WEB QUEST:
PARENTHOOD +
CAREER = CHILD CARE
Learning Experience by
Martha J. Antonello, Northport High School, Northport
- East Northport NY School District
Member of the
LEARNING EXPERIENCE:
PURPOSE: The goal of this learning experience is for students to become aware of
the special challenges working parents of young children face.
·
With fewer traditional families and more dual-career families, the demand
for quality child care services has increased significantly. The availability of good child care has not
kept up with the demand. Parents want
the right match between child and child care.
·
In the first part of the assignment the students will assume a role in a team of experts
employed by a fictitious child care placement and referral service. Each student will be required to gather
information concerning the clients and
their child care needs. Each team member will be instructed to answer
questions, compile and analyze data from assigned web sites on the internet.
·
Next, the student will complete a written report on their findings.
·
Next, the team will select a child care facility based on information
gathered by all team members.
·
Finally, the team will visit the child care facility and complete a quality
checklist. In a collaborative effort a
formal recommendation will be compiled to be presented to the clients.
Guiding Questions:
·
How is developmental well-being achieved through management of family
resources (time, energy, economics)?
·
What caregiving conditions are necessary to
promote a child’s health, safety and positive development?
·
What resources outside the family are available to support healthy family
relationships and healthcare?
Experience:
·
WEB QUEST
CONNECTION TO COURSE
CURRICULUM:
This Web Quest is written for the full
credit Child Psychology and Development course offered in the family and
consumer sciences area. It can be used
as a cooperative group project. This
learning experience is used as a summative assessment, completed at the end of
an Infant and Toddler Unit Learning that includes all aspects of development.
PROCEDURE:
Today, most American families rely on
child-care providers to help raise their children, often beginning in the first
weeks or months of life. Reliable,
high-quality child care has obvious benefits for parents, by allowing peace of
mind, and for employers by boosting productivity. Many new parents are apprehensive about
starting their child care search. They
wonder what they should do first, and what the overall process looks like. But just like any large project, evaluating
child care options can be broken down into smaller more manageable segments.
The students become a team member employed
by a fictitious child care placement and referral service, an agency designed
to assist parents in selecting quality child care services for their children.
Each member of the team will select a role
to be played for this project. The Finance Expert will determine whether
it pays for both parents to work, a Family
Counselor will assist the parents in identifying their “parent philosophy”,
and lastly, a Child Care Consultant is
responsible for identifying various child care options and the pros and cons of each.
After selecting their role, all members of
the team will review the background information concerning the clients.
Students will need to research (as a team) finances, parent philosophy, child
care options and available facilities.
The web sites available to the students listed in the Resource section will
provide answers to these questions.
The team of experts will receive information
on the clients. Once all the background
information is collected, each expert will then be ready to research his or her
particular area of expertise. Students
will use the resources available to them in order to collect the necessary
data.
When all information from each expert is
collected, the students will proceed in compiling their written report. The report will include facts on the extra cost
of child care, “parenting philosophy “,
various child care options, and the pros and cons of each. The reports will be completed using any word
processing software available, following the preestablished
template.
The student’s final duty will be to select a
local child care facility, visit the facility and complete a quality checklist.
After analyzing the situation, the team will
present a final written recommendation for the clients based on their findings.
The report will include findings on the extra cost of child care, “parenting
philosophy “, various child care
options, and the pros and cons of each.
The final child care recommendation will include background information
on the facility chosen and a completed quality checklist.
INSTRUCTIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS:
The academically challenged students who
utilize resource room assistance work closely with their teachers to complete
their written piece. The teacher
communicates regularly with the resource room teachers on student progress.
·
Bilingual
students are given a tutor to help complete their written piece. Translating the directions into the native
language of the student may also be done by the ESL teacher
·
Additional time
is allowed for students as needed, allowing more time to complete the project
and prepare the final copy for presentation.
·
Physical
modifications of the classroom setting are necessary for students with special
needs. My classroom has tables, which
are portable. The flexible furniture
arrangement can accommodate students with mobility restrictions.
·
Students who are
visually or hearing impaired may need some modifications for portions of the
lesson.
·
Enlarged
materials could meet the needs of students who need adaptation for vision.
·
Seating
placement within the room also accommodates some of these special needs.
