Journal 5

Staff meetings are important because they allow staff to come together to share ideas, questions, and/or concerns. They allow the Director to address good and bad issues that arise within the program. They allow staff to come together as a team to support each other in ways that could reduce stress, burnout, and turnovers.

This is the agenda for my last staff meeting:

STAFF MEETING TOPICS

1)  Performance evaluations
2)  Professional development plans
3)  DHS licensing visit
4)  Upcoming health inspection
5)  Classroom cleanliness
6)  Behavior/Injury reports
7)  Surveys
8)  Afternoon cleanup
9)  Children's belongings
10) Playground rules
11) Discrimination/Prejudice
12) Requested time off

Each teacher is given this list with an attached sheet for them to list any topics they would like for me to cover.  At the end of each meeting the floor is always opened for anyone to comment.

The following is the sheet that i have with my notes as to what i want to say about each topic. Having this allows me to stay on point and not get off track.

1)  I will be completing performance evaluations on each staff member.  Once completed, they will be discussed with each staff member, both staff and director will sign and it will be placed in the the staff members file.
2)  Each staff member is required to complete a professional development plan.  Even if you do not plan on continuing in this field, it still needs to be completed for whatever you plan on doing.
3)  September is the month of our licensing worker is due to conduct a periodic visit. Please make sure that everything required is posted on your parent bulletin board, centers are clearly marked, changing tables are clear of debris, cots are labeled, etc...
4)  Our health inspector is due at any time. Please make sure everything is in order.
5)  Classrooms need to be cleaned and presentable at all times.  Floors need to be kept swept and mopped and carpets need to be vacuumed.  When parents walk in a classroom and see stuff all over the floor it leaves a very bad impression.  Also, having too many things available is just as bad as not having enough.  Materials need to be age appropriate, in proper containers, labeled, and placed in an orderly fashion on your shelves in the correct centers.
6)  Please make sure injury and behavior reports are filled out at the time of incident.  If time lapses, you may forget some important information that needs to be included.  Also, if a child suffers an injury to the head, face, or mouth, parents are to be notified immediately.
7)  Discuss teacher surveys and feedback from parent surveys.
8)  Please make sure classrooms are clean at the end of the day as well as the playground.  I have noticed that there seems to be cups, trash, and toys scattered all over the playground when I come in the morning. That makes us look very bad.  It is not difficult to maintain the playground and if it is then we will discontinue having snack and drinks outside.  Also the big trash cans need to be emptied every day.  There is no reason for those trash cans to be over flowing.  That can easily leads to rats and roaches, which we are not trying to deal with.
9)  Please make sure that if clothes are removed from a child that they are labeled with that child's name. If washed, please put back on the child or in the child's cubby.  Too many parents are complaining about their children's missing clothes.  Also, children's clothes are getting bleached out.  This is something that should never happen.  If we are bleaching tables, chairs, and/or changing tables, we need to make sure they are completely dry before we allow a child to sit or lay on these items.
10)  I have asked before that we station ourselves around the playground so that all children are visible to all staff, yet incidents continue to happen that are not witnessed by any staff.  This causes a problem with parents and with me when we can not give a clear account of what happened to their child.  We cannot supervise children if we are sitting and visiting.  It's just not possible.
11) We all know that there are people all around us that are prejudice.  Although I think that's wrong, it is certainly not my place to judge another.  However when it causes you to discriminate against children, parents, and co-workers; I must say something.  People should not be made to feel lower than others.  Please be respectful and appreciative of the diversity we have here at Kiddie Haven in our staff, children, and parents.  If there is something that is bothering you, please come to me and let's discuss it.
12)  As we all know we are at our maximum capacity.  That is very good but it can cause a problem should one need time off.  I want to remind everyone that although I try to accomodate everyone's request, there may come a day when I will have to say no.  It will work a lot better if all appointments are scheduled for the morning.  It is entirely too hectic in the afternoon to allow time off.  I have given each of you a list of time already requested off and days that will not be approved due to school being out.

Journal 4

"How does it feel when someone does not use your name, gives you the cold shoulder, does not make eye contact, and only greets you with complaints?"

