Families and Educators Together: Building Great Relationships that Support Young Children

Home–school relationships have always been a cornerstone of children’s success and well-being. But cultivating positive, supportive partnerships between educators and families is an ongoing process, one that requires reciprocal respect and communication to grow. Use the practical information and ideas in this book to develop and embed a culture of family engagement in all aspects of your early childhood program, from curriculum planning to addressing children’s individual needs, by:
•Creating a welcoming environment for families
•Providing many ways for families to engage in the program and their children’s learning
•Ensuring two-way communication and addressing communication challenges
•Building on learning opportunities families already provide at home
•Supporting diverse home languages and cultures
•Collaborating on community-wide efforts

Packed with strategies, resources, and examples from early childhood programs, this book illustrates numerous ways to engage families in your early childhood community so that together, families + educators = thriving children.

Derry Koralek is president of DGK & Company, providing early childhood educational consulting to a variety of clients, including teachers and family child care providers. She is author of a number of early childhood resources, including two books cowritten with Laura J. Colker, High-Quality Early Childhood Programs: The What, Why, and How (2018), and Making Lemonade: Teaching Young Children to Think Optimistically (2019). Her other recent work includes developing training materials for staff in Early Head Start and revising the textbook, Essentials for Working with Young Children.

For 14 years, Derry wrote, edited, and managed publications for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She joined NAEYC as editor in chief of Young Children, the association's award-winning, peer reviewed professional journal, and later also created and served as editor in chief of Teaching Young Children, NAEYC's magazine for preschool educators. During her time at NAEYC, Derry also became chief publishing officer, directing all print and digital publications. Before joining NAEYC, Koralek completed numerous projects through DGK & Company in support of early childhood teachers and family child care providers.

Karen Nemeth, EdM, is an author and speaker with a passion for supporting young children from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds in early childhood education. She has spent decades working with organizations, schools, Head Start programs, and government agencies across the United States and beyond to improve policies and practices that support children and their families. Her consultation with urban, rural, and suburban programs has given her valuable insights about the role of families in their child's early education and the role of teachers in welcoming and engaging those families..

Karen has held leadership roles in NAEYC, the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), TESOL International Association, and several state organizations. She has written more than ten books and many articles in support of the field. Previously, she has worked for the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning; the New Jersey Department of Education; Community Coordinated Child Care of Union County; North Jersey Community Coordinated Child Care; and Felician University. Her greatest joy is the time she spends building spaceships and exploring nature with her five grandchildren.

Kelly Ramsey began her work with children and families as an early childhood teacher in 1984. For more than 20 years, she has had the opportunity to work with children and families as a classroom teacher, center director, family educator, mentor coach, and college instructor. As a lifelong learner, Kelly believes that self-discovery and personal reflection are key to creating rich learning environments for adults and children. She has a strong interest in families and their strength in nurturing children's development. As a passionate teacher, focused visionary, and a purpose-driven leader, she fosters engaging learning environments that help individuals to grow. As a family educator, she believes in engaging families and educators to develop intentional interactions between school and home. Kelly is a storyteller who shares her experiences as a preschool teacher, center director, and mother of two amazing young children. She fosters a welcoming environment for all types of learners, embracing the experiences of each individual and challenging learners by creating rich experiences and dialogues that connect theory to practice.