TIME REQUIRED
Planning
and preparation for the teacher:
·
Duplication of
student packets: (1 hour)
·
Explanation of
Web Quest Assignment (30 min)
·
Assessment of
individual Web Quest Assignment (2 hours per class)
Planning
and preparation for the student:
·
One 40-minute
class period is needed to introduce the Web Quest Assignment, the criteria for
completion and the assessment tool.
·
Students have
two consecutive days, two 40-minute class periods, in the computer lab to
complete their research on the internet.
They will use this time to confer with other team members and share
information.
·
Students have
one day in the computer lab to work with their team to select a child care
facility and make arrangements for a visit.
·
Students have
one week to schedule a visitation at a child care facility and compile the
information for their child care recommendation. They refer to the performance level rubric to
make sure that all criteria have been met.
The child care recommendation is placed in its cover and is ready to
hand in for evaluation. Students
complete a collaborative rubric for each member of the team.
·
During a
40-minute class period students share their finished child care recommendation
with their classmates. Students reflect
and share some of the positive features of the finished product.
ASSESSMENT PLAN
Formative
Assessment Strategies
Observations of student comment
during class discussion.
Summative
Assessment Strategies
Students submit the following work
samples:
Completed Child Care Facility Quality
Checklist
Completed Child Care Recommendation
Completed Collaboration Rubric
Summative
Assessment Strategies
Specific Rubric for Scoring Child
Care Recommendation
STUDENT WORK:
Sample
Child Care Recommendations in a separate section
Rubric
for scoring
Student
Packet
Web
Quest:
Parenthood + Career =
Child Care
Name_________________________________Date____________Period________
Introduction
Today, most American families rely on
child-care providers to help raise their children, often beginning in the first
weeks or months of life. Reliable, high-quality
child care has obvious benefits for parents, by allowing peace of mind, and for
employers by boosting productivity. Many
new parents are apprehensive about starting their child care search. They wonder what they should do first, and
what the overall process looks like. But
just like any large project, evaluating child care options can be broken down
into smaller more manageable segments.
Task
The TLC, Child Care Placement and Referral
Services, Inc employ you and your team members.
TLC is an agency designed to assist parents in selecting quality child
care services for their children.
Private consultations are given in order to determine which programs
will best meet the needs of both parent and child.
Your expertise is needed immediately! You will be introduced to the clients
today. Sessions have been scheduled with
the Finance Expert, Family Counselor, and Child Care Consultant within your
team. Once you have compiled the
necessary information on family finances, parenting philosophy, and child care
options, your team of experts will be presenting all the gathered information
into a written report. Your final duty will be to select a child care facility,
visit the facility and complete a quality checklist.
Resources
Following is a list of web sites that will
be valuable to each member of the team while compiling data.
Family Finance Expert
* Should Both of You Work?
- Offspringmag.com
>click on the briefcase,
complete activity, and print
Family Counselor
* Finding Care/Tools
* What Type of Care is Good for You?
- careguide.com
>click on child care, click on
finding care, scroll to toolbox, click on quiz: "What Type of Care is Good for you?” answer and print
* Finding Care/ Articles
* What’s Your Parenting Philosophy?
- Careguide.com
>click on finding care, click on
articles, scroll to “Getting Ready for
Care”, click on “What’s Your Parenting Philosophy?” answer and print
Child Care Consultant
* What are the Child Care Options?
- careguide.com
>click on Child Care, click on
Finding Care, click on Articles, scroll to Care Options, click on “What are the
Child Care Options?” “Pros and Cons of
Care Options”, fill out graphic organizer
* Pros and Cons of Care Options
- careguide.com
>click on Child Care, click on
Finding Care, click on Articles, scroll to Care Options, click on “Pros and Cons of Care Options”, and fill out
graphic organizer
All Members of the Team
* Finding Care/ Child Care Search
- careguide.com
>click on Child Care, click on
Finding Care, click on Search for Child Care, select
an area to visit
* Finding Care/Tools
- careguide.com
>click on Child Care, click on Finding
Care, click on Search for Child Care, click on Checklists, print checklist
The Process
1.
First you will be assigned to a team of 3 students. As a team each member should choose a role they
would like to play for this project. You
will need a Finance Expert who will
determine whether it pays for both parents to work, a Family Counselor who will assist the parents in identifying their
“parent philosophy”, and lastly, you will need a Child Care Consultant who will be responsible for identifying
various child care options and the
pros and cons of each.
