Boise State University

Teacher Education Course Syllabus

Course: Parental Involvement

Course Number:  ED-BLESL 507  Section:  001 Schedule: F: 4-10 pm/S: 8 am-5pm

Instructor:  Claudia Nash  Office: Tues-Thurs 9:40 A.M. 12:10 P.M.  

E-Mail:  claudianash@boisestate.edu  Phone: 426-4077 Fax:  426-4006 

Conceptual Framework:  The Professional Educator 

Boise State University strives to develop knowledgeable educators who integrate complex roles and dispositions in the service of diverse communities of learners. Believing that all children, adolescents, and adults can learn, educators dedicate themselves to supporting that learning.  Using effective approaches that promote high levels of student achievement, educators create environments that prepare learners to be citizens who contribute to a complex world.  Educators serve learners as reflective practitioners, scholars and artists, problem solvers, and partners.     

Idaho Standards and Assessments

Course Description

Participants critically examine why school-community partnerships are particularly valuable in multicultural settings. They examine texts of parental involvement in schooling and actual practices and address questions of power relations, politics of exclusion and the privilege of race, gender, class, and culture. Students explore practices that respect diversity and honor all parents, students, community members, and teachers.  

Required Textbook

McCaleb, S. P. (1994). Building communities of learners: a collaboration among teachers, students, families, and community. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Blackboard readings:

Click on course documents.

Class Policies

Papers: Papers should be typed. All papers should be carefully proof read (use spellcheck), and turned in as clean and clear of a form as possible. Work received after a week of the due date will result in the loss of a letter grade.

Papers turned in electronically: Make sure your work is virus-free! The filename should be YOUR name and the name of the assignment! (For example claudianash_ELDlesson1.doc). You need to label your file “.doc” (dotdoc) so I can read it. You should also write your email address at the top of the assignment.

Collaborative work: Students will collaborate on some assignments. Collaborators will receive the same grade.

Academic Dishonesty

Cheating or plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. The University functions to promote the cognitive and psychosocial development of all students. Therefore, all work submitted by a student must represent her/his own ideas, concepts, and current understanding. Academic dishonesty also includes submitting substantial portions of the same academic course work to more than one course for credit without prior permission of the instructor(s).

Students with disabilities

If you need accommodations because of a disability or if you have emergency medical information to share with me, please make an appointment as soon as possible, or see me during office hours.

Expected Course Outcomes

1. Academic dialogue journals (20%):

 Academic dialogue journals are a standard requirement to be exchanged at each class meeting.  Each writing partner must provide a journal so a two-way exchange is possible. Entries in these journals must be dated, and both partners' names should be on the covers.  These journals will be evaluated by the instructor at the end of the course for quantity & quality (analysis, synthesis, application, questioning & responding). 

The first page of your journal should be the Table of Contents (TOCs). As each journal entry is signed, you should enter the title of the assigned reading in the TOCs and indicate the page number that the entry begins on. Only write on the front of each page-the backs will be used for comments from your journal partner and me. Number pages in the upper right hand corner.

2. Group lead discussion (25%):

During the first day of class you need to select a day for leading a class discussion with a partner.  You and your partner need to prepare a handout to accompany and guide your discussion.  Make sure you bring enough copies for all class members.  This handout should include:

During the discussion, you should refer to one or more of the questions you have prepared as well but should not feel bound to “cover” everything on the handout. You want to allow plenty of opportunity for group members to ask their own questions and shoot their own literary arrows.  At the end of class, you will turn in two copies of the handout.

3. Final Paper (40%)

Take a topic(s) we covered in class and write an action plan on how this will change your practice. Detail how you will operationalize this in your school or classroom or setting you are working at.

4. Attendance & Class Participation (15%):

Class participation requires all of us to give our undivided attention to each speaker throughout the course.  Part of my responsibilities is to ensure that we all respect the right of a speaker.  My ongoing assessment includes monitoring this point.  If you want to comment to a  neighbour, write down your comments and share them after class. Attendance, punctuality, attentiveness to others count.  We all have an obligation with a reciprocal interaction format.