The setting I come from I feel that parent involvement is
shallow and unrewarding. When parents pick and drop children
educators miss to initiate interactions and build on relationships
and are unable to recognise families as genuine partners. The
partnerships help to transform relationships as they challenge
knowledge and power links between educators and families as
suggested by Stonehouse and Gonzalez Mena, 2008, While family
involvement is not a partnership, it can lead to a
partnership.Issue/Concern
How we can build Collaborative partnerships with Families
My beliefs and why we value collaborative partnership with
familiesI believe family is key influence in childs learning. By
building strong relationships with the families, we educators are
able to find out about the childs everyday experiences and
interests, which further allow us to provide a culturally
responsive and relevant program to the children.According to
sociocultural theories children learn through interactions within
their families and communities. Hughes and Naughton suggested that
effective partnerships between families and educators give family
members a voice and a role in decision making and encourage the
negotiation of shared meanings.
My beliefs and why we value collaborative partnership with
families (Contd.)When educators work in partnerships with the
families, it enables us to appreciate each others role and promote
the sharing of information which further enhances the childs
learning. As suggested by Puckett and diffily,2004, collaborative
partnerships involve both educators and family members making a
commitment and sharing information and are built on mutual
benefit.(Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett, Farmer, 2012, p.50)
When we educators exchange information with families, we are
able to identify childrens connections with community groups and it
also provides insight into their interest and funds of knowledge.
Based on these exchange of information with the families and using
Bronfenbrenner model , we can identify importance of relationships
and the strengths that a child brings to the setting.
5 Whys Activity: Why we lack collaborative partnerships with
families?Lack of partnership- Why?Lack of shared decision making-
Why?Lack of meaningful interactions- Why?Lack of time Why?Lack of
flexible ways to communicate- Why?Lack of effective communication :
Root Cause
2-1-2 activity:Strengths are :1. Willingness to improve 2.
Making initiativesOpportunity for growth : Effective communication.
Strategies: 1. Making an action Plan to have an effective
communication. 2. Critical Reflection & Evaluation.
Action Plan1.Interview between Family and Educator Accept
perspectivesUnderstand/Preferable ways of communicationCommon Goal
2. Follow the information through being caring, consistent and with
the clarity.
Action Plan (Contd.)3. Orientation visits to be arranged as
careful orientation of a family to the service and the service to
family enables trust to grow and dialogue to begin.(Arthur et al.
p.58)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHk3m9QS9Zc
Action Plan (Contd.)
4. Ongoing exchange of information enables us to recognise the
power relationships that exist between educators and many families
and take steps to develop relationships with the families who are
different from us.(Blaise & Nuttall, cited in, Arthur et al.,
2012, p.51)5. Building sense of community by providing multiple
ways for families to choose to be part of the setting.
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/e-learning-videos/talking-about-practice/partnerships-with-families
Evaluation
SuccessExcitementNervousWorries