2. After selecting your role, all members of
the team will review the background information concerning the clients. You will need to research (as a team)
finances, parent philosophy, child care options and available facilities. The web sites available to you through the
Resource section should provide answers to these questions.
3. The team of experts will meet with and
interview the clients. Once all the
background information is collected, each expert will then be ready to research
his or her area of expertise. Use the
resources available to you in order to collect the necessary data.
4. When all information from each expert is
collected, it will be time to proceed to compiling your written report. The report will include facts on the extra
cost of child care, “parenting philosophy
“, various child care options, and the pros and cons of each. Your reports will be completed using any word
processing software available to you, following the preestablished
template. Feel free to copy the outline
provided into your software program to work from.
5. Your final duty will be to select a local
child care facility, visit the facility and complete a quality checklist.
6. After analyzing the situation, your team
will present to the clients a final written recommendation based on your
findings. The report will include findings on the extra cost of child care,
“parenting philosophy “, various child
care options, and the pros and cons of each.
The final child care recommendation will include background information
on the facility chosen and a completed quality checklist.
Evaluation
You will be evaluated on your individual
level of cooperation and participation, the quality of the information gathered
for your particular role, as well as the content and quality of your group’s
final report and recommendation. A
rubric for this project was created in order for you to better understand the
requirements and how you will be evaluated on your overall project.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you are now equipped with
the tools necessary to select quality child care. By going through the process you have just
completed, you should now be more aware of
·
The need to
review family finances
·
The role
“parenting philosophy” plays in the selection of child care
·
The pros and
cons of various child care options
·
The components
of quality child care
·
Child care
planning information resources that are available on the internet.
RESOURCES:
Agencies and Organizations List
http://careguide.com/j.cgi?U_Type=MIPCL&T_Src=cg2&Ofn=c_fc_home_2000_3cwwn.html&l
Child Care Checklist
http://careguide.com/j.cgi?U_Type=MIPCL&T_Src=cg2&Ofn=c_fc_home_2000_3cwwn.html&l
Should Both of You Work?
http://offspringmag.com/tool/work
What are the Child Care Options
http://careguide.com/j.cgi?U_Type=MIPCL&T_Src=cg2&Ofn=&l_AcctNumber=&R_Sstate&T_:
What Type of Care is Good for You?
http://careguide.com/j.cgi?U_Type=MIPCL&T_Src=cg2&Ofn=c_fc_home_2000_3cwwn.html&l
What’s Your Parenting Philosophy?
http://careguide.com/j.cgi?U_Type=MIPCL&T_Src=cg2&Ofn=&l_AcctNumber=&R_Sstate=&T_:
REPORT TEMPLATE
Please
establish the following guidelines while compiling and presenting information
on your final report. Be sure to use
complete sentences and thoughts in your writing; do not simply state a reply to
what is being asked. Please include the
headings in your actual report, as outlined.
I. Your Client
a. What is the family dynamics of your
client?
1. How many children?
2. What are the ages of the children?
3. How many parents are living in the
house?
b. How would you
describe the second salary career?
1. What is the annual salary?
2. Where is the work place located?
3. Is the
position full time or part time?
4. What is the typical length and
time of day of work?
II. Finance Expert
a.
What financial information
is needed to determine if both parents should work?
1. What is the second salary?
2. Can you list the tax expenditures
and what they represent?
3. What are the estimated child care
expenses?
4. What is the cost of commuting?
5. What other expenses are associated
with working?
6. What would the actual cash flow be
from the second salary?
b. What
conclusion can you draw from the financial analysis of your client?
c. Are there
non-monetary reasons for he second salary and how important are they?
d. What is your final recommendation?
III. Family Counselor
a.
What type of Care is Best
for the Client?
1. What kind of environment is best
for the child?
2. Is there
flexibility in terms of pick-up and drop-off times?
3. What is the ideal child care group?
4. What kind of training should the
child care provider have?
5. Is state regulation a concern
regarding child care?
6. What conclusions can be drawn from
this survey?
b. What is the client’s parenting
philosophy?
1. How should the child be physically
comforted?
2. What system of discipline should the
child care provider use?
3. Should rewards be used for positive
behavior? What type of rewards?
4. What behaviors should be
encouraged?
5. How should the issue of bad
language be addressed?
