Mathews, Michelle; Mauzy, Denise, (2003). Their Future is in Our Hands: Becoming an Effective Advocate for Early Childhood Education. Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC-MO).  (See Resources and Materials page for a link to purchase the book which is assigned in full for week 1.)

In addition, there is a Course Packet of readings which will be provided through the course at no charge.  These readings will be posted in the Resources and Materials section of the course.

The cooperation between home, school, and community is essential to provide a supportive educational environment for the young child. Includes: community exploration from a historical, philosophical, and social perspective; basic principles related to community resources; various child-rearing and parenting styles; and methods of utilizing and communicating with families and the community. Cultural and socioeconomic factors, realities of the changing family, and variations among parent education program types are considered.  Prerequisite: ED103

Upon completion of the course, a student will be able to:

• Examine today’s families in regard to family make-up, socio-economical issues, and the role of schools and government in the education of children and their parents.
• Read and reflect on the historical and current perspectives of parent involvement through time.
• Define parent and child advocacy and explain the role of the school and the early childhood professional in the advocacy process.
• Describe the elements of a classroom climate that support and value the culture of each child.
• Examine parent involvement activities that produce the best outcomes for parents, children, and schools.
• Identify strategies for dealing with children involved in divorce and remarriage family situations.
• Reflect upon strategies that support and respect alternative lifestyles among families.
• Rationalize the need for assessment and evaluation of parent-school involvement.
• Familiarize oneself with the characteristics of diverse groups and gain a “world knowledge” of them in order to better serve them.