1. What are your strengths that are most helpful to staff (teachers)?
The strengths that I have that are most helpful to staff (teachers) are helping them to calm down, helping them see their own good qualities, helping them to put their ideas into action, and helping them motivate their students.
You may ask how is it that I have the ability to help the teachers clam down when they are upset and out of control. Well, because I have learned how to “step aside” when I have felt myself getting upset and this is when things get out of control. By my own trial and error I have become a master of being clam and can pass this on to them.
Many teachers can not see their own good qualities because sure enough we are our own worst critic. Because I am on the outside looking in I can give them encouragement and support to help them bring out their good qualities that I see in them.
Some teachers have terrific ideas but are not sure how to get them up and running so as I listen to their ideas I give them advice on how to put their ideas into action because I know that by implementing their ideas into our program it makes our entire educational team run smoother.
Finally, I give assistance in helping with the motivation of their students. This is done by letting them bring new ideas to their teaching and the learning style of their individual students.
I ask them to sit back and take notes and observe the way that their students learn; which some learn in different ways. Some are hands on and some are visual learners and with this information they have the necessary keys to motivate their students to wan to learn.
By using my supervision skills in the areas stated above I have “invited and required conscientious, creative, and dedicated performance” from my teachers. (Bruno, 2009)
2. What additional skills would you like to gain?
The additional skills that I would like to gain are to incorporate more staff professional development for my teachers because it is required for my program to stay accredited per the NAEYC of 2006.
I would also like to gain additional skills in the area of dealing with “the unwilling employee, who does not take responsibility for her own actions.” Employees of this caliber tend to blame every other teacher, child or parent for the cause of their problems. (Bruno, 2009)
I would also like to gain additional skills in helping my new teachers who are “at the survival stage” of teaching to gain the tools that they need to succeed and remain in the teaching profession beyond their first three years of teaching.
These first three years are critical for the teacher “at the survival stage”. I have noticed that the new teachers leave the teaching field because of “the demands of the job: parents’ needs, classroom management issues, required documentation, lack of planning time, and children who require one – on – one care.” (Bruno, 2009)
Finally, I would like to gain additional skills in the area of helping my teachers “build partnerships with families” that they serve. So I too will have to attend professional developmental meeting that are geared for directors that have workshops that highlight the topic that I have mentioned above. By taking steps to enhance my supervisory skills I can say with a loud clear voice that “supervision is many things: a vision, commitment, style, system, and a relationship!!” (Bruno, 2009)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Facing Change
There is one personal issue that I really need to address and it has been hanging over my head for two years now. I need to take my GRE Exam so that I can get into Grad – School. I know that I need to take a tutoring class to brush up in my math because it is on the exam and I continue to put it off.
(Stage #3: Guilt)
(Stage #3: Guilt)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Core Values
What are the Core Values I could not live without?
The Core Values I could not live without are: respect, honesty, compassion, and trust. You may ask why I picked these as my Core Values.
Well, let me explain.
My first choice is "Respect." Respect is the first and far most important core value that is needed by the director of a child care program. Therefore, I must give respect to my staff, parents, and children that are in my care. When I give them respect, I will receive respect back form them. When showing respect I will show consideration for their thoughts, feelings, and actions for the betterment of the childcare center.
For example, if the staff members feel that parents should be involved in the decision making of a field trip to the art museum or science center, then I would think this over before making the decision all on my own.
My second choice is "Honesty." There must be honesty within the childcare setting. I being the director must be honest with my staff and not go into hiding when a problem arises. If the director does not have all of the answers it is quite okay to say that I do not know.
The parents will appreciate my honesty also because if they need some type of resource help and I do not know right off hand but inform the parent that I will get the answer and get back with them with the correct information. The parent can handle that much better than a lie. The director or should I say “I do not want the parents to shine the “light of the lie” on me because once it is turned on it is very hard to turn it off.”
My third choice was "Compassion." Being a director I need to have compassion for my staff, parents, and children at the center. I say this because unforeseen circumstances can hit us all at anytime. My having compassion would mean that I would show sympathy, empathy, concern, and kindness to my staff members parents, and the children in my care. Having compassion I would not be a director that is hard to deal with.
