Case 7- Question # 3:

             Dalia involves the family in both the initial and final stages of the Library Construction Project. Before starting the class is involved with the project she gathers background information on each child, by explaining the project to the parents and asking what interests the children have in construction. This is a way for her to asses how much each child knows about construction, how much they have been exposed to any construction/have a experience with construction (for example if they have done construction on their house), and how interested each child is likely to be about learning about this topic. It is also important that the teacher acknowledges the parents’ choices and goals for the children, and keeps in contact with the parents, so that “an open dialogue” is created between parents and teacher.

            Dalia wants to create unity in her classroom with background information before she takes her class to visit the construction. She gets feedback from parents and book suggestions that she shares with the class. She also makes the families feel welcome in the classroom and involves the parents, by inviting them to come in and see what the children have learned from the project, which she has documented in various ways-recording, a curriculum web, and through photographs of the process of exploring different aspects of construction. By inviting the 1^st grade class who also did a project on the construction to her classroom as well, parents of Dalia’s students are able to see what children are doing. This may help them to understand how their child should be progressing in the next few years. It also is beneficial for the younger kids to see what the older children have done. By sharing with the parents what the children have done, the parent is able to understand ways to communicate with their child about what they have learned and how to build upon that knowledge.

            As the children’s project comes to a close, Dalia, invited parents to gain feedback from them about the project, and their child. It also gives the parents an opportunity to ask the teacher any questions or concerns they may have. For example, Maggie’s father shares with Dalia that Maggie is now interested in her brother’s trucks, and before this project she had not been. Maggie’s parents also ask Dalia how they can continue to keep her interested on this topic at home. The teacher in return is able to reflect on the individual child’s interests on this topic in the classroom and give some suggestions. Dalia has put together compiled what the children have learned in several ways (picture album, recording, and a picture web) not only to display to show the parents but to help the children to continuously reflect as they progress through the year on what they have learned. If the parents can also continue to help them learn at home and reinforce the ideas, that will be very beneficial. Many studies report that parent involvement is crucial in the early years in a child’s learning and development.