Welcome! Lincoln Elementary School Parents, Teachers, and Students My Name is Kimberly Bowen ECE497: Child Development Instructor: Tracy Reed July 19, 2015

Middle Childhood (ages: 6 to 11) Middle childhood focuses on children who are primarily in kindergarten through sixth grade. (Berk, L. 2013) This is the stage where children are starting to learn about the world and how to try and master the responsibilities that with help them in adulthood. This is the stage where children start to join organizations, play sports, and even start to make life long friends. Children in middle childhood are also start to learn as well as master the fundamentals of reading, writing, and math.

My Background I am a graduate of Ashford University I worked with children who have disabilities for over three years. I worked with children from the age of kindergarten- high school I currently work as a teacher at Head Start. My job is to support the education of not only the children, but also the family and community of the child.

Your Child’s Mesosystems Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System the Mesosystem The mesosystem is when two points of the microsystem of the child come together. (Paquette, D.) Parents/school, school/friends, friends/ community. Everything that your child is involved in comes together in the mesosystem

Epstein’s Types of Involvement (Epstiens, J.L.) Parents: To help families to provide a home environment that supports children as students Communication: Helping to develop school-to-home and home-to-school about your child’s school progress and up coming school events Volunteering: Getting parents involved to help organize school events and offer support. Learning at Home: Helping parents to better help children with homework and school activities. Decision Making: Getting parents involved in the decision making of school activities. Collaborating with community: Getting the local community involved in school programs.

PARENTING (Epstien, J.L) Providing information to parents Suggestions supporting children at home for each grade level Parent education courses Home visits at child’s transitioning points Making sure all information is clear to parents as well as child Enableing parents to share information on their cultures, backgrounds and belief’s.

COMMUNICATING (Epstien, J.L.) Parent teacher conferences at least once a year Send home daily communication folders Monthly news letters of what is going on in the classroom and school Make sure newsletters, report cards, and schedules can be read by all parents (make adjustments when needed) Establish with the parents the form of communication with them

VOLUNTEERING (Epstien, J.L.) To help aid safety to children at school Everyone has something to share Great opportunity to help your child and give them support Having flexible schedules Match volunteer work with talents Builds self-confidence

LEARNING AT HOME (Epstien, J.L.) Providing information about homework policies and expectations Design a regular weekly schedule of homework Keep parents informed about what their child is learning and have them expand on it Family participation in setting goals for their child

DECISION MAKING (Epstien, J.L.) Make your voice count and be heard Join the PTO/PTA to make your child’s school a better place Parents and children need to be involved in the decision making

COLLABERATING WITH COMMUNITY (Epstien, J.L.) Help children to get involved in their community Community volunteers in school by reading to the children Have a community worker’s week and have volunteers come to school and demonstrate their job in the community Business and school partnerships

References Berk, L.E. (2013) “Child Development” Epstien, J.L. “Epstien’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement” Paquette, D., Ryan, J. “Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System Theory” www.floridahealth.gov