6. How much television and what types
of shows should be watched?
7. What attributes are important in
the child care provider?
8. How should the child be taught?
9. Is the child care provider's
religion a deciding factor?
10. Who will determine the schedule for
the child?
11. How can the child care provider be a
role model for the child?
12. What conclusions can be drawn from
this parenting philosophy questionnaire?
IV. Child Care Consultant
a. What are
the child care options available to the client?
1. What does
In-home Care consist of?
2. What does Family Day Care consist
of?
3. What does Center Care consist of?
b.
What are the pros and cons
of care options?
1. What are the pros and cons of In-Home Care?
2. What are the pros and cons of Family
Day Care?
3. What are the pros and cons of Center
Care?
c.
What would be
the best child care option for the client?
V. Facility Selection and Quality Checklist
a. What are the results of the child care search?
1. What surrounding area did your
search include?
2. What facilities match the needs of
the client?
3. What information were you able to
obtain from the search and the facilities web sites?
4. What facility was chosen for the client?
5. Based on the team member reports;
why is the facility choice the best possible one for the client?
b. How did the visitation and checklist
compliment the final decision?
|
Recommendation Report Rubric |
|||||
|
Criteria |
Novice 1 |
Apprentice 2 |
Proficient 3 |
Distinguished
4 |
Score |
|
Introduction |
Does not give any
information about what to expect in the report. |
Gives very little
information. |
Gives too much
information -- more like a summary. |
Presents a concise
lead-in to the report. |
|
|
On-line Resources |
Does not seek assistance
to use the on-line resources. |
Requires constant
assistance to use the on-line resources. |
Can access and use
on-line resources with teacher assistance. |
Can access and use
on-line resources with minimal teacher assistance. |
|
|
Synthesizing Data & Results |
Product is incomplete
and contains missing details and isn't completely accurate. Template not
followed |
Product is not complete
and only answers part of the question. Report followed given template for
most areas. |
Product answers the
question in a way that reflects learning using some detail and accuracy.
Report followed template completely. |
Used the information in
a meaningful way to create an original product that clearly answers the
question with accuracy, detail and understanding. |
|
|
Conclusion |
Presents an illogical
explanation for the findings and does not address any of the questions. |
Presents an illogical
explanation for findings and addresses some of the questions. |
Presents a logical
explanation for the findings and addresses some of the questions. |
Presents a logical
explanation for findings and addresses most of the questions. |
|
|
Grammar and Quality of Report |
Very frequent grammar
and/or spelling errors. |
More than two errors. |
Only one or two errors. |
All grammar and spelling
are correct. |
|
|
Attractiveness |
Illegible writing, loose
pages. |
Legible writing, some
ill-formed letters, print too small or too large,
papers stapled together. |
Legible writing,
well-formed characters, clean and neatly bound in a report cover, graphics
provided. |
Word processed or typed,
clean and neatly bound in a report cover, graphics provided. |
|
|
Timeliness |
Report handed in more
than one week late. |
Up to one week late. |
Up to two days late. |
Report handed in on
time. |
|
|
Total |
|
|
|||
|
COLLABORATION
RUBRIC |
|||||
|
CRITERIA |
NOVICE 1 |
APPRENTICE 2 |
PROFICIENT 3 |
DISTINGUISHED
4 |
SCORE |
|
Research and Gather
Information |
Does not collect any
information that relates to the topic. |
Collects very little
information -- some relates to the topic |
Collects some basic
information -- most relate to the topic. |
Collects a great deal of
information -- all relates to the topic. |
|
|
Share Information |
Does not relay any
information to teammates. |
Relays very little
information -- some relates to the topic. |
Relays some basic
information -- most relates to the topic. |
Relays a great deal of
information-- all relates to the topic. |
|
|
Fulfill Team Role's
Duties |
Does not perform any
duties of assigned team role. |
Performs very little
duties. |
Performs nearly all
duties. |
Performs all duties of
assigned team role. |
|
|
Participate in Team
Conference |
Does not speak during
the conference. |
Either gives too little
information or information which is irrelevant to topic. |
Offers some information
-- most is relevant. |
Offers a fair amount of
important information -- all is relevant. |
|
|
Share Equally |
Always relays on others
to do the work. |
Rarely does the assigned
work -- often needs reminding |
Usually does the
assigned work -- rarely needs reminding. |
Always does the assigned
work without having to be reminded. |
|
|
Listen to Other
Teammates |
Is always talking --
never allows anyone else to speak. |
Usually doing most of
the talking -- rarely allows others to speak. |
Listens, but sometimes
talks too much. |
Listens and speaks a
fair amount. |
|
|
Make Fair Decision |
Usually wants to have things
their way. |
Often sides with friends
instead of considering all views. |
Usually considers all
views. |
Always helps team to
reach a fair decision. |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|||
REFLECTIONS BY THE
TEACHER:
First
envisioned by Bernie Doge, at
There
is so much information pertaining to parenting available on the inernet. The Web
Quest allows the students to explore, extrapolate and analyze information that
can be used to solve a current parenting problem, quality child care.
