Reflection Wheel Journal: Template

Name: CongKai(Kyle)Jin
CourseName:EDCI740

Date:March29,2015
ReflectionWheelJournal#:2

EVENT(S)/BEHAVIOR(S):
Selection#35School/Family/CommunityPartnerships:CaringfortheChildrenWe
SharebyJoyceL.Epstein
1. Epsteinemphasizestheimportanceofcreatingcollaborativepartnershipsbetween
schools,families,andcommunities.Shethenlaysoutacomprehensiveframeworkof
sixtypesofschoolcommunityinvolvement(i.e.,parenting,communicating
volunteering,learningathome,decisionmakingandcollaboratingwithcommunity).
2. Epsteingoesontoproblematizethosesixtypesofinvolvement,raisingquestionsand
challengestocurrentpracticesinthisarea.Epsteinalsoprovidedtheredefinitionsfor
andexpectedresultsofthesixtypesofinvolvement.Andfinally,sheconcludesa
processofcreatingactionteamstoplanfor,andengagein,partnershipsbetween
schools,studentsfamilies,andcommunities.
FEELINGS:
Inspired;
Organizedandcomprehensiveframeworkofideasonformingconcreteaction
plan;
Stilldoubtfulonsomepointsandneedforcriticalthinking.
THOUGHTS:
Ithoughtatthebeginningthatinvolvementwithschoolactivitiesrequirephysical
presenceduringschooldayandattheschoolbuilding;andnaturallyparentsneedtohelp
teachschoolsubjectswhenstudentsisdoinghomeworkandlearningathome.Ialso
considereddecisionmakingonissuesregardingschoolinvolvementmeansatradeoff
betweenconflictingideasandpowerstrugglebetweenpriorities.
LEARNINGS:
Step1:
ApotentialbiasIhadisthatschoolfacultiesandstaffhaveprofessionalknowledgeon
educationandinstruction.Henceschoolshouldplayaleadingroleondiscussionand
formulationofpartnershipsbetweenschools,familiesandcommunities.Schoolfacultiesand
staffmighttendtoviewmanythingsforgrantedbasedontheirownsetsofvalueandpoints
ofviewderivedfromtheirprofessionaltrainingandexperience.Therefore,Iassumedthere
isalwaysapowergamebetweenschools,families,andcommunities.
1

Reflection Wheel Journal: Template

Step2:
AlthoughIunderstandschoolsmustobtainthesupportsfromstudentsfamiliesandlocal
communitiesinordertofosterasolidbaseforsuccessfuleducationoftheirstudents,Ihave
neverthoughtaboutthelevelofdifficultiesandchallengesitmightoccurduringtheprocess.
AndIamquiteinspiredbythecomprehensiveanalysisandconcretestepsmadebyJoyce
Epsteinthathowacollaborativeandcreativepartnershipscouldbeachievedbetween
schools,familiesandcommunities.Therefore,Iwasinitiallyalittlebitsurprisedaswellas
confusedwhenreadingsomeargumentsinthearticle.However,aftersomereflections,I
foundthatcollaborativeworkandthoughtfulgiveandtakeamongresearchers,policy
leaders,educators,andparentsareindeedimportantforfutureprogressinbuildingschool,
family,andcommunitypartnershipsaswellasotherareasofschoolreform.
Step3:
IwasbornandraisedinTaiwanwhereeducationishighlyvaluedwithheavyChinese
culturalheritage.Therefore,itisnotverydifficulttointegratethesupportsfromfamiliesand
communitiesintoeducationinschools.However,seldomeffortswasplacedondeliberating
howtobuildeffectiveandefficient,andmostimportantofall,realpartnershipsbetween
schools,families,andcommunitiessoastotransformtraditionaleducationconductsinto
engaging,meaningful,creative,innovativeeducationnecessaryforstudentsinorderto
addressnewtypesofchallengesinthefuture.
Inmypreviousexperienceworkinginforeignserviceandasaninstructorteaching
MandarinChinesetoforeignstudents,Ihaveverydeepandfirsthandobservationregarding
howimportantthatcommunication,collaborationandmotivationscouldbeinordertobuild
upafeasibleactionplanandlonglastingpartnershipsbetweenpeoplesfromdifferent
culturalbackgrounds.Ibelievethesameruleappliestothepartnershipsbetweenschools,
familiesandcommunitiestobuildupagenuinecaringeducationsystemforourchildren.

APPLICATIONS:
Step1:
NowIunderstandtheframework,challengesandredefinitionsforandexpectedresults
ofthesixtypespfinvolvementlaidoutbyJoyceEpsteinforstudents,parentsandteachersas
wellasbuildingpartnershipsbetweenschools,familiesandcommunities.IknowIneedto
developamorecomprehensiveknowledgespectrumregardinghowtoworkoutafeasible
actionplantopromotetheaforementionedmeaningfulinvolvementandpartnerships.
Step2:

Reflection Wheel Journal: Template

Afterreflectionwheelexercise,Iwillkeepremindingmyselfthatcharacteristicsof
successfulprogramsforpartnershipsbuildingincludingincrementalprocess,connectionto
curricularandinstructionalreform,redefiningstaffprofessionaldevelopmentsoasto
identifywhereinexistingcurriculathetheory,research,policy,andpracticalideasabout
partnershipsarepresentedorwhereinourprogramsthesecanbeadded;andthat
collaborativeworkanddeliberatedgiveandtakesamongresearchers,policyleaders,
educators,andparentswillcontinuetobeutmostimportantforprogressinpartnerships
buildingandotherareasofschoolreform.