Reflecting on Early Reading and Writing Experiences- Family Structure
Reaction to Family Structure
Admittedly, my first thought after reading Johnny’s case was influenced by my Eurocentric, nuclear‐family orientation. My personal beliefs and values as to what roles are appropriate within a family were quick to show, and I had to remind myself to remain open-minded so that I would not impose my beliefs on Johnny’s family. As such, I decided to move away from this deficit model and instead apply a strength model. Typical of a strength-based model, the first reaction is to identify the strengths, such as cultural practices, supportive relationships, coping strategies, and community connections.
Subsequently, I also have to be culturally sensitive by considering the cultural context of the family and incorporating cultural strengths and values into the assessment process. This ensures that interventions are culturally responsive and respectful of the family’s background and beliefs (Sue et al, 2022). Johnny’s family seems to be closely knit and go out of their way to care for each other. Recognizing this is important because that means that they are more than willing to fix any issues that any of them are facing and make their life easier, particularly Johnny.
My second reaction is empowerment whereby I acknowledge their strengths and build upon them to address challenges and achieve the goal of solving the problems that occurred as a result of family disruptions. This involves collaborating with families to develop solutions based on their strengths and capabilities. Notably, the process is collaborative because it fosters a sense of ownership and investment in the assessment process. My third reaction is finding a solution-focused approach that Johnny’s family can use that focuses on identifying and amplifying solutions rather than dwelling on problems. This involves reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and identifying concrete steps that families can take to achieve their desired outcomes.
References
Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2022). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons.
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Question 
After reading Chapter 12, think about your earliest experiences with reading and writing. Answer each of these questions to receive full credit.
Which books were your favorites?
Reflecting on Early Reading and Writing Experiences- Family Structure
What can you remember about the process of learning to read? (Age, grade, teacher, methods, materials, etc.?)
How much do you think your earliest experiences are related to your leisure-time literature choices as an adult?
Book link: Yuzu Reader: Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum