CLASS SYLLABUS FAMLF-355X, FAMILY AND THE CHILD Fall 2011

Pam Guerra-Schmidt Office: John Muir, #157B Class Units: 0.5 Voice Mail (Pam’s Office): 575-6345 Me-Wuk Child Development Lab Preschool 575-6329 E-mail address: [email protected] Professor web site: http://guerra-schmidtp.faculty.mjc.edu/ Lab Preschool Web Site: http://fcs.sites.mjc.edu/me-wuk.html Location: MJC, West Campus, Me-Wuk Preschool Planning Room 185 Meets four Tuesdays: August 30, September 6, 13, 20 (Family Night)

Course Objectives a. Describe the importance and responsibilities of the parent's role as the child's first teacher b. Assess diverse lifestyles and patterns of parenting c. Identify elements in the family environment that contribute to positive growth of the child, including cultural variations d. Observe child behavior and develop appreciation of the uniqueness of each individual child e. Define personal biases, which may interfere with an objective description of a child's behavior

Student Learning Outcome (SLO) Each student will be able to identify and demonstrate positive discipline and relationship building strategies for interacting with young children. Assessment: After presenting lecture material and classroom discussion, students will identify in their written reflections positive discipline and relationship building strategies.

Course Requirements:

HOURS OF PARTICIPATION Enroll and attend a minimum of 9.0 hours of instruction at the required parenting courses. Regardless of total points, less than 9.0 hours of instruction will result in a grade of either a “D” or “F.” Sign in on attendance roster verifying date and arrival and departure time of parenting course. If you arrive late, please complete attendance verification after class. (4 class sessions @ 4.5 points each = 18 points) In addition to attending a minimum of 9.0 hours of parenting class sessions, accrue enough points from the following assignments to receive a credit in this course:

ASSIGNMENTS (Must be submitted through Blackboard.) a. Reflections: Complete one handwritten reflection paper written to your child at the conclusion of each class session. Write approximately (8-10 sentences) focusing on any one piece of the class content that was helpful to you as a parent/teacher. Each reflection will start out: Dear ___ (fill in with your child’s name.) Include in each reflection a positive discipline and relationship building strategy that you will either introduce or continue to implement in your relationship with your child. (4 class sessions @ 1.5 points each = 6 points) OR b. Diversity Page: Actively participate in creating a diversity page for the classroom book. (5 points) OR c. Parenting Article: Type a three-paragraph response to a parenting article of your choice. (5 points) OR d. Participate in “special time” with your spouse or significant other where the two of you make time just for each other without any children. Each of you will complete a list of the ten things you admired about him/her during this outing. Your list will start out: Dear ____. OR e. Ages and Stages Questionnaire: If your child is newly enrolled in Me-Wuk Child Development Lab Preschool, complete the ASQ (Ages and Stages Questionnaire.) This questionnaire provides an opportunity to look at how your child or another young child is developing. You can print the questionnaire by accessing the following site: http://fcs.sites.mjc.edu/forms.html OR f. Response to family activity in Me-Wuk Classroom: We are creating an album with pictures of the family activities. Please write 10-12 sentences about your experience in the classroom including your activity, your interactions with the Me-Wuk children and your interactions with your own child.

Requirement: Internet access to submit assignments through Blackboard

(5 points) Grading A=21.5-24 Credit/No Credit: B=19.0-21.0 Credit = 16.5-24 points C=16.5-18.5 No Credit = under 16.5 points D=14.5-16.0 F=under 14.5