CHAPTER 14 FOSTERING LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCHOOL-HOME CONNECTIONS
Chapter Overview
This chapter focuses on the ways in which teachers can enhance children's language development through fostering family connections. The chapter begins with a description of goals for establishing school-home connections. This is followed by a section on factors influencing family/parental involvement. Specific ways in which family involvement can be encouraged are then described, along with characteristics of successful parent programs.
Learning Outcomes
After reading this chapter, students should be able to
· Identify goals for establishing school-home connections
· Discuss the factors influencing family/parental involvement
· Describe effective ways of communicating with parents
· Discuss ways parents can enhance children's language development through learning activities at home and in the community
· Describe the characteristics of effective parent programs
Chapter Review
1. What are the defining characteristics of a learning community?
2. State five guidelines for teachers to follow when interacting with parents at school.
3. Describe four ways parents can encourage language development at home.
4. List and explain the characteristics of successful parent programs.
5. Explain four guidelines for communicating with parents via telephone and email.
6. Explain three guidelines for conducting parent conferences.
Chapter Activity
1. Develop a newsletter for parents of preschool children. Assume you are the teacher. Use a prepared template or develop/adapt your own. Be sure to cite the source of your template. Make the design/format “reader friendly”. Target your newsletter to parents of preschoolers who are from language diverse or at-risk environments. Your newsletter should be only one page. Use bullet points rather than paragraphs. Proofread your newsletter carefully.
Sample sections of a newsletter:
· Choosing books to share with your preschooler
· Ideas for sharing books with your preschooler
· Your preschooler might enjoy these books
Author, title, publisher
Book features
Book content
Book availability (local public library, classroom library loan)