Description: Principles, practices, and content of family life and family-school relations as related to young children's learning and development in various settings during the early childhood years.

Course information: Course is for (3) semester hours credit and provides a foundation for using family life knowledge in relating to young children and families in effective ways.

Instructor information:

Goals:

1. Using self-reflection, observation and study of families, text readings, and class presentations, develop an understanding of the dynamics of family functioning within today's society.

2. Using class presentations, the parent interview, and text readings, develop an understanding of parenting within the contexts of family, school, community and work.

3. Using class presentations, self-reflection, text readings and service learning assignment, develop and enrich your understanding of family differences - inclusive of strengths and needs and strategies to promote family empowerment.

4. Using class presentations, service learning experiences, and text readings, develop an understanding of how to use parent education and family support strategies such as home visiting, group meetings, parent networking, mentoring programs, and community services.

5. Using all course resources/experiences, develop strategies for crafting strong family-school relations.

6. Using all course resources/experiences, develop an understanding of family-school and parent-teacher communication skills and processes.

7. Using all course resources/experiences, develop and enrich your understanding of assessment strategies for use in supporting family and school efforts to nurture children's learning and development.

8. Using all course resources/experiences, develop and enrich your understanding of relating to and supporting families of different cultures.

9. Using all course resources/experiences, develop an understanding of ways to use technology to strengthen parent-teacher relationships.

Required readings:

Kevin J. Swick. (1993). Strengthening parents and families during the early childhood years. Champaign, IL: Stipes.

Course assignments and requirements:

Journal: Your journal is your on going record of your participation in class and your completion of assignments. The following items must be in your journal or journals as you wish to organize your work.

• Parent interview* (Due January 28)
• Class notes (including notes on guest lectures and video presentations)
• Text reading notes (Or take the exam on the text readings - See Dr. Swick)
• Service Learning Journal** (April 8)
• All written assignments given in class (Journal on reading notes and class notes, etc is due April 22)

**Service Learning Journal can be a separate journal or you can include it as a part of your overall course journal. Due by April 8

Note: Journals are collected the class session before mid-term (February 23) and reviewed and then returned to you for continuation during sessions after mid-term. By mid-term you should have the following items in your journal. Or take mid term examination.

• Parent interview
• Class notes
• Text readings for assigned chapters
• All written assignments given in class

Schedule of Class Sessions/Topics

January 12:	Course overview, Goal 1
January 14:	Goal 1 continued
January 19:	Goal 1 continued and USC Children's Center Overview
January 21:	Finish Goal 1
January 26:	Begin Goal 2 and Children's Garden Overview
January 28:	Continue Goal 2 (Parent Interview Due)
February 2:	Continue Goal 2 and Pierce Terrace - Ft. Jackson
February 4:	Continue Goal 2
February 9:	Finish Goal 2
February 11:	Begin Goal 3 and Nurturing Center Overview
February 16:	Goal 3 continued
February 18:	Goal 3 continued
February 23:	Finish Goal 3 (Mid-term point - turn in Journals for review...or complete mid-term examination
February 25:	Begin Goal 4
March 2:	Continue Goal 4
March 4:	Continue Goal 4
March 9 and 11:	Spring break
March 16:	Finish Goal 4
March 18:	Begin Goal 5
March 23:	Continue Goal 5
March 25:	Continue Goal 5
March 30:	Finish Goal 5
April 1:	Begin Goal 6
April 6:	Finish Goal 6
April 8:	Begin Goals 7 and 8 (Service Learning Journal Due)
April 13:	Continue Goals 7 and 8
April 20:	Begin Goal 9
April 22:	Continue Goal 9 (Course Journal Due)
April 27:	Course synthesis and evaluation

• Lecture notes
• Notes on guest lectures
• Group work sessions
• Notes on video presentations
• All written assignments

*Minimum notes are graded "C" or "B" - only comprehensive and extensive notes are graded "A"

Purpose: The focus of the parent interview is on your involvement in learning about how parent(s) in one family see themselves in the parenting roles and family life during the early childhood years.

Assignment: Select a family of your choice and use the following as a framework for interviewing the parents. The family should have a child under 7 years of age.

*Minimum parent interview report (3 or 4 pages) is graded "C" or "B".

*Extensive and comprehensive parent interview report (6 or 7 pages) is usually indicative of the grade of "A".

Complete text reading notes for each chapter in both texts is required for an "A" grade. Reading summaries receive a "B" or "C" grade. - Or you can take the exam on the text readings - See Dr. Swick.

A complete record of observation notes on all of your visits to your service learning site plus a comprehensive reaction to your experience is required for an "A" grade.

A summary of the service learning experience receives a "C" or "B" grade.

Select a service learning site from the following or you may choose a site you wish but have it approved by the instructor. 25 Hours of Service Learning is required.

The Nurturing Center (Cheryl Stone), 1332 Pickens St. (7714160) *Must do the volunteer training session.

Children's Garden (Harriet Atkinson), (765-1093)

USC Children's Center (Lisa Corning or Evelyn Fields), USC Campus on Blossom Street. (777-5733)

NOTE: Be sure to have your service learning form signed and completed as attached.

NAME____________________________________________________

Arrangements have been made at the following program or school to carry out my service learning work:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________
Student signature (turn in my the end of January)

Name__________________________________________________

Service Learning Program or School__________________________

Dates I Participated______________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

I confirm that the above information is correct and accurate as completion of my service learning assignment.

_____________________________________ Date_________
Student signature

_____________________________________ Date_________
Supervisors signature