Preparing Educators to Engage Families: Case Studies Using an Ecological Systems Framework

Read Holly Kreider′s blog at http://www.public2private.org/This blog offers reflections on parenting and schooling, as told from the perspective of a family involvement researcher and single mother of two school-age children.Research-based teaching cases that reflect critical dilemmas in family-school-community relations Pairing child development theory with research-based teaching cases that reflect vital issues in family–school–community relations, especially among families for whom poverty and cultural differences are daily realities, this Second Edition encourages educators to hone their analytic and problem-solving skills for use in real-world situations with students and their families. Key Features Research-based teaching cases and theoretical perspectives help educators connect theory and research to practice in family engagement, honing problem-solving skills for real-world dilemmas of practice. The overarching social ecological systems framework increases understanding of the multiple contexts of children′s lives and how families, schools, and communities can best support child development. Original research with families and schools provides valuable perspectives and skills for engaging families who have, in many instances, been underserved by our educational system.