Benchmark – advocating for students and families

Early childhood and special education teachers should understand their role as advocates for children who may have exceptionalities. Teachers can promote professional practice by taking part in professional development opportunities to explain this role and other responsibilities to their colleagues. Professional development enables teachers to stay informed of current practices and ethics associated with the discipline.

Part 1: Advocacy Presentation

For Part 1 of this benchmark assignment, create a 15-20 slide presentation in digital format (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi) using relevant, current research to inform early childhood and special education teachers about their role as advocates for young children and their families. Address the following within your presentation:

• Specify the importance of detecting possible exceptionalities (including disabilities and giftedness) in Pre-K through Grade 3 children.
• Include at least three laws or policies related to identifying or providing services to children with exceptionalities.
• Relating to the early detection of possible exceptionalities, provide at least three examples of ways in which advocating for students and families optimizes learning opportunities for young children, strengthens learning environments, and advances the early childhood profession.
• Provide 3-5 talking points that teachers could use to inform paraeducators, tutors, and volunteers about some of the more important legal and ethical practices regarding students who may have exceptionalities and how to interact with their families (e.g., confidentiality).

Include presenter’s notes, a title slide, in-text citations, and a reference slide that contains 3-5 scholarly sources from the required readings or the GCU Library.

Part 2: Ethical Analysis

For Part 2 of this benchmark assignment, write a 250-500 word statement regarding how the advocacy role of early childhood educators (as described in your presentation) promotes compassion, justice, and concern for the common good of students, families, and colleagues and reflects the GCU College of Education’s Professional Disposition of Advocacy (provided below). Beneath the Professional Disposition of Advocacy description is a section of the GCU Statement on the Integration of Faith, Learning, and Work, which you may also (but are not required to) refer to in your response.

GCU College of Education’s Professional Disposition of Advocacy

Educators should promote positive change in schools and communities that benefit the welfare of others.

• Actively building positive relationships with the students.
• Engaging students in conversations beyond the scope of the classroom.
• Taking time to understand student issues and concerns.
• Assisting students in finding resolutions to their problems.
• Guiding students through the problem-solving process.
• Seeking to understand the issues and challenges facing students.
• Sincerely getting to know the students’ interests and needs in their context.

GCU Statement on the Integration of Faith, Learning and Work:

“WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is both Savior and Lord and that all who follow Jesus should seek His Kingdom and His righteousness in relation to all aspects of human experience, including culture and society. Therefore, we have resolved to carry out our work within the public arena with compassion, justice and concern for the common good.”

While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

COE Program Competencies:

• D5, C5.1: Engage in ongoing, collaborative professional development from the early childhood education/special education field to inform practice in order to maximize learning outcomes for all students. [CEC 6.4; NAEYC 6a, 6c; InTASC 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 10(a), 10(b), 10(f)]
• D5, C5.2: Model the expectations of the profession by upholding ethical standards, professional standards of practice, and relevant laws and policies. [CEC 6.1; NAEYC 6b; InTASC 9(o), 10(i)]
• D5, C5.3: Analyze ethical decisions that promote the common good for students, families, and colleagues that are consistent with the Christian worldview. [MC 3]
• D5, C5.5: Integrate relevant, research-based perspectives on early childhood education/special education to promote professional practice. [CEC 6.2; NAEYC 6d; InTASC 10(h)]
• D5, C5.6: Engage in informed advocacy to optimize the learning opportunities for young children, strengthen the learning environment, and advance the early childhood profession. [CEC 6.5; NAEYC 6e; InTASC 10(j), 10(k); MC 2]
• D5, C5.7: Provide guidance and direction to paraeducators, tutors, and volunteers. [CEC 6.6; InTASC 10(n); MC 2, MC 3]