This document discusses the importance of understanding family dynamics in the classroom. It notes that students bring their families with them to school, regardless of whether their family is considered "normal" or "abnormal" by school standards. It also mentions that research shows greater family involvement leads to better student performance. The document provides strategies for educators to engage with families, such as respecting their needs, recognizing student strengths, and avoiding appearing intimidating. It discusses parenting styles, social learning theory, and gives examples of how the home environment can influence student behavior and learning. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of parent/teacher conferences to address student needs.

1. Family Dynamics
Family Issues in the Classroom

2. In order for our children to care about themselves, they
must be cared for.
The Family is one of Nature’s Masterpieces

3. Family Dynamics
When a student comes into the classroom, he does
not come alone; he brings his family with him,
however "normal" or "abnormal" that family may
be by the school's standards.
It is important to know students’ family
circumstances.
Why?
Research shows that the more family involvement
with the school, the better that student does in
school. As a result, many school systems are
implementing programs that encourage family
participation in school life.

5. Respect families’ need for control when introducing new ideas,
materials, or experiences to children.
Help families recognize their child’s many and varied strengths.
Ask for families’ input and assistance when conflict arises over rules.
Encourage families to plan ways to increase stability and security
(having routines such as: reading a book at bedtime or talking about
the day’s events).
Educators must make parents our allies and reach out to these
families, avoid appearing intimidating and disrespectful of their
views.

6. Engage in careful and keen observation of families in order to
find out who is in charge.
 Who returns the phone calls?
 How does the child role-play their different family members?
 Does a child think that a male teacher is the boss of the
female teachers?
Provide opportunities for families to discuss their beliefs about
children.
Recognize different parenting styles and family boundaries.

7. There are four Primary Strategies used in Parenting:
Authoritarian: obedience and status-oriented - expecting their orders
to be obeyed without explanation
Permissive: more responsive than they are demanding – lenient -
allow considerable self-regulation and avoid confrontation
Authoritative: monitor and outline clear standards for their
children’s conduct. They are assertive, but not intrusive and
restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than
punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially
responsible, and self-regulated as well as cooperative
Uninvolved: this occurs for various reasons and at assorted degrees

8. Social Learning Theory
Involves the way students behave because their experience
with their surrounding environments affect how they learn..
Bandura’s Social
Learning Theory
suggests that students
learn from one
another, via
observation, imitation,
and modeling.
 Factors in a
student's
environment as
well as personal
characteristics and
traits

9. Video: The Carol Burnett Show
Mama's Family parent teacher conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrI-v0SDb2M
If our students feel
unimportant, then for
some, they will not care
about others.
This encourages
delinquency in all
aspects. One obvious
solution is a shift
towards a focus on
students’ need for love,
care [Maslow] and adult
supervision.

10. Family Dynamics
 Based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, name or
give a brief example of a students need that must be
met by the family setting?
 Based on Bandura’s Social Learning theory, give an
example of how the home environment might
influence student behavior and learning.
 Give an example of why parent/teacher conferences
are necessary.

11. NBC Learn
“Asperger's Syndrome”
Grant was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a
form of autism. Shonda Schilling writes about that
experience in the book--her new book, it's called
"The Best Kind of Different: Our Family's Journey
With Asperger's Syndrome."
http://archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-
12/browse?cuecard=48689
Curry, A. (Reporter). (2010, March 24). Schillings on Family's Struggle with
Asperger's. [Television series episode]. NBC Today Show. Retrieved from
http://archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/browse?cuecard=48689