Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

The purpose of this assignment is to research a common family issue, question, concern, or challenge and create a responsive resource (e-newsletter or website…) that targets the behaviour and developmental needs of children as well as the interests of families as they relate to the role of an Early Childhood Education professional. Students will assess how the principles of FCP reinforce systems thinking to explain support practices to address families’ unique needs.

Rational:

This assignment will allow students to demonstrate effective written communication & use of technology. They will prepare an e-resource to share with parents & caregivers. The student also will work in collaboration with peers to problem-solve issues faced by the parent-volunteer (from the group exercise)

Through this assignment, you will also work towards demonstrating the following course learning outcomes (CLOs), Humber Learning Outcomes (HLOs), and essential employability outcomes:

• demonstrate the importance of effective communication to build relationships within families (CLO # 5). HLO Skills in Action: Communication
• validate family partnerships to support individually responsive and inclusive programming (CLO# 7). HLO Mindset: Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
• analyze how the role of the ECE professional supports community linkages to benefit children and families (CLO# 9). HLO Skills in Action: Collaboration
• find local relevant community resources to support children and families (CLO# 10). HLO Skills in Action: Strategic Problem Solving

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

Essential Employability Skills:

• Locate, select, organize and document information using appropriate technology and information systems
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and correctly in the written, spoken, and visual form that fulfills the purpose and meets the needs of the audience
• Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve-problems
• Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of resources
• Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects

*Topics for the website/or Newsletter reflect the issue/concern/family priority for the child presented in the case study. Each group member will explore a different topic that directly connect to the case study and addresses issues expressed by the parent. You will be composing content from the ECE educator perspective, considering as your audience, the parent/family from the case study. The responsive resource tool (website/or e-newsletter) should reflect your work as the ECE working with the age range of children that appears in the case study and should serve as a resource for any imaginary parent/family for the group of children reflected in the case study.

Check tips on how to do your CYC Assignment.

This assignment has two components:

1. Required Resources/Research Process:
   You will also need to engage in independent scholarly research to complete this assignment.
   Refer to the role play case study.
2. Format

• You will create/design a unique resource for families on a topic relevant from the case scenario used in the Parent-Educator Meeting

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

• Th resource can be in a e-Newsletter style research-based format or a unique website that contains research-based information. It is not an essay. Consider a format that would be most suitable to share with families (e.g., website, or newsletter)
• The length of the Newsletter resource should be no more than 2 pages. In either format option, you will be expected to compose the content using research and appropriate citations. Please note, that you are advised to paraphrase information to demonstrate understanding and avoid using direct quotes. For the website option, keep in mind it is not about creating simple links to existing information…
  • For those selecting the web-site option, there will be a tutorial in class. For those planning to work independently, please refer to information included in the following link: Creating Simple Websites – More Video Tutorials (google.com)
  • For those who require more hands on support, feel free to contact the Ideas lab at Idea Lab Assignment Support (office365.com)
  • This assignment is due weeks —/—

Step 1- Choosing A Topic

• Select a research topic based on the case scenario you role-played for the Parent-Educator Meeting. All topics are organized by developmental age range that are commonly experienced by children and their families and appear at the end of this assignment description. Once you have selected a topic that best reflects the issues/concerns stated in the case scenario, check with your group members to make sure they select an original topic (each member of the group selects a unique topic). The target age range of the developmental issues/concern should reflect the age range of the child in the scenario.

Check tips on how to do your CYC Assignment.

Step 2- Conduct your Research

• Begin your research through the Humber library portal using scholarly material
• Locate information that you think a parent might want to know about their child and the topic you selected; consider how you might support & guide the parent to problem solve and enhance their skills
• Use a variety of reliable, credible Canadian (where possible) published articles, magazines, websites, literature that will give information about tips, guidelines, and strategies for parents/caregivers to support parents problem-solving and provide key strategies for families that are experiencing this issue. This will be the focus of your written report (be sure to cite all material)

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

• Use the C.R.A.A.P method to ensure sources are credible. Refer to your Social Justice Course ECE 122 to review what a credible, reliable resource is. Here is a Humber link that uses the CRAAP test to help you determine if a source is credible http://library.truman.edu/library_instruction/craaptestworksheet.pdf
• Your research must come from more than 3 credible sources (journal article, CD textbook, magazines, website), inform you on the topic and help you understand the current trends and best practice as they parallel developmentally appropriate practice
• You are going to then take this research and put it into a format that families can understand (e-newsletter, website) using your own words! ***Be sure to use in-text citations to evidence researched info.
• Consider which research is important to include for families. The focus should be on positive, helpful ideas for parents that they can understand and then use with and for their children

For example, if you are researching on how to speak with a 5-year-old about separation/ divorce, the research should focus on strategies, ideas that are appropriate, helpful, and supportive to share with parents.  These strategies should build capacity in the parent/family to support self-regulation, build capacity and practical steps to help their children manage their behaviour and learn new skills to help them with this new transition.

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

• To help you figure out how to evaluate the information that you are reading/gathering, you can ask yourself questions that you think families might ask the ECE to understand how learning and development occurs for a typical child.

