Family-community relationships in childcare settings for migrant agricultural workers

¶ … family probably feels occasional loneliness and isolation due to the parents being migrant workers. To strengthen family and community bonds in a way that respects the family's privacy, I would first approach them to offer a warm welcome gift. If the family seemed receptive to socializing and integrating with the community, then I would be able to take the relationship a step further. Otherwise, it would be wrong to assume that the family is interested in immediately engaging in social activities that are artificial, structured, and potentially of no interest to them. It is important to understand the cultural variables that are at stake too. If the family speaks different languages than the ones already spoken in our community, it might be helpful to find some way of learning about that family's language and culture. The children should be encouraged to talk about their background, their way of life, and use their mother tongue to educate the other children about their way of life.

Unit 7 Discussion

Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is essential to the understanding of early childhood education. Decades of research on child development has yielded a body of knowledge that can be individualized and applied to unique scenarios, as well as adapted for use in any classroom ("Twelve Principles of Child Development and Learning that Inform Practice," n.d.). One of the DAP principles is that every area of learning is important, which is something that I believe personally and wish to incorporate into my future classrooms. Music and art are as important as math and reading, which is something that school administrators and curriculum developers sometimes neglect due to the strident rules related to standardized testing. However, young children need a wide variety of stimulations. I would include in my classroom the resources and tools for children to learn about geography, math, music, and everything else by stocking the room with books and materials.

Unit 8 Discussion

The best thing for Janice would be to have a personal consultation or confrontation with the director of the school, before taking any covert action in writing the state. Janice may need to talk with other teachers at the school first, to get their opinions on how the school is run, what they think about the teacher to student ratio, and what they think about the director. Having allies will help Janice. If she cannot acquire allies, then a simple discussion with the director might clear up some of the problems she has witnessed, as they might be temporary. The ethical standards Janice should follow are clear: discretion, honesty, integrity, and commitment to the students (National Education Association, 2014). If the children are suffering from the decisions the director is making, then Janice might need to act more directly by writing a letter to the county.

Unit 9 Discussion