Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Parents and Community
Parents and Community
Anita Youngman
ED 698
YOUNGMAN PARENTS AND COMMUNITY STATEMENT 2
This A-Z Spanish book started as a little project and transformed into a meaningful
community project that reached a far away community in Puerto Rico. Coulter (2018) explains,
“learning that is ‘just in time’ to be useful is often more engaging than learning that is to be
mastered ‘just in case’ you need it some day.” When teachers know the importance of
colleagues and agencies in the larger community, they promote the intellectual, social,
emotional, physical growth and well-being of children. In this A-Z book, Alaska knowledge was
the beginning inspiration. This inspiration grew reaching other colleagues, engaging local
representing each letter of the alphabet. In addition, I enlisted my daughter and a couple 6th
grade students as translators for the book and had a teacher at the school edit the translations.
Having a positive relationship with the school community made me feel comfortable in
Development Lab (2002) explains, “Effective programs to engage families and community
is a collaborative enterprise among parents, school staff, and community members.” (p. 51) Not
only did this project develop useful resources to teach social studies standards, but students used
their knowledge to work on Spanish language arts standards in a constructive manner. Later the
A-Z book was utilized again by the Spanish Immersion community as a gift to a school in Puerto
Rico. Biannually, the Spanish Immersion students visit a school in Puerto Rico making
YOUNGMAN PARENTS AND COMMUNITY STATEMENT 3
connections to understand their home, the A-Z book was a unique Alaskan gift that allowed
In this example of the collaborative book project, the school was open to parental
partnerships with parents are a unifying theme of early education in the entire world,
because teachers need parents’ support for their children learning and development
process. Parents are not a homogenous group but neither are teachers, and the
relationship between these groups needs to acknowledge the strengths and expertise of
This experience, and many others as an involved parent in my children’s education has proven to
me the power of inviting and encouraging parental and community involvement for the children
me to have a military dog demonstration. Along with being a relevant and interesting
demonstration, students were able to see and appreciate one of their own family members taking
In my classroom it is very important that students and their families feel comfortable and
a part of our classroom and school community. Cotton, & Wikelund, (1989) explain
The research also shows that the earlier in a child's educational process parent
involvement begins, the more powerful the effects will be. Educators frequently point out
the critical role of the home and family environment in determining children's school
success, and it appears that the earlier this influence is "harnessed," the greater the
With that being said, I feel even more responsible for enlisting parents and community members
as partners in the raising of our children. The A-Z book was one of many of my own experiences
with my children's education. I believe when adults engage in students lives and educations they
References
Cotton, K., & Wikelund, K. R. (1989). Parent involvement in education. School improvement
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=128773524&site=eds-live
Henderson, A. T., Mapp, K. L., & Southwest Educational Development Lab., A. T. (2002). A
New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=ED474521&site=eds-live
Mag, A. G. (2011). Parents and early teachers: sharing education. Procedia-Social and