1. Personal Definitions of Family 1a

2.  our personal beliefs about how families should be structured and behave. 1b

3. Professional Definition of Family 2a

4.  definitions of “family” that are provided by professional organizations. Professional definitions of family may not reflect legal definitions. 2b

5. Legal Definition of Family 3a

6.  according to the U.S. Census Bureau, “a family is a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together.” This definition is sometimes too narrow to encompass all the different family arrangements encountered by teachers. 3b

7. Traditional Family 4a

8.  the family structure that is considered the norm in society at any given point in time. 4b

9. Nuclear Family 5a

10.  a traditional family consisting of a husband and wife and their children. 5b

11. Extended Family 6a

12.  the nuclear family as well as immediate relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 6b

13. Fictive or Affiliated Kin 7a

14.  individuals with no biological or legal relationship to a family but who are nevertheless viewed as part of the family and are given family responsibilities. Fictive kin can include neighbors who care for children, Godparents, youth workers, and teachers. 7b

15. Normed Families 8a

16.  families that previously were viewed as atypical but are now considered a part of “normal” American society. Normed families include single-parent families, stepfamilies, and adoptive families. 8b

17. Vulnerable Families 9a

18.  families who, because of their life circumstances, experience financial, emotional, and physical stress that can impair their functioning and well- being. 9b

19. Homeless Families 10a

20.  families that lack permanent housing. 10b

21. Working-Poor Families 11a

22.  families whose incomes remain below the poverty threshold despite family members’ full-time employment. 11b

23. Emerging Families 12a

24.  family arrangements that are becoming more visible and gaining recognition in American society. 12b

25. Families of Choice 13a

26.  also known as network or friendship families, families of choice are formed when individuals who are not related join together to provide each other with emotional and / or financial support. 13b

27. Gay and Lesbian Families 14a

28.  same-sex partners with or without children. 14b

29. Same-Sex Marriage 15a

30.  recognized in a few states as the legal union between gay and lesbian partners. No state is required to recognize same-sex marriages, according to the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). 15b

31. Serial Monogamy 16a

32.  describes the series of monogamous relationships that individuals may experience over their lifetime. 16b

33. Multiple Partner Fertility 17a

34.  refers to adults who have children with more than one partner. Multiple partner fertility may accompany serial monogamy. 17b

35. Covenant Marriages 18a

36.  couples voluntarily enter into covenant marriages with the understanding that their state will grant a divorce only in a limited number of situations. Pre-marriage counseling also is often mandated as part of a covenant marriage. 18b

37. Household 19a

38.  everyone who occupies a housing unit. 19b

39. Family Household 20a

40.  a type of household in which at least one individual is related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. 20b

41. Nonfamily Household 21a

42.  a type of household in which a householder lives alone or with nonrelatives only. 21b

43. Parent 22a

44.  from a legal perspective, a biological or adoptive adult. This definition stands in contrast to a professional definition of parenthood. 22b

45. Biological Parents 23a

46.  parents who are genetically related to a child. 23b

47. Extended Parents 24a

48.  relatives of a nuclear family who assume parenting responsibilities. 24b

49. Sociological Parents 25a

50.  parents who assume the mother or father role even though they are not biologically related to a child. Examples include foster parents, adoptive parents, and stepparents. 25b

51. Professional Definition of Parenthood 26a

52.  acknowledges the parenting role played by any adult who, regardless of their legal standing, cares and provides for a child. This professional definition often is at odds with legal definitions. 26b

53. Parenting 27a

54.  child guidance practices used to socialize children. 27b

55. Authoritarian Parents 28a

56.  these parents exhibit a high level of demandingness but a low level of responsiveness. They expect blind obedience from their children. 28b

57. Permissive Parents 29a

58.  these parents make few demands upon their children and set few boundaries or rules. 29b

59. Authoritative Parents 30a

60.  sometimes referred to as democratic parents. These parents are responsive to their children’s wishes and ideas but also demand that agreed-upon rules be followed. Children of authoritative parents exhibit responsible and adaptive behavior. 30b

61. Learning Environment 31a

62.  any location in which children receive instruction and care. Learning environments commonly include public and private schools, non-profit and private early learning centers, and Head Start programs. However, they can also include other locations. 31b

63. Teachers 32a

64.  anyone who receives a professional license from their state to teach and care for children. 32b

65. Formal Education 33a

66.  characterized by a planned learning environment dedicated to helping children master educational standards. 33b

67. Informal Education 34a

68.  the many informal ways that families support their children’s learning experiences in the classroom, at home, and in the community. 34b

69. Community 35a

70.  a location defined by the quality of life provided through its institutions, services, cultural events, and the cohesion of its neighborhoods. 35b

71. Social Capacity 36a

72.  a community’s social capacity is reflect in its ability to use formal and informal connections to provide for the physical, psychological, social, and material care of its neighborhoods. 36b

73. Social Capital 37a

74.  the time and energy that families and communities devote to supporting the development of children and youth. Social capital can be used to support human capital. 37b

75. Collective Efficacy 38a

76.  the ability of a community to mobilize its social capital to improve the lives of others. 38b

77. Human Capital 39a

78.  While businesses raise economic capital, families, teachers, and community professionals raise human capital in the form of knowledge and skills. It is our human capital that prepares us for life as productive workers and community citizens. The types of human capital valued by a society can change over time. 39b

79. Community Scan 40a

80.  An informal strategy that teachers use to assess a community’s social capacity. 40b

81. Family Systems Theory 41a

82.  relationships are viewed as a series of social exchanges in which we attempt to maximize our rewards and minimize our costs. 41b

83. Family Rules 42a

84.  a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family rules refer to the standards of behavior that govern life within a family system. 42b

85. Family Boundaries 43a

86.  a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family boundaries function like gates in controlling the flow of information and social interactions between the family system and the outside world. Family boundaries are generally characterized as “open,” “closed,” or “permeable.” 43b

87. Family Equilibrium 44a

88.  a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family equilibrium is defined as a state of normalcy where everyone in a family knows what is expected of them. Families attempt to maintain or return to a state of equilibrium after they encounter challenges to their family life. 44b

89. Family Climate 45a

90.  a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. The family climate refers to the emotional environment in which family members live. 45b

91. Family Rituals 46a

92.  a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family rituals include patterns of behavior and daily routines that give meaning to family life and interactions. 46b

93. Family Stories 47a

94.  a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family stories are used to transmit family values and rules between generations. 47b

95. Family Myths 48a

96.  a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family myths refer to those beliefs about family life that are not open for debate. 48b