I have very mixed feelings about each of these scenarios. I don't really have a problem with anyone not using my name as long as they address me as something.  I have a habit of calling people honey, sweetheart, babe, etc...  I have been told it is unprofessional and I should train myself to call people by their names, so if someone were to call me something like that I would be okay.  Now I have had people approach me and just start talking without addressing me and that bothers me. I usually do not acknowledge them for several minutes and then I will politely ask, "I'm sorry, were you talking to me?". I feel it is rude and very disrespectful.  When someone gives me the cold shoulder, I simply walk away. I do wonder what I have done to upset them, but I do not question them about it.  If someone does not wish to speak to me, then I assume they have a valid reason and I just hope and pray they will eventually come around to explaining to me their reason.  I used to think when someone did not make eye contact with me that they were either hiding something or had a problem with me.  Then I learned that in some cultures it is disrespectful to look a person straight in the eye.  After that I try to read the situation.  If it is someone that I have spoken to many times before and they wont look at me then I would feel like I have either I have done something horribly wrong or that they are up to something.  When a person greets me with only complaints, I would begin to wonder if they were the type of person that only focused on the negative or if they ever saw the positive in anything. After a while, I am sure I would probably ask them if they ever had anything good to say. I am a firm believer that if you give nice you get nice. I don't wake up on a daily basis wondering what all is going to go wrong with the day.

Journal 3

Activity 2.1

I would explain to the parents that because children are in contact with children outside their room whom they may touch and cause a severe allergic reaction, it is still not allowed. I would be understanding of their wish but I would have to stand by the policy book expressing to them that it was created to protect the safety and well being of all children and staff. I would also make other suggestions of things that they could bring instead of the peanut butter cookies.

First, I would ask her if she would allow me to discuss her situation with the other teachers. If so, I would explain her situation to the other teachers and ask if any of them were willing to trade shifts with her.  If so, then I would change her shift. If not, then I would express my sympathy and understanding of her dilemma, explaining to her that I could not change her shift, and explain to her that although the other teachers were not willing to relinquish their Fridays, that she should not have any hard feelings because she does not know their reasons.

I would let her know that I was unhappy at her actions. I would offer to help her in creating her own lesson plans in the future and I would make me a new lesson plan. I understand and know that some people just dont have the creativity of others. Instead of causing a scene, I would offer my assistance.  It is apparent that she needs help.

I would acknowledge his anger, apologize for not being aware of the injury, explain to him that as children get older they sometimes handle situation differently by not reacting as they would have at a younger age. I would suggest to him that we schedule a later time to discuss the situation and his concerns about my ability to protect his child. I would reassure him that he can feel safe in leaving his child with me and that I will talk with the entire class regarding the issue of being nice to our friends.

Journal 2

Activity 1.1

My daily audience consists of a wide ranch of people.  I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by whites, blacks, hispanics, indians,  vietnamese, and jamaicans. This brings a lot of diversity into the center which is welcomed by all.

Activity 1.2

I dont think anything else is needed. The staff member acknowledged the parent's concern, reassured them that action was taken, and that preventive measures were discussed.  They offered a solution and waited to obtain the parents approval and feedback.  They may have asked if the parents wished to be immediately notified in the future but other than that, i think it was fine.

Activity 1.3

I see Kiddie Haven childcare as a foundation for which children to learn, grow, and develop into loving caring individuals.  We strive to prepare them for elementary school where their social and emotional skills will be enhanced.  We are the most affordable center in our area.  Because of this, I am questioned quite often about whether or not we actually teach. Our focus here at Kiddie Haven is to make certain children are prepared with the basic academic and social skills needed to go to Kindergarten.  We do not have a set curriculum.  The ideas and materials we use have been gathered from learning stores, magazines, workshops, classes, and years of experience.  Kiddie Havens main strength is that we are like family.  We have worked together and built a fellowship that is felt throughout the center.  We welcome all families and potential families the same. My only wish is that we had more space with a better layout. The rooms are awkward and make it challenging to come up with the perfect room arrangement.