who may need additional assistance in the classroom.

Help students at home with homework and other curriculum-related activities

Influence on child:
Gains in skills, abilities, and test scores linked to homework and class work. Positive attitude toward schoolwork. View of parents as more similar to teacher and of home as more similar to school

Sample practice:
Information for families and students on skills required in all subjects Information on homework policies

Include parents in school decisions, developing parent leaders and representatives

Influence on child:
Awareness of representation of families in school decisions. Understanding that student rights are protected. Specific benefits linked to policies enacted by parent organizations and experienced by students.

Sample practice:
Maintain an active PTA/PTO organization Information on school or local elections for school representatives.

Identify and integrate resources and services from the community to strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning and development.
Influence on child:
Awareness of careers and of options for future education and work. Specific benefits linked to programs, services, resources, and opportunities that connect students with community. Service to the community by students, families, and schools (e.g., recycling, art, music, drama, and other activities for seniors or others). Participation of alumni in school programs for students

Sample practice:

Education Portal. (n.d.) Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory of Development: Definition & Examples. Retrieved from http://educationportal.com/academy/lesson/bronfenbrenners-ecologicalsystems-theory-of-development-definition-examples.html Epstein, J. (n.d.). Epstein's framework of six types of involvement. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/lac/Joyce_L._Epstein_s_Framework_of_ Six_Types_of_Involvement(2).pdf Merriam-Webster.com. (n.d.). Adolescence. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adolescence Reid, S. (2014). What is a child development specialist?. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/child-developmentalspecialist-8910.html