I chose to learn about the following four national organizations. They include the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (NCPIE), Family Friendly Schools, Families and Schools Together (FAST), and Hispanic Policy Development Project. All four projects are partners working to bring together families and schools in an effort to effect a positive educational outcome for children.
The first three organizations had websites which explained their role in assisting families, children, and communities. However, I am still researching more about Hispanic Policy Development Project as they did not have a website that provided additional information.
These organizations appealed to me because they are connected in their efforts as partners that contribute to families, children, communities, and to each other. They also listed many other organizations that they work with as they advocate for better relationships between families and schools.
There were no job opportunities listed at the time I reviewed their information. However, I am interested in any assistance they might be able to offer my CoP. I would imagine that skills for being affiliated with these organizations would include experience in working with families and/or in the school systems. They would need to be familiar with child development, relationship building, be organized, and be excited about bringing families and schools together as partners.
I was pleasantly surprised at the number of groups who work in the arena of supporting parent involvement in schools. I am looking forward to learning more about each entity and how they may be able to assist my challenge of lack of parent involvement with schools in my local community.
References:
National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (NCPIE). (n.d.). About NCPIE. Retrieved from http://www.ncpie.org/AboutNCPIE/
Family Friendly Schools. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from http://www.familyfriendlyschools.com/about/index.htm
Families and Schools Together (FAST). (n.d.). Welcome. Retrieved from http://www.familiesandschools.org/
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels
Organizations that appealed to me are Parents as Teachers, the local PTA (Parent –Teacher Association), Idaho Head Start Association, and Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs. All four organizations support the parent-teacher relationship, cater to parents and children, and are ones that I have never belonged to before.
The organization of Parents as Teachers profiles examples of home visiting and working with parents and children in preparing young children for school by promoting “healthy development.” Years ago a program that I worked for used their curriculum. I found the curriculum helpful as I visited families. The closest PAT I can find is located in Boise, Idaho. This makes me wonder if it would be beneficial to begin such an organization locally in Twin Falls, Idaho. This organization would be helpful in promoting parenting and relationship skills for parents and children.
Joining the local and national PTA as a representative from the schools would give me to opportunity to meet parents that are already associated with being a vital partner in their child’s education. The purpose of the PTA “is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children” (Parents as Teachers, n.d.).
The Idaho Head Start Association’s mission is “to advocate for the children and families of Idaho by promoting and strengthening early care and learning.” I worked for Head Start in Idaho many years ago. I was never a member of their association, but wished our supervisor would have promoted membership. The core values of this organization embody many ideas in which I believe. Those principles include, “respect, trust, compassion, collaboration, communication, accountability, diversity, integrity, quality, recognition and celebration” (Idaho Head Start Association, n.d.).
From my past experience with Head Start, I know that they strive to build trusting relationships between parents, children, and Head Start staff. This would be a positive environment for working with parents and children in establishing developmentally appropriate skills important to being parents that advocate for children.
Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs is another organization I find interesting. The Hispanic population represents the largest ethnic group in Idaho (ICHA, 2011). ICHA provides serviced to the Hispanic population and acts as a liaison between community and government groups. They are important in providing advice to the governor about issues that the state of Idaho Hispanic population fact. For instance; studies show that there is a significant gap between Latino students and reaching current academic standards
I have a special place in my heart for the Hispanic population as I have built relationships with Hispanic children I have taught and with their families. They are an asset to our community and offer diversity that is complementary to building strong family units. For the betterment of their children, I would like to join forces in connecting this population in developing better relationships between them and the schools their children attend.
Currently there are no employment opportunities advertised by the said agencies within the community where I live (Twin Falls County). The ICHA lists employment opportunities from partnering agencies, but none were within the early childhood field. Head Start which is affiliated with the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) listed a home visitor opening. However, at this time, I am most interested in taking my challenge of parenting parents before they become parents to CSI.
The skills I foresee needing in doing this are planning and organization, leadership, public speaking, knowledge of both adult and child development, knowledge of parenting skills and how to link those skills to younger adults and children, ability to advocate and get others to advocate for parenting before parenting. Becoming a member of agencies that promote parenting and building relationships between schools/teachers and families are those that I seek to support my passion.
