ECE497: Child Development Capstone

Course
Tracy Reed
Parent Presentation
Kierstin Backes

Creating a partnership to
promote learning and positive
development
Lincoln Elementary School
Child, Family, Community
We have all heard the saying, It takes a village to raise
a child. If we as parents, educators, and community
members all work together for the best interest of the
child, we will help to foster and develop successful
confident children who are the future of this community.
Together we can make that future bright.

It takes a village..
My name is Kierstin Backes and I have been in the Early Education
field for over 16 years. I am about to receive my Bachelors Degree
in Child Development. I am familiar with developmentally appropriate
practices for children. I have extensive knowledge of how a childs
family and surroundings impact their development. I consider myself
a child advocate and am passionate about giving every child the best
possible tools for success, now and in the future. I am excited to
bring some of my knowledge to you and your children.
Who Am I?
The children here at Lincoln Elementary are in the developmental stage known
as middle childhood. In middle childhood, Children learn about the wider world
and master new responsibilities that increasingly resemble those they will
perform as adults (Berk,2013). During this time our children have become
capable, independent human beings. Cognitively your children can think and
express themselves more logically. Physically they are more confident, and
gross motor skills become fluent and more precise.
Middle Childhood
Some of the most important changes currently taking place in your
children are in their social emotional development. In middle
childhood, friendships become more complex and psychologically
based (Berk, 2013). Friendships and community begin to have a
larger influence on children as they assert their independence from
family. They are also beginning to find and understand their role in
not only the family; but their school and neighborhoods as well.

Middle Childhood
The community of Gilbert is a community that cares.
You are a community of hard working families trying to
make life better for the future generation. Knowing that
the outside world now has a big influence on your
children it is the responsibility of parents, teachers, and
community members to accept their role in this
relationship.
So what does this mean to you?
Bronfenbrenner believed that a person's
development was affected by everything in their
surrounding environment. He divided the person's
environment into five different levels (Education
portal.com). The mesosystem is an example of
one of these influential levels.
Brofenbrenners Ecological
Systems Theory
The mesosystem consists of the people
who are a constant part of a childs daily
life and routine. You are the mesosystem
of the students here at Lincoln
Elementary School.

The Mesosystem
The Mesosystem
Parents- Be an authoritative parent. Be involved in your childs
life. Have rules limits and consequences. Show love, support,
and trust. Be present both physically and mentally.
Teachers- Know your childs family situation. Offer support and
guidance. Adapt your curriculum to your students. Embrace their
culture and heritage. Offer resources to families in need.
Community members- Be role models. Offer support to
neighbors in need. Develop community outreach programs.
Encourage children to participate in positive activities such as
sports, clubs and jr. career opportunities

Our Roles
Parents, Teachers, Community

Dr. Joyce Epstein developed a guideline
of six ways parents can be involved that
will enhance development as well as
partnership with school and community.
Epsteins types of involvement
Involved parents raise confident and
independent children with a bright future.
Be a positive parent who encourages your
child in their development. Encourage
children to achieve their goals.
The school can offer parenting classes
and seminars on topics of importance to
families such as health and nutrition.

Parenting
It is important for parents to communicate with the
school and vice versa. Knowing what your child is
doing in school and how you can help them succeed is
crucial. This can be achieved through parent
conferences. It is important that the school provide
information in the families home language to ensure
parents understand the information.

Communicating
Volunteering in your childs school allows you to know
what is going on in your childs class. It also sends the
message to both child and teacher that you care.
Teachers should provide volunteer opportunities that
allow for working parents to contribute outside the
classroom as well as opportunities during school
hours.
Volunteering
Helping your child at home lets you see
what your child is learning. It allows you to
see and understand where the struggle
and or excel and allows you to offer
guidance and support.
Teachers can offer tips on expectations as
well as how parents can help in the area
of homework.

Learning at Home
Parents should be a part of decision making in the
school. Parents should be represented on the
school board. This allows parents to feel they are
involved in what their child does at school. It
allows the parent to be a voice for their child as
well as children through out the community
Decision Making
Community involvement allows families to be
aware of resources and programs to benefit
their families. It links together community
members in like situations. Having community
events is a great way to involve schools
families and the community.
Collaborating with the Community
Together we can make a difference. We all
want the best for our children. We want to
ensure they have a bright future. If we work
together we can accomplish this for the
students at Lincoln Elementary School. Alone
we are but one piece. Together we can
complete the puzzle.


Together
References:
Berk, L. E. (2013). Child development. Boston:
Pearson Education.
Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory of
Development: Definition & Examples. Retrieved from
http://education-
portal.com/academy/lesson/bronfenbrenners-
ecological-systems-theory-of-development-definition-
examples.html
Joyce Epstein, PHD. (n.d.) School, Family, and
Community Engagement [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://uscenter.savethechildren.org/SitePages/Speake
r%20Series%20Epstein.aspx
Image retrieved from
http://smartysmartypants.wordpress.com/ecological-
map-2/