THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS - SUMMER 2008

PROGRAM IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DISORDERS

Seminar in Early Childhood Disorders - Families and Culture

HDCD 6V81
________________________________________________________________________

Meeting time: Monday 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Classroom: GR4.208

Instructor: Stephanie Allen-Adams, M.Ed.
Phone: 972-473-7442 (H)
Email: stephanie.allen-adams@utdallas.edu
________________________________________________________________________

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

Families and Culture is a seminar offered in the Master's Program in Human
Development and Early Childhood Disorders that will focus on the impact of the
students' own culture, attitudes, beliefs and understanding families from diverse
backgrounds while utilizing developmentally and culturally-appropriate practices. This
course is designed to help students gain an understanding of child growth and
development in the context of family, culture and values and to demonstrate an
understanding and respect of individual family values. Students will also build skills and
a knowledge base in building partnerships with families of diverse cultures and linguistic
backgrounds and will build cultural competence by observing families, listening to
families, and then asking questions in order to acquire skills in communicating with the
families.

COURSE TOPICS:
The course will cover: cultural characteristics, cultural differences and cultural
conflicts and will address the importance of understanding and respecting each family's
characteristics and differences. We will also cover differing parenting styles and different
ethnic groups' perspective and attitudes toward young children with special needs and/or
early intervention.

EIS COMPETENCIES THAT THE COURSE TOPICS WILL ADDRESS:

Refer to CDS Manual --
Principles of Development (PD) (5) (7) b, c, (10)
Family Centered Practices (FCP) (1) (2) (3) (4)
Professional Development (PROF) (3) (4) (7) (9)
Evaluation/Assessment (EV/ASST) (5) a, d, e
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) (2) a, b, c, d, e
Assessment/IFSP/Implementation (ASST/IFSP IMP) (2) a, b
Service Coordination (SC) (2)

In ECI 101
Sections 2.3, 2.14, 2.15, 2.31

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METHODS OF STUDENT EVALUATION:
Each student will be required to keep a reflective journal (submit on 23 June and
28 July) (20 points), present a Family History/Family Tree Presentation (20 points),
present a chapter from assigned text (20 points), present a Case Study (20 points), read
and be prepared to discuss: "A Magnificent Exchange" (10 points) and attend class and
participate (10 points).

Your final grade will be based on the total points earned from the course require-
ments, utilizing the following grading scale:

A - 92 - 100 points
B - 82 - 91 points
C - 72 - 81 points
D - 62 - 71 points
F - 61 points and below

Note: For academic credit, student must attain a grade of "C" or better.

CLASS POLICIES:
Students with disabilities. Appropriate accommodation will be made for students
with documented disabilities. Documentation and request for accommodations must first
be made with Disability Services. Following approval from Disability Services, meet
with me privately to discuss accommodations. You should meet with me at the beginning
of the semester.

Scholastic dishonesty. It is imperative that students maintain a high standard of

individual honor in his or her scholastic work. A high level of academic honesty is
expected. As a member of the UTD academic community, you are expected to adhere to
the following: 1) reference all work; b) do not submit projects from your other courses; c)
do not plagiarize or submit others' work as your own.

REQUIRED TEXT: Lynch, E.W., Hanson, M.J., (1998). Developing Cross-

Cultural Competence. (2nd ed.) Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

Allen-Adams, S. (2006). A Magnificent Exchange...Two Years in the Life of an

American Family in Japan. (1st ed.) iUniverse.

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 COURSE SCHEDULE

2 June Introductions, icebreaker, assignments, course overview and organization.

View video: "Perceptions."
Distribute Journal Article: Garcia Coll, C.T. & Meyer, E.C. The
Sociocultural Context of Infant Development.
Homework assignment -- Read the journal article and arrive at the next
class prepared to discuss.
PowerPoint Presentation - "The Importance of Family"
Family History, Case Study and Chapter Assignments

9 June Discuss: Garcia Coll, C.T. & Meyer, E.C. The Sociocultural Context of
Infant Development.
"Family Tree" Presentation and Discuss (1 hour)
"Family Tree" Presentation and Discuss (1 hour)
Chapter 1 - Family, Culture and Values. Ethnic, Cultural and Language
Diversity in Intervention Settings.
ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION

16 June "Family Tree Presentation and Discussion (1 hour)

"Family Tree Presentation and Discussion (1 hour)
Chapter 2 - Conceptual Framework: From Culture Shock to Cultural
Learning
ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION

23 June (Submit Reflective Journal)

"Family Tree" Presentation and Discussion. (1 hour)
"Family Tree" Presentation and Discussion. (1 hour)
Chapter 3 - Developing Cross-Cultural Competence.
Chapter 4 - Families with Anglo-European Roots.
Case Study Presentation (1 hour).

30 June Chapter 5 - Families with Native-American Roots.

Case Study Presentation (1 hour).
View video: "Crash"
Class discussion of "Crash"

7 July View Video: "Essential Connections:" Ten Keys To Culturally Sensitive

Child Care.
Class discussion of "Essential Connections"
Chapter 6 - Families with African-American Roots.
ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION

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14 July Chapter 7 - Families with Latino Roots.
Case Study Presentation
ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION
Chapter 8 - Families with Asian Roots.
Case Study Presentation
ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION

21 July Chapter 9 - Families with Pilipino Roots.

View video: "The Namesake"
Class discussion of: The Namesake"

28 July (Submit Reflective Journal)

Chapter 10 - Families with Native Hawaiian and Samoan Roots.
ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION
Discuss: "A Magnificent Exchange...Two Years in the Life of an American
Family in Japan"

4 August Chapter 11 - Families with Middle Eastern Roots.

Postlude (Children of Many Songs)
Chapter 12 - Steps in the Right Direction: Implications for Interventions.
ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION
Class Overview, Lessons Learned and wrap-up.

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 THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS - SUMMER 2008
PROGRAM IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DISORDERS

Seminar in Early Childhood Disorders - Families and Culture

________________________________________________________________________

At the conclusion of this course, you should be able to:

ƒ Identify the important key elements when working with young children from
diverse cultural backgrounds and their families.

ƒ Explain the elements for successful partnerships with families.

ƒ Develop problem-solving skills and decision-making techniques when cultural

conflicts arise.

ƒ Gain a greater appreciation and respect for other cultures - namely those that
differ from your own.

ƒ Understand that your own culture and values may or may not be shared by the
families you work with.

The knowledge base that you should gain from this course will be:

ƒ Acquiring the communication skills to work with young children from diverse
backgrounds and their families.

ƒ Gaining the expertise that is not only impacted by training, but also by developing
person attributes like examining your own personal characteristics and learning
that these attributes can be subject to change and can be subject to growth.

ƒ With increased experience, training and responsibility, early intervention

specialists and other early childhood professionals will move from basic
knowledge, skills and abilities toward more advanced knowledge, skills and
abilities.

ƒ A basis for self-assessment and reflection. You will learn from your own
experiences and from reflecting upon others' experiences.

ƒ The ability to reflect upon one's interactions, observations and assessments. These
reflections will enable you to act intentionally, deliberately and thoughtfully,
rather than acting upon tradition, impulse or routines.

ƒ To help you determine your own areas of competence and to focus on areas where
you may need further growth.

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