For example, if you have chosen speech/ language development in toddlers, some specific question to research might be:

What expressive/receptive language skills are “typical” for an 18–24-month-old?
What can parents’ do to promote, encourage speech/language development in an 18-month-old?  What should parents do if they think their child has a speech/language delay?  How do you know if a child has a speech/language delay?

Check tips on how to do your CYC Assignment.

Step 4- Creating a Responsive Resource for Families

 You are now going to take your research and put it into a user-friendly format for families to read, understand, and use. For example, an e-newsletter format.

Your audience for this resource Newsletter are family members (parents, guardians, grandparents, extended family members, general public). Think of this as a resource that you might share with families in your field placement! Please avoid ECE jargon and keep in mind this is an original resource that you are developing. Your work will be submitting via SafeAssign on our course site to assess originality and academic integrity practices.

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

Regardless of what format you select, or topic you select, below are the different section for you to organize your work:

1. Identify the topic you have researched (be specific and identify the target age range of the child/group). Come up with a title that engages the reader, and it is positively phrased and identifies the target age range of the child. For example, instead of saying “Stop your Child from Biting Others”, consider this instead “Supporting your Toddlers Big Emotions” or, “Supporting your Toddlers Self-regulation” …
2. All Responsive Resources should have the same sub-headings. These sub-headings will help you sort your information and communicate ideas with clarity. The required sub-headings are: Developmental Background, Tips & Strategies, Local Community Resources, Further Information, and References (see sample headings at the end of this assignment description for accuracy).
   1. Under the Developmental Background sub-heading, give a brief overview about 2 paragraphs) of how the topic fits with “typical” development for children in this age group. Use your child development, health, and safety texts, and ECE course readings to identify what the research says is developmentally relevant about children experiencing this issue.  This should help the parent visualize what to expect for their child at that age. Here you are ‘teaching’ the parent what is typical for the child. Please consider and include all developmental areas and key skills that interact and influence the topic. This section requires research and citations.
      **Please use paraphrasing with appropriate APA in-text citations. Using direct quotes and overuse of these tells me you can find information, but not how you understand it… so, please paraphrase.
   2. Under the Tips & Strategies sub-heading, describe 4-5 “family friendly” tips with matching/corresponding strategies, to inform parents about how they can support their child with the topic you selected. This is the main body of the resource and should align with developmental appropriateness.  With each tip, provide some background and examples

(strategies) so families can understand the meaning and know what the Tip sound/feel/looks like. **Be sure to cite where you gathered the information.

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

The difference between a tip and strategy, is that: a TIP = what to do, while a STRATEGY=how to do it. Remember you are ‘suggesting’ to the parent how to interact with their child, support their development, and build capacity as a parent. The reader should be able to imagine what to do and how to do it by reading your content.

Example: Using the speech/language example above, this section could sound like:

Tip: Sharing books with toddlers is a wonderful way to encourage language development

Strategies: “Sit face to face with your child with the book facing towards him/her.

Use books with lots of pictures.

Label the pictures (e.g. “I see a ball.  Pause and wait for your child to take their turn” (Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services, Sharing a Book, 2010).

You can use illustrations or charts if it helps to explain your tip.  Be sure to look for any bias in your graphics (e.g.is there diversity in race, ability, age, family type?)

1. Under the Local Community Resources sub-heading, list 2-3 local community organization/service/resource(s) that can support families who are experiencing the issue you have researched. These should be real community services where people can go.

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

The criteria for the community resources should include the following information:

• Name and Description of the service
  • the description should include how the organization/service relates to the issue/concern you explored. In other words, after reviewing what the online description of the local community resource is, think of what you could say that will help the audience (the parent) know that what you are identifying as a local community resource relates to the topic. Expressing the relation to the topic creates buy-in from the parent to consider going to the local community resource and accessing the additional support.
• Location- – should be local to the family’s residence from the scenario. Each scenario identifies the closest major intersection where the family lives. Be sure to include the address, phone number and how to access the local community service (referral, waitlist, walk-in etc.)
• Free or minimal cost
• Include the languages spoken at the community resource/service. This will reflect responsiveness to the diversity of families in the Neighbourhood.

Responsive Newsletter Resource Research

You do not need to cite these resources in the Reference section.

1. Under the Further Information sub-heading, list 2-3 current websites, articles, etc. that parents could access for further information on the topic. State the name of the site or the article title, followed by a sentence or so describing how that site or article relates to the issues/concern you explored, the last component in this section is a website link or where the article/book etc. can be accessed. You do not need to cite these sources in the Reference page.
2. Under References sub-heading, in APA format list all the scholarly and reputable resources you used to complete the developmental background and tips & strategies sections. Do not reference the local community resources or the items listed in the further information sections. Please use single line spacing for all references to conserve space. You may cite images that were included in the Newsletter.

TIP: if you selected a Newsletter formatting for your tool; you can open the File Menu in WORD, click on “New” and type “Newsletter” in the search box to select the Newsletter template that appeals to you.  Adjust the font size and colour for readability and visual appeal.