Promoting Reciprocity: Transforming Family Contexts through Education while Bringing Family Contexts into Education
Authors
- Mona M. Abo-Zena, College of Education and Human Development, University of Massachusetts Boston
- Lindsay Beatty, College of Education and Human Development, University of Massachusetts Boston
For early education efforts to contribute to opportunities for the mobility and holistic development of all children, professionals need to foster reciprocity between educators and families. The focus on how education can transform family contexts should be grounded in an asset-based and inquiry approach to partnering with families. In addition, this approach should be coupled with a consideration of the ways we can bring family contexts in to transform educational practices, promote student engagement, and inform emergent curriculum. While service providers should work to identify and support the assets within and between families, they should also work to identify and address vulnerabilities. The manuscript concludes with applications and directions for future research and intervention.
