Module 4: Family-Professional Partnerships

Learning Objectives

    • Describe effective practices for developing trusting family-professional partnerships in early care and education programs.
    • Use a decision-making process to select partnership-oriented practices linked to (a) developing an initial friendly relationship, (b) making shared decisions, and (c) developing a trusting partnership with families to address challenging issues.

 

Instructor Dashboard

Select a step from the 5-Step Learning Cycle to view the description.

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™

In Step 1, learners watch videos portraying the real world dilemma of how a father and teacher work together to develop a trusting partnership. Learners are asked to describe the dilemma in an activity following the videos.

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™In Step 2, learners use a tool called PICO to turn the dilemma  in Step 1 into an answerable question. The activity helps learners create a focused question that is answerable through research.

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™In Step 3, learners are presented with relevant sources of general evidence to consider in answering the question they posed in Step 2. Partnership-oriented Practices include enhanced communication, high expectations, respect, commitment, equality, and advocacy and encompass both a child focus and family focus. Handouts of evidence are provided on research and policies related to family-professional partnerships. Learners listen to audio clips of families and a practitioner sharing experience-based knowledge on building trusting partnerships. Activities for learners to check their knowledge are provided throughout this Step.

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™In Step 4, learners listen to audio perspectives of those involved in the dilemma to gain an understanding of their contexts. In an activity, they integrate the general evidence from Step 3 with perspectives and contexts unique to the dilemma in Step 1 to make an informed decision. Finally, learners are introduced to planning and implementation. Learners are asked to complete an  Implementation Plan to develop a trusting partnership with the father.

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™

In Step 5, learners consider ways to evaluate the decision to use the practice. Learners determine:

  • if the intervention was implemented, and
  • if the intervention was effective.

Handouts are provided showing sample assessment methods.

Dilemma

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™

In Step 1, learners watch videos portraying the real world dilemma of how a father and teacher work together to develop a trusting partnership. Learners are asked to describe the dilemma in an activity following the videos.

Question
5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™In Step 2, learners use a tool called PICO to turn the dilemma  in Step 1 into an answerable question. The activity helps learners create a focused question that is answerable through research.
Evidence

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™In Step 3, learners are presented with relevant sources of general evidence to consider in answering the question they posed in Step 2. Partnership-oriented Practices include enhanced communication, high expectations, respect, commitment, equality, and advocacy and encompass both a child focus and family focus. Handouts of evidence are provided on research and policies related to family-professional partnerships. Learners listen to audio clips of families and a practitioner sharing experience-based knowledge on building trusting partnerships. Activities for learners to check their knowledge are provided throughout this Step.

Decision

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™In Step 4, learners listen to audio perspectives of those involved in the dilemma to gain an understanding of their contexts. In an activity, they integrate the general evidence from Step 3 with perspectives and contexts unique to the dilemma in Step 1 to make an informed decision. Finally, learners are introduced to planning and implementation. Learners are asked to complete an  Implementation Plan to develop a trusting partnership with the father.

Evaluation

5-STEP LEARNING CYCLE™

In Step 5, learners consider ways to evaluate the decision to use the practice. Learners determine:

  • if the intervention was implemented, and
  • if the intervention was effective.

Handouts are provided showing sample assessment methods.

Step 3: Evidence