Sin Olvidar a los Padres: Families Collaborating Within School and University Partnerships

Abstract

This article describes the significance of 3 entities—the family, the school, and the university—working together to assist young Latino children succeed in school. In an effort to increase parental and teacher communication regarding school expectations, the Family Institute for Early Literacy Development was created. It uses principles of funds of knowledge as well as the ecological systems theory. Findings indicate that this type of collaboration promotes positive interactions and helps to decrease teacher candidates' and teachers' deficit-thinking beliefs regarding parental involvement in children's education.

Key words:

• Latino families
• parent involvement
• school–university partnerships
• preschoolers
• bilingual education
• teachers and teacher candidates

Notes

¹A pseudonym is used to protect confidentiality.