Patterns of Parent-Teacher Interactions in Home-School Collaboration: Negotiating a Partnership Through Nonhierarchical Dialogues

• In Event: Roundtable Session 25
  In Roundtable Session: Parent-Teacher Interaction and Collaboration

Abstract

The primary goal of this project, Readiness through Integrative Science and Engineering (RISE), is to improve school readiness for dual language learners (DLLs) by co-constructing an integrated science, technology, and engineering (STE) curriculum and fostering home-school connections (HSC) with Head Start teachers and families. As the first step to bridging home and school, the project facilitated a sustained non-hierarchical dialogue between selected Head Start parents and teachers. This paper will describe the patterns that emerged from the Parent Teacher Discussion group at a particular Head Start program that serves a predominantly Chinese immigrant population. Ethnographic findings from Years 2 and 3 will be presented.

Authors

• Lok-Wah Li, Tufts University

• Sunah (Sarah) Hyun, Tufts University

• Christine M McWayne, Tufts University

• Jayanthi Mistry, Tufts University

• Daryl B. Greenfield, University of Miami

• Kimberly Brenneman, Heising-Simons Foundation

• Betty S. Zan, University of Northern Iowa