The
goal of this learning experience is for students to become aware of the special
challenges working parents of young children face. With fewer traditional families and more
dual-career families, the demand for quality child care services has increased
significantly. The availability of good
child care has not kept up with the demand.
Parents want the right match between child and child care. The Web Quest leads the student on a step by
step decision making journey that parents must do to ensure a safe, healthy,
and stimulating environment for their children during the hours that child care
is needed. Its
important for the students to become aware of the internet and the value of the
information that can be utilized during such a process.
The
students were stunned by the costs involved for quality child care. They arrived at a bottom line; just how much
of the second salary would be available to the couple after taxes, child care
costs, and expenses pertaining to work.
Students were faced with the reality that parenthood plus career is not
such an easy equation to solve. As more
and more females select higher education and embark on careers of their own it
becomes increasingly more difficult for them to make these child care
decision. They love the parent role but
they equally love their career. This
assignment helped students become aware of the challenges that lie ahead.
STANDARDS
AND COMMENCEMENT LEVEL INDICATORS:
NYS Health, Physical Education and Family
and Consumer Science
Standard 2: Students will acquire
the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy
environment.
FCS a. Students understand the stages
of child development and apply this knowledge to activities designed to enrich
the physical, social, mental, and emotional development of a young child.
FCS b. Students apply housing
principles (e.g., design and safety) to meet the needs of family members of all
ages and abilities.
Standard 3: Students will be able
to manage their personal and community resources.
FCS a. Students analyze a wide range
of factors related to managing personal resources to balance obligations to
work, family, and self.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND OCCUPATIONAL STUDIES
Standard 3a: Students will
demonstrate mastery of the foundation skills and competencies essential for
success in the workplace.
Technology 5A. Students
apply their knowledge of technology to identify and solve problems.
Managing Information 6A. Students
use technology to acquire, organize, and communicate information by entering,
modifying, and storing data.
MATH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY:
Standard 2: Students will access,
generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies.
Information Systems 1C. Students
access, select, collate, and analyze information obtained from a wide range of
sources such as research data bases, foundations, organizations, national
libraries, and electronic communication networks, including the internet.
Standard 1: Language for
Information and Understanding
1.1d. Students make distinctions about the relative
value and significance of specific data, facts and ideas.
1.2a. Students write and present research reports,
feature articles, and thesis/support papers on a variety of topics related to
all school subjects.
1.2d. Students support interpretations and decisions
about relative significance of information with explicit statement, evidence,
and appropriate argument.
Standard 3: Language for Critical
Analysis and Evaluation
3.1a. Students analyze interpret, and evaluate ideas,
information, organization, and language of a wide range of general and
technical texts and presentations across subject areas, including technical
manuals, professional journals, political speeches, and literary criticism.
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES EDUCATION NATIONAL STANDARDS:
Comprehensive Standard 15.0:
Evaluate the impact of parenting roles and responsibilities on strengthening
the well-being of individuals and families.
Standard 15.1: Analyze roles and
responsibilities of parenting.
15.1.2. Examine expectations and responsibilities of
parenting.
15.1.3. Determine consequences of parenting practices
to the individual, family, and society.
Standard 15.2: Evaluate parenting
practices that maximize human growth and development.
15.2.1. Choose nurturing practices that support human
growth and development.
15.2.5. Determine criteria for selecting care and
services for children.
Standard 15.3: Evaluate external
support systems that provide services for parents.
15.3.1. Assess community resources and services
available to families.
15.3.2. Appraise community resources that provide
opportunities related to parenting.
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