Activity 4-2:
Communication Environment
Purpose: Participants will complete an observation task in order to reflect on how their program's physical environment supports communication with parents.
Materials
Handout 14
Process
Ask participants to name the different parts of their program environment (i.e.,
the outside of the building, the entry way, the playground, etc.). Distribute
Handout 14, Communication Environment, and ask participants to decide
on two different parts of the environment that they would like to observe.
Talk briefly about how things in our environment communicate messages. For example, by placing magazines, books, and flyers in the entry area we may communicate that we have important information to share or that we value reading. Families sitting, laughing, and talking outside may communicate that this is a place to gather and feel at home.
Emphasize that the examples given are interpretations. In reality the messages from our environment will mean different things to different people. For example, a family may not choose to read or get information from the materials in the entry way. They may value having a lively discussion as a way of exchanging information and getting to know more about the program.
Explain that the task for the participants in this activity will be to interview a parent to find out how he or she interprets the Head Start environment.
Remind the participants that as staff persons, they already are aware of the information that the program wants noticed. Their goal in this activity is to find out how messages are being received by parents.
Have participants follow the instructions on the Handout for interviewing parents.
Debriefing
Ask participants the following questions:
- Which messages stood out to the parents you interviewed? Why do you think they picked up on that message so clearly?
- Are there messages in our program that are important that weren't being clearly understood by the parents?
Head Start National Library Collection | BMCC Home