My fourth choice is "Trust." As a director I must have trust. When I have this trust with my staff I can be at a meeting with fellow directors and know that the center is running smoothly. I must have trust in the parents that they will come to parent meetings and participate in the events that take place at the center because without them and their children I would not have a center at all.
When I reflect back on these touchstones of respect, honesty, compassion, and trust as (Bruno, 2009) states that “touchstones keep us grounded.” How true this statement is. When I place these touchstones or Core Values before me as if they are on a table I have to remember to use these Core Values each and everyday so that my childcare center can run smoothly.
Finally, when I work along with these Core Values they “remind me of my purpose, vision, and mission.” When I continue to place integrity in the mix with these core values it helps me and my entire team to “align our decisions with our core values” at the childcare center. Bruno, H. E. (2009). Leading On Purpose: Emotionally Intelligent Early Childhood Administration. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
The Core Values I could not live without are: respect, honesty, compassion, and trust. You may ask why I picked these as my Core Values.
Well, let me explain.
My first choice is "Respect." Respect is the first and far most important core value that is needed by the director of a child care program. Therefore, I must give respect to my staff, parents, and children that are in my care. When I give them respect, I will receive respect back form them. When showing respect I will show consideration for their thoughts, feelings, and actions for the betterment of the childcare center.
For example, if the staff members feel that parents should be involved in the decision making of a field trip to the art museum or science center, then I would think this over before making the decision all on my own.
My second choice is "Honesty." There must be honesty within the childcare setting. I being the director must be honest with my staff and not go into hiding when a problem arises. If the director does not have all of the answers it is quite okay to say that I do not know.
The parents will appreciate my honesty also because if they need some type of resource help and I do not know right off hand but inform the parent that I will get the answer and get back with them with the correct information. The parent can handle that much better than a lie. The director or should I say “I do not want the parents to shine the “light of the lie” on me because once it is turned on it is very hard to turn it off.”
My third choice was "Compassion." Being a director I need to have compassion for my staff, parents, and children at the center. I say this because unforeseen circumstances can hit us all at anytime. My having compassion would mean that I would show sympathy, empathy, concern, and kindness to my staff members parents, and the children in my care. Having compassion I would not be a director that is hard to deal with.
My fourth choice is "Trust." As a director I must have trust. When I have this trust with my staff I can be at a meeting with fellow directors and know that the center is running smoothly. I must have trust in the parents that they will come to parent meetings and participate in the events that take place at the center because without them and their children I would not have a center at all.
When I reflect back on these touchstones of respect, honesty, compassion, and trust as (Bruno, 2009) states that “touchstones keep us grounded.” How true this statement is. When I place these touchstones or Core Values before me as if they are on a table I have to remember to use these Core Values each and everyday so that my childcare center can run smoothly.
Finally, when I work along with these Core Values they “remind me of my purpose, vision, and mission.” When I continue to place integrity in the mix with these core values it helps me and my entire team to “align our decisions with our core values” at the childcare center. Bruno, H. E. (2009). Leading On Purpose: Emotionally Intelligent Early Childhood Administration. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Caring for Ourselves
Joy Defind – “1 a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight b : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety
2 : a state of happiness or felicity : bliss
3 : a source or cause of delight”
joy. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved February 26, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joy
Three of the things that bring me joy in my life are seeing or hearing my husband come through the door from a long day at work, hearing my grandchildren laugh as they are running and playing, and the close relationship that I have with my heavenly father; my spirituality. Now let me give you the reasons why these three things bring me joy.
The first thing on my list is when I hear or see my husband coming through the door it makes my heart rejoice and skip a beat. I also feel a calmness come over me because I know that he is safe and he made it back home to me. There are so many family members today leave their homes in the morning and never return that afternoon. Some may not return due to some form of fatal accident, illness or they may not want to be in their family relationship anymore. So you see I am grateful each and everyday that this occurs.
My second joyful experience is when I hear my grand children running, playing, and laughing loud. When I hear and see them running through the house or in the yard it makes me fill up with jubilation because they are doing exactly what children are suppose to do; have fun while they are playing. I also know that while they are at “Naw-Nee’s” house they are going to get well, play well, and be loved well.
