RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

Relationships are important because we all need to be needed and relationship fulfill that inate sense of being needed. Positive relationships provide an outlet to everyone. We have many important relationships through our lives and they include relationships with you, someone else, co-workers, family or friends. The relationships you encounter throughout your life will definitely affect the outcome of your life. A positive relationship means to surround yourself with the right people. Relationships are important because they build your emotions and assist on how to relate with others especially people of the opposite gender. People with healthy relationships respond better to stress and also have a stronger immune system. Relationships are vital to humans as good nutrition and exercise. I have positive relationships with my spouse, children, mother, aunts, uncles, co-workers, and friends. Barriers to Positive Relationships There are numerous of issues that need to be addressed so a family-teacher partnership can be formed. Some things needed to build a better relationship include: Differences in backgrounds. The family and teacher come from different cultures, languages, and socio-economic statuses. Stress. There is stress for both families and teachers. For example, long hours and little flexibility at work reduce the time available for teachers to work on family communication and for parents/caregivers to relate to school. Differing Values. The family and teacher lack a mutual set of values. Differences in viewing roles. Differing views of the role of the school for the child between the teacher and the parent or caregiver. Types of experiences. Prior experiences with families/teachers have set up differing expectations. Notions of openness. Lack of openness to outsiders entering their territory (home or school). Differences in experiences. A parent’s experience in school (positive or negative) sets up some expectations for their own interactions with school/teacher for their own child. Communication abilities. Teachers or families lack the ability to identify and communicate key experiences, ideas, or issues. Communication discomfort. Families or teachers are uncomfortable about communicating their needs, or do not have enough fluency in the language. Need to feel valued. Parents and teachers perceive that their perspective and opinions are not valued. Differences in viewing child’s needs. The school views the child (her learning and development) differently than the family does. The school’s philosophy differs from the family’s view of appropriate child rearing. For example: The family equates teaching with telling, and the teacher equates learning with doing. Or, behavior issues are handled one way at home and another at school (spanking at home, explaining at school). When the school clearly explains philosophy, families get a better sense of the match between home/school expectations.