CD 116W - Diversity and Families in Early Childhood Education

1. Describe and evaluate how cultural factors impact human perceptions and interactions, and how these factors influence the development of the child.
   1. Describe how socio-cultural factors such as ethnicity, race, language, values, religion, and gender interact to form a person's perceptions of the world.
   2. Describe the concept of pluralism, its social implications, and apply this concept to activities and interactions in early childhood educational settings.
   3. Critically analyze and report how one’s own cultural background has influenced one’s values and views on child-rearing in formal written assignments.
   4. Compare/contrast the childcare practices, and the values that underlie them, of various cultural/ethnic groups other than his/her own.
   5. Enter into and interact with individuals from cultural backgrounds different from one’s own, and reflect and report upon experiences and findings in informal discussions and formal written assignments.
2. Describe and evaluate how family structure and dynamics influence the development of a child.
   1. Define the concept of family.
   2. Evaluate the effects that different family types (extended, nuclear, single-parent, gay/lesbian, bi-racial) have upon child-rearing practices and child development.
   3. Evaluate the role of stressors (economic hardship, divorce, death, individuals with disabilities) on the functioning of the family and the development of the child.
   4. Describe responsibilities and pressures that affect parents, and apply this knowledge in developing ways to interact positively with and provide support for parents.
   5. Visit a family with a young child, gather data about the family’s child-rearing methods and their goals for their child, and report your findings in discussion and written assignments.
3. Describe and evaluate how the family, school, and other social institutions mutually interact to socialize children.
   1. Understand and apply the ecological theory of development.
   2. Identify and assess the various ways in which society & culture influence the functioning of the family, and communicate personal perspectives through discussion and written assignments.
   3. Identify and apply culturally sensitive, professional mannerisms that facilitate productive parent-teacher interactions during home visits, conferences, etc.
   4. Describe legislation that shapes policy affecting families with young children.
   5. Identify and describe how to access community resources for families of various types.
4. Promote writing tasks to promote learning.
   1. Understand and analyze information in written form.
   2. Explain the subject matter in a coherent writing style.
   3. Evaluate the information.