RUNNING HEAD: Book Reflection # 2 1

Book Reflection #2

HD 450

Fall 2017

Rebecca De Leon

Pacific Oaks College

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Book Reflection#2

For this book reflection I will be discussing and summarizing what Chapter 6 of the book

When teachers reflect was about. Chapter 6 title is, Working with families. I decided to focus

on this chapter because this chapter was the one that really spoke to me. I have been working

with children at a preschool for a while now, and one of my duties is to communicate with

parents and discuss with them their childrens academic, emotional, and cognitive development.

Many of the challenges I face is finding the time to meet with parents. Communicating

effectively and working together successfully may require a lot of effort, but the rewards can be

great. We gain increased understanding of the children we teach, and we contribute to a lasting

legacy of family support for each child (Tertell, 1998). This chapter emphasizes the importance

of the role of the childrens family. Families are the wellspring that creates and nurtures the

children in the classrooms. When teachers, educators, and mentors work closely with parents and

family members, fostering their sense of belonging and their confidence, we strengthen parents

capacity to support their children over a life time, just like the author states in the book. I really

enjoyed reading the examples and scenarios which helped me visualize real life situations. This

chapter reminded me and will be a constant reminder that families are first in the childrens life

and secondly, are the educators. As educators it is important to build relationships with parents.

Many parents do not have all the tools and resources to help their children at school but a help

from a teacher comes along the way. Chapter six also talked about learning with the families

about their children as well as learning together with the families.

Reaching out to parents for help about their children is a must in my list when I work the

preschool. Most of the families of the children I work dont speak English, therefore, that tends

to intimidate the parents to approach me, but that is when I do my part. I always make time a day
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to catch parents either during drop offs or pick ups. Working with children has opened my mind

about and to different and new ideas. Every day is a new experience with these children and all

these are the experiences I like to share with families. I have realized that many of the families

dont see much of what I see during the day from the children at their home. Involving the

families in their childrens life is what I love doing at my job. Providing them with resources that

allows the parents to engaged in extracurricular activities outside of the preschool is always a

great way to break the ice for me. Many of the families I work with, like I mentioned earlier,

dont speak English which can be intimidating for parents, but when it comes to their children it

is very important for me to find a way to communicate, the staff at work have helped me with

this process. Which leads me to the other chapter on this book that I was drawn to, chapter 7-

Collaboration. In new ways to communicate Mary Horn states, My hopes are high that our

lines of communication are opening up. I am committed to creating more opportunities for

experienced staff and new teachers to talk together about how best to support families and

improve services to children (Tertell, 1998). I completely understand Mary, I, myself, try my

best to support my collages to help families and improve services for children. I tend to

individualize each child I work with as well as their families, this helps me help the childs need

as well as their families with resources and sometimes just with general information. Reading

chapter 3-individualizing, helped me balance the many needs and concerns that children have.

In conclusion, from play, guidance, individualizing, including everyone, emergent

curriculum, working with families, and collaboration this text book has and will continue to be

useful not only now in my profession, but later in the future. This is another resource I will come

back to later when I work with children and families at a different setting. My goal right now at

the preschool where I am working at is to help and nurture the children under my care, working
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and partnering up with the families is one of my duties and I now feel confident that what Im

doing is right and is not only helping the children I work with but the families as well.
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References

Jewett, Janet L. Klein, Susan M. Tertell, Elizabeth A. (1998). When Teaches Reflect: Journeys

Toward Effective, Inclusive Practice. Washington, D.C: NAEYC.