Brofenbrenner's Ecological Theory

Erie Brofenbrenner bio-ecological model of development focuses on the social contexts in which students live, the people who influence their development and the interaction between students' characteristics and their environment His theory has Five environmental systems which are wrapped around the individual the first stage is called the Microsystem this includes the students family, friends, and school the microsystems is controlled by the students; because they control interactions and help to construct the settings. The next Layer is the Mesosystem and this is the sytem that connects all the microsystems together.  The third is the Exosystem this is the system that the has an impact on the individual but they have no control over, such as a parent losing a job or the availability to parks and recreational facilities in the area where they live.  The Forth system is the Macrosystem this involves society's values and culture and the last layer is the Chronosystem which refers to socio-historical conditions of students development. An example of this would be the conditions we learn in our different from those of our parents, we have access to wireless internet everywhere, being able to talk on the phone at anytime and texting.

                                                           
When dealing with children Bronfenbrenner wants us to think of all the microsystems.  As teachers we need to look at not only what is affecting the child during school hours but also in their lives outside of school.  I do agree with him that when dealing with children you have to look at all the areas that affect a child because things that are happen around us influence us directly and indirectly, they have a large affect on a person.  I think as a teacher that this will be a hard task to do, as you are caring for a large amount of students with different cultural backgrounds different circle of friends, coming from different neighborhood these children deal with situations affecting them differently; for one child it could affect them one way, same situation with a different child and it doesn't affect them at all.