School, Family, And Community Partnerships: Preparing Educators And Improving Schools [Paperback]

Joyce Epstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0813387558 | ISBN-13: 978-0813387550 | Edition: 1

How can teachers and administrators be prepared to create partnerships with families and communities? Nationwide, rhetoric in favor of parent involvement is high, but the quality of most programs still is low. Part of the problem is that most teacher education, administrative training, and other education of school professionals omit topics of school, family, and community partnerships. Instead, educators are prepared in limited ways to "deal with parents" when problems occur.This volume, based on twenty years of original research, addresses growing field of school, family, and community partnerships and offers an alternative approach. It is now possible to prepare teachers and administrators with a solid base of knowledge on partnerships. There are theoretical perspectives and results from research and development that should be shared with educators. As partners, parents and teachers share responsibility for the education and development of their children. Common messages and collaborative activities of home and school help to promote student success, prevent problems, or solve those that arise.The chapters in this volume provide a strong background to help educators in training and in schools think about, talk about, and then act to develop comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships. Readers will be able to: Understand Epstein’s theory of overlapping spheres of influence of families, schools, and communities to support children as students Study Epstein’s framework of six types of involvement to create partnerships Review the research on the implementation and effects of partnerships Apply the theory, framework, and research in class projects and assignments Gather ideas for specific practices of partnership for use in elementary, middle, and high schools This collection is designed for use in courses of teacher education, preparation of school administrators, and other courses that prepare professionals to understand and to work in schools and with families and students. It is a definitive resource both in and out of the classroom with Comments, Questions to Discuss, Activities, and Field Experiences in each of the chapters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Epstein has her hand on one of the most crucial levers for improving our educational system. The definitive sourcebook for teachers and scholars." -- Kevin Ryan, Boston University

From the Inside Flap

How can teachers and administrators be prepared to create partnerships with families and communities? Nationwide, rhetoric in favor of parent involvement is high, but the quality of most programs still is low. Part of the problem is that most teacher education, administrative training, and other education of school professionals omit topics of school, family, and community partnerships. Instead, educators are prepared in limited ways to “deal with parents” when problems occur.

Well-known and respected author Joyce Epstein updates her acclaimed School, Family, and Community Partnerships to reflect the past ten years of study and advancements. New readings address this growing field and offer expanded consideration of district leadership and its impact on school programs. Epstein contends it is now possible to prepare teachers and administrators with a solid base of knowledge on partnerships. Theoretical perspectives and results from research and development can and should be shared with educators. As partners, parents and teachers share responsibility for the education and development of their children. Common messages and collaborative activities of home and school help to promote student success, prevent problems, and solve those that arise. Epstein provides the material needed to help current educators and educators in training think about, talk about, and then act to develop comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships.

This collection is designed for use in courses of teacher education, preparation of school administrators, and other courses that prepare professionals to understand and to work in schools and with families and students. It is a definitive resource both in and out of the classroom with comments, discussion questions, activities, and field experiences in each of the chapters.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press; 1 edition (April 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813387558
• ISBN-13: 978-0813387550
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bible for teaching school-family-community partnerships, April 25, 2001

By 

Karen Clark Salinas (National Network of Partnerhsip Schools at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: School, Family, And Community Partnerships: Preparing Educators And Improving Schools (Paperback)

This is the best book on the market about school, family, and community partnerships for use in teacher education and school administrator training! Based on decades of research, Epstein has pulled together all the pieces necessary to help educators understand the importance of partnerships, the effects of these partnerships on student outcomes, and the necessary components for building comprehensive school, family, and community partnerships in elementary, middle, and high schools, located in urban, suburban, and rural settings. The research-based framework and approaches Epstein discusses will help all educators create postive relationships and productive partnerships with families and communities, linked directly to school improvement goals. One of the strongest parts of the book is the class projects and assignments found at the end of each chapter. My only regret is that this book was not part of my required reading as a student. If increasing numbers of educators have the opportunity to read Epstein's book and then apply what they've learned, our educational system and students will benefit tremendously.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Any college-level education collection needs this!, January 17, 2011

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Preparing Educators and Improving Schools (Paperback)

School, Family, and Community Partnerships appears in its second updated edition to offer educators and researchers a fine key to developing goal-linked programs of school, family and community partnerships. Methods for applying theory and research accompany a historical review and exploration of research on parent involvement. Any college-level education collection needs this!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Required for class, July 13, 2009

By 

K. Johnston "KJ" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: School, Family, And Community Partnerships: Preparing Educators And Improving Schools (Paperback)

Lots of good ideas, research, and references. Text is broken up into mostly short sections with defined focuses for an easy read.