References:
Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs (ICHA). (2011). Idaho commission on hispanic affairs: Working toward economic, social, and political equality for hispanics in idaho. Retrieved from http://icha.idaho.gov/default.asp
Idaho Head Start Association. (n.d.). Investing in idaho’s future. Retrieved from http://idahoheadstartassoc.net/
National PTA. (n.d.). National pta: Every child. one voice. Retrieved from http://www.pta.org/index.cfm
Parents as Teachers. (n.d.). Parents as teachers. Retrieved from http://www.parentsasteachers.org/
The organization of Parents as Teachers profiles examples of home visiting and working with parents and children in preparing young children for school by promoting “healthy development.” Years ago a program that I worked for used their curriculum. I found the curriculum helpful as I visited families. The closest PAT I can find is located in Boise, Idaho. This makes me wonder if it would be beneficial to begin such an organization locally in Twin Falls, Idaho. This organization would be helpful in promoting parenting and relationship skills for parents and children.
Joining the local and national PTA as a representative from the schools would give me to opportunity to meet parents that are already associated with being a vital partner in their child’s education. The purpose of the PTA “is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children” (Parents as Teachers, n.d.).
The Idaho Head Start Association’s mission is “to advocate for the children and families of Idaho by promoting and strengthening early care and learning.” I worked for Head Start in Idaho many years ago. I was never a member of their association, but wished our supervisor would have promoted membership. The core values of this organization embody many ideas in which I believe. Those principles include, “respect, trust, compassion, collaboration, communication, accountability, diversity, integrity, quality, recognition and celebration” (Idaho Head Start Association, n.d.).
From my past experience with Head Start, I know that they strive to build trusting relationships between parents, children, and Head Start staff. This would be a positive environment for working with parents and children in establishing developmentally appropriate skills important to being parents that advocate for children.
Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs is another organization I find interesting. The Hispanic population represents the largest ethnic group in Idaho (ICHA, 2011). ICHA provides serviced to the Hispanic population and acts as a liaison between community and government groups. They are important in providing advice to the governor about issues that the state of Idaho Hispanic population fact. For instance; studies show that there is a significant gap between Latino students and reaching current academic standards
I have a special place in my heart for the Hispanic population as I have built relationships with Hispanic children I have taught and with their families. They are an asset to our community and offer diversity that is complementary to building strong family units. For the betterment of their children, I would like to join forces in connecting this population in developing better relationships between them and the schools their children attend.
Currently there are no employment opportunities advertised by the said agencies within the community where I live (Twin Falls County). The ICHA lists employment opportunities from partnering agencies, but none were within the early childhood field. Head Start which is affiliated with the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) listed a home visitor opening. However, at this time, I am most interested in taking my challenge of parenting parents before they become parents to CSI.
The skills I foresee needing in doing this are planning and organization, leadership, public speaking, knowledge of both adult and child development, knowledge of parenting skills and how to link those skills to younger adults and children, ability to advocate and get others to advocate for parenting before parenting. Becoming a member of agencies that promote parenting and building relationships between schools/teachers and families are those that I seek to support my passion.
References:
Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs (ICHA). (2011). Idaho commission on hispanic affairs: Working toward economic, social, and political equality for hispanics in idaho. Retrieved from http://icha.idaho.gov/default.asp
Idaho Head Start Association. (n.d.). Investing in idaho’s future. Retrieved from http://idahoheadstartassoc.net/
National PTA. (n.d.). National pta: Every child. one voice. Retrieved from http://www.pta.org/index.cfm
Parents as Teachers. (n.d.). Parents as teachers. Retrieved from http://www.parentsasteachers.org/
Saturday, March 9, 2013
First Post in the Last Course
Hello Everyone!
Congratulations to all who have come this far. We only have seven more weeks after this one. I am excited but am also feeling a little stressed. I will be traveling through Europe during week four of this course. It is my hope that I can look to my peers for support and help during that time.
Good luck to all of you. I look forward to hearing from you in our discussion and blog posts.
Sally
Congratulations to all who have come this far. We only have seven more weeks after this one. I am excited but am also feeling a little stressed. I will be traveling through Europe during week four of this course. It is my hope that I can look to my peers for support and help during that time.
Good luck to all of you. I look forward to hearing from you in our discussion and blog posts.
Sally
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