Solutions for Early Childhood Directors : Real Answers to Everyday Challenges

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780876592298
• ISBN10: 0876592299
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-09-01
• Publisher: Gryphon House

Summary

Solutions for Early Childhood Directors provides real-world answers for directors who work in the challenging and rewarding field of early childhood education. Kathy Lee's -extensive experience as a director and trainer -offers practical solutions to problems that arise every day for directors. She -addresses key issues, such as training staff, handling discipline, dealing with parents, and creating partnerships in the community. For anyone who is a director or wishes to someday become a director, this book is the -ultimate "can't-do-without-it" survival kit. As a former director and teacher, Kathy Lee now facilitates training of early childhood teachers, directors, administrators, and parents worldwide.

Author Biography

Kathy Lee, has been dedicated to the well-being of and quality care for young children for over 20 years. As a former director and teacher, Kathy has extensive experience in non-profit, for-profit, and corporate early childhood programs. Kathy has three children and lives in Suwanee, Georgia

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 7
Challenges Related to Staff	p. 9
How to Advertise for and Recruit Staff	p. 9
How to Interview and Hire Staff	p. 11
How to Conduct Staff Orientation	p. 13
How to Use 15 Minutes Effectively	p. 15
How to Train Staff	p. 17
How to Develop a Mentoring System	p. 18
What to Do When Staff Are Promoted From Peer to Boss	p. 21
How to Communicate Effectively	p. 23
How to Use Staff Memos Effectively	p. 25
How to Conduct Effective Staff Meetings	p. 27
How to Design Effective Staff Retreats	p. 29
How to Handle Sensitive Subjects	p. 32
What to Do When Staff Do Not Get Along	p. 34
How to Use Staff Questionnaires	p. 35
How to Conduct Effective Staff Evaluations	p. 37
How to Handle Gossip	p. 38
How to Address Burnout	p. 40
How to Notice the Good Things and Express Your Gratitude	p. 42
How to Create a Community by Making Memories With the Staff	p. 43
Challenges Related to Children	p. 47
How to Help Teachers Understand the Difference Between a Child-Centered and Teacher-Directed Curriculum	p. 47
How to Learn Children's Names	p. 51
Why Greeting Children Is Important	p. 53
How to Determine The Director's Role in the Classroom	p. 55
How to Handle Discipline	p. 56
How to Handle Special-Needs Children	p. 59
How to Handle Children on Special Diets	p. 61
What to Do When Children Are Sick	p. 63
How to Handle Children With Allergies	p. 65
What to Do About Dispensing Medicine	p. 67
What to Do When Accidents Occur	p. 69
How to Handle Divorce, Adoption, and Other Challenging Life Events	p. 71
What to Do When a Child Dies	p. 74
How to Create and Manage Classroom Memories	p. 77
Challenges Related to Parents	p. 81
How to Give Prospective Parents Tours of the Center	p. 81
How to Handle Offering References to Parents	p. 83
How to Handle Enrollment	p. 84
How to Conduct Parent Orientation	p. 86
How to Help Parents Get to Know Staff	p. 88
How to Encourage Parent Involvement	p. 90
How to Create a Sense of Community	p. 92
How to Deal With the Overwhelmed Parent	p. 94
How to Provide Resources for Parents	p. 95
How to Accommodate (or Not) Special Requests From Parents	p. 97
How to Conduct Effective Parent Conferences	p. 99
What to Do When Parents Get Angry	p. 101
How to Handle Late Pick-Ups	p. 103
How to Handle Late Drop-Offs	p. 105
How to Deal With the Academically Minded Parent	p. 106
How to Create Memories for Parents	p. 109
Challenges Related to the Details of Directing a Center	p. 111
Why Having a Vision Is Important	p. 111
How to Choose a Business Card, Letterhead, and Other Materials	p. 113
How to Schedule Your Day	p. 114
How to Organize the Paper in Your Life	p. 116
How to Handle Phone Calls	p. 117
How to Create a Website for Your Center	p. 118
Why It's Important to Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses	p. 120
How to Network	p. 121
How to Conduct Center Evaluations	p. 123
Why Budgeting and Other Money-Saving Tips Are Important	p. 124
How to Conduct Room Observations	p. 126
How to Create an Inviting Office Space	p. 127
How to Have an Effective Board of Directors	p. 129
How to Address Director Burnout	p. 130
How to Create Memories for the Director	p. 132
Challenges Related to the Center	p. 135
How to Create Inviting Smells	p. 135
How to Help Teachers Learn to Share Materials and Resources	p. 137
How to Help Teachers Share Space	p. 138
The Importance of Room Arrangement	p. 140
How to Keep the Center Clean	p. 142
How to Create Inviting Spaces	p. 143
How to Handle the End-of-the Day "Hungries"	p. 144
Why Proper Signage Is Important	p. 145
Why the Outdoor Environment Is Important	p. 146
How to Handle Security Issues	p. 148
How to Create Memories for the Center	p. 149
Challenges Related to the Community	p. 151
How to Get to Know Your Community	p. 151
How to Connect With the Community	p. 152
How to Bring the Community to Your Program	p. 154
How to Start a Support Group	p. 156
How to Include the Community	p. 157
How to Work With Other Programs	p. 159
How to Create Memories for the Community and the Children	p. 160
The Preschool Director	p. 163
Appendix	p. 169
Sample List of Nitty Gritty Stuff	p. 170
Sample Scavenger Hunt	p. 171
Sample Staff Questionnaire	p. 172
Sample Professional Development Training Plan	p. 173
Professional Development Survey	p. 174
Sample Mentor Job Qualifications	p. 175
Sample Mentor Teacher Application	p. 176
Sample Staff Meeting Schedule	p. 177
Sample Yearly Staff Questionnaire	p. 178
Sample Yearly Staff Evaluation	p. 179
Sample Yearly Parent Survey	p. 183
Sample Developmental Checklists: Infant, Toddler, and Preschool	p. 184
Sample Special Needs Policy	p. 189
Sample Sick Policy	p. 190
Essential Books for Parent Library	p. 191
Sample Policy Concerning Dispensing Medicine	p. 192
Medicine Authorization Form	p. 193
Accident/Injury Report	p. 194
Every Family Is Different (resource list about divorce)	p. 195
Sample Visitor Card	p. 196
Components of a Parent Handbook	p. 197
Sample Philosophy Regarding Early Childhood Education	p. 198
Sample Ice Breakers for Parents and Staff	p. 199
Sample Parent Involvement Survey	p. 201
Sample Community Survey	p. 202
Sample Child Development Handout for Parents' Night Out	p. 203
Sample Daily Schedule	p. 204
Sample "To Go" Snack Survey	p. 205
Sample Field Trip Checklist	p. 206
Sample Snack Guidelines	p. 207
Bibliography	p. 209
Index	p. 219
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