Developing Caring Relationships Among Parents Children Schools and Communities

<p><i>This text provides a fresh look at an important topic-teachers and families working collaboratively. A strong blend of research and practical application is presented.</i></p><p style=TEXT-ALIGN: right align=right>-Beth Nason Quick <i>Tennessee</i><i> State University</i><i></i></p><p></p><p><i>I was captivated by an innovative and a gentle humanistic approach to viewing families and working with parents in parenting education.</i></p><p style=TEXT-ALIGN: right align=right>-Gloria Wenze <i>University</i><i> of Scranton</i><i></i></p><p></p><p><i>A synthesis of theory research and practice couched in a very readable text... a provocative examination of teacher and parent relationships that holds the promise of a better future for the next generation of educators and parents. This book should fan the flames of professional reflection and professional practice. </i></p><p style=TEXT-ALIGN: right align=right><i>-</i>William McInerney <i>University</i><i> of Toledo</i><i></i></p><p></p><p><b>Developing Caring Relationships Among Parents Children Schools and Communities</b> looks at parent-professional-child relations very differently than other books in this area. Author Dana McDermott focuses on parents and teachers as adult learners who should be growing and learning along with the children in their care. Accessibly written the book synthesizes the latest theories and research on parent-and adult-child relations and on adult learning and development focusing on a dynamic process rather than a static role and on all the social-contextual factors affecting parents teachers and children.</p><p></p><p><b>Key Features</b></p><ul type=disc><li><i>Focuses on parents and teachers as adult learners:</i> This will supplement traditional books on family involvement or parent child relations which rarely drill down to understand parents as anything more than a conduit to a child's development.</li><li><i>Emphasizes the dynamic process of parenting and teaching:</i> The author provides a useful tool or a caring decision-making process for parents children and professionals to think through any issues they face so that everyone's needs are considered in any interaction. </li><li><i>Provides a theory to practice model to support parents families and teachers:</i> This book lays out a theory of what parents and teachers need to care for children and themselves and then shows how to put these theories into practice in preK-12 schools.</li><li><i>Uses narratives to demonstrate applications of theory and research: </i>The latest theories and research are woven into stories from the voices of parents teachers and children.</li><li><i>Explores research from diverse cultures: </i>The book looks at many schools around the world and from various socioeconomic backgrounds to identify their common and differentiated concerns.</li><li><i>Includes additional web resources:</i> Questionnaires workshops newsletters model development information resource material and other exemplary projects/resource sites can be found in the appendices located at www.sagepub.com/mcdermottappendices</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Intended Audience</b></p><p>This supplemental text is designed for undergraduate and graduate courses such as Parents/Home-School Relations in Early Childhood and Elementary Education; Parenting; and School and Community Relations in departments of education psychology family studies health sciences and social work.</p>