Marriage & Family Life Syllabus

Points:

Weekly Participation:  25 points

Homework – 50 points

Tests – 100 points

Projects – 200 points

Communicating with Others

Identify the definition of communication

Identify communication issues

Identify methods of communication

Identify factors that affect communication

Distinguish between verbal and nonverbal methods of communication

Distinguish between the levels of communication

Discuss ethics in communication

Identify common barriers to communication

Identify the importance of message context

Interpret the impact of context on messages (AS 1)

Differentiate in the descriptive characteristics of I-messages, we-messages and you-messages

Interpret scenarios using I-messages, we-messages and you-messages (AS 2)

Distinguish between active and passive listening

Complete a listening activity (AS 3)

Identify the purposes of feedback

Select guidelines for improving communication

Identify skills for communicating with children

Evaluate opinions about the role of communication in relationships (AS 4)

Record a “communication log” for assessing effectiveness/skills (AS 5)

Write a note of acknowledgement (AS 6)

Making Personal Decisions

Identify common areas requiring a personal decision

Identify the relationship among decision-making, consequences, and personal  

  well-being

Explore personal goals and values (AS 2)

Arrange in order the steps in the decision-making process

Identify skills useful in decision-making

Apply the decision-making process (AS 3)

Select strategies for managing time

Select strategies for handling stress

Complete a time management exercise (AS 4)

Exploring Single and Married Life

Profile single and married lifestyles

Identify factors that influence lifestyles

Identify factors that influence the decision to remain single

Select options for single living

Identify implications of living with another person

Identify factors that influence the decision to marry

Develop a personal and family life goal plan (AS 1)

Explore personal attitudes about single and married lifestyles. (AS 2)

Distinguish between love and infatuation

Distinguish between the stages of a romantic relationship

Identify the adjustments that marriage requires

Rank factors of personal importance for a successful marriage (AS 3)

Identify the scope of marriage laws

Profile marriage laws and wedding customs (AS 4)

Describing the Family

Identify functions of families

Match types of family structures to their descriptions

Identify potential substitutes for families

Select factors that put families at risk

Report about current and future issues affecting the family (AS 1)

Identify roles in families

Identify how family roles have evolved

Characterize families past and present

Distinguish among stages of the family life cycle

Exploring Parenting

Select reasons behind decisions about whether to be a parent

Distinguish among the types of parenthood

            Interview parents about aspects of parenting (AS 1)

            Identify financial responsibilities parents face when raising children’

            Calculate the financial cost of raising a child (AS 2)

            Identify potential rewards, demands and adjustments of parenting

            Identify basic characteristics of readiness for parenting

Identify criteria to consider when selecting a childcare provider

            Distinguish among methods of contraception

            Identify parenting skills needed for guiding healthy child development

            Explore personal attitudes toward and readiness for parenting (AS 3)

Making Everyday Living Decisions

Differentiate in benefits of owning vs. renting a home

Determine criteria to use when selecting a place to live

Differentiate in the advantages and disadvantages of using credit

Classify cards that are used to make purchases

Match investment options to the correct description

Create a financial plan for retirement (AS 1)

Match health insurance options to the correct description

Determine criteria to use when selecting a car

Plan a family vacation (AS 2)

Determine factors to consider when planning meals

Plan a family’s meals for one week (AS 3)

Responding to Family Changes and Challenges

Identify changes and challenges that have a major impact on families

Determine the impact of aging on the family

Distinguish among housing alternatives available to older family members

Differentiate between benefits and challenges of multi-generation families

Determine how in-laws can have a positive or negative impact on families

Identify issues facing family members due to a death

Identify guidelines for handling personal grief due to loss

Rate personal ability to cope with change (AS 1)

Explore personal feelings and emotions about death (AS 2)

Identify resources for withstanding a crisis

Profile community resources for crisis management (AS 3)

Identify guidelines for facing a crisis

Profile a response to a crisis (AS 4)

Facing Divorce

Identify common factors that contribute to problems in a marriage

Identify sources of communication problems in a marriage

Distinguish among responses to problems in a marriage

Determine what impact divorce can have on children and other family members

Determine what impact divorce can have on careers

Express views about divorce (AS 1)

Identify potential challenges in remarriages and step parenting

Explore personal attitudes about divorce, remarriage and step parenting (AS 2)

Balancing Family and Career

Determine the impact that careers can have on families

Identify challenges in balancing family and career

Select skills needed to balance family and career

Identify guidelines for balancing family and career

Develop a personal point of view on family and career issues (AS 1)

Profile the balance of family and career presented in the media and in literature (AS 2)

Exploring Careers

Identify career opportunities in the field of family relations

Identify personal qualifications needed for careers in family relations

Arrange in order steps in making a career decision

Profile family relations careers in the community (AS 1)

Summarize personal interests (AS 2)

Profile career opportunities (AS 3)

Document skills and achievements toward career goals (AS 4)

Supplemental Units:  Connections Dating & Emotions, Connections PREP Relationships & Marriage