Finally third, my relationship with my heavenly father brings me joy beyond compare. For me to know that he gives me help and assistance to deal with all of life’s ups and downs on a daily basis is a cause for exultation. Because even on my worse day I can go to him in prayer and through his word the bible he gives me the guidance and assistance that I need. I feel this joy because I have the freedom to go to him and offer up my prayers and know that they are being heard. I give all praise and honor to him through the name of his son Jesus Christ.
These are just a few of my joys in life and as I continue to live I am sure that I will have many more things to add to my “Joy List.”
2 : a state of happiness or felicity : bliss
3 : a source or cause of delight”
joy. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved February 26, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joy
Three of the things that bring me joy in my life are seeing or hearing my husband come through the door from a long day at work, hearing my grandchildren laugh as they are running and playing, and the close relationship that I have with my heavenly father; my spirituality. Now let me give you the reasons why these three things bring me joy.
The first thing on my list is when I hear or see my husband coming through the door it makes my heart rejoice and skip a beat. I also feel a calmness come over me because I know that he is safe and he made it back home to me. There are so many family members today leave their homes in the morning and never return that afternoon. Some may not return due to some form of fatal accident, illness or they may not want to be in their family relationship anymore. So you see I am grateful each and everyday that this occurs.
My second joyful experience is when I hear my grand children running, playing, and laughing loud. When I hear and see them running through the house or in the yard it makes me fill up with jubilation because they are doing exactly what children are suppose to do; have fun while they are playing. I also know that while they are at “Naw-Nee’s” house they are going to get well, play well, and be loved well.
Finally third, my relationship with my heavenly father brings me joy beyond compare. For me to know that he gives me help and assistance to deal with all of life’s ups and downs on a daily basis is a cause for exultation. Because even on my worse day I can go to him in prayer and through his word the bible he gives me the guidance and assistance that I need. I feel this joy because I have the freedom to go to him and offer up my prayers and know that they are being heard. I give all praise and honor to him through the name of his son Jesus Christ.
These are just a few of my joys in life and as I continue to live I am sure that I will have many more things to add to my “Joy List.”
Thursday, February 18, 2010
What is an example of a combination feeling you have experienced?
An example of a combination feeling that I have experienced happened on the day of my college graduation. I was very excited and happy that this day had finally arrived I completed my requirements and it felt great.
My graduating class and I have made it to our seats after the procession and the loud music still playing in the background. Before I take my seat I look into the stands and see my family waving and yelling. I even hear my middle sister screaming my name. I see the big smile on my husband's face… saying “we made it.”
I began to feel sad and hurt on the inside along with my happiness. “Why am I feeling this way on my special day?” I try to shake off this sad and hurt feeling but it hits me again this time real hard. I felt the tears build up in my eyes. I search the stands once again. This time looking through blurry vision filled with tears. Someone is missing. My personal cheer leader is missing. Where can he be? Why is he not here?
I’m talking about my dad. He is not there. The man who said “You can achieve anything; just dream!” He has always been there for me at all of my school achievements from childhood on and it seems so strange that he is not in the stands. I can’t find him anywhere.
I asked myself; “why are you feeling this way?” Then I tell myself; “he could not be in the stands cheering for you because passed away six months ago before your graduation.”
As I was sitting there two options came into my head get up and run out or calm down and get my feelings in check. It took me about ten minutes to pull myself together and I did a good job at it. The graduation was a success and all went well. I still missed my dad but through it all I made it.
I had to "listen to and acknowledge my feelings, accept that my feelings were offering me some useful data," and finally I had to "identify my options." Bruno, H.E. (2008). Leading On Purpose: Emotionally Intelligent Early Childhood Administration. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
My graduating class and I have made it to our seats after the procession and the loud music still playing in the background. Before I take my seat I look into the stands and see my family waving and yelling. I even hear my middle sister screaming my name. I see the big smile on my husband's face… saying “we made it.”
I began to feel sad and hurt on the inside along with my happiness. “Why am I feeling this way on my special day?” I try to shake off this sad and hurt feeling but it hits me again this time real hard. I felt the tears build up in my eyes. I search the stands once again. This time looking through blurry vision filled with tears. Someone is missing. My personal cheer leader is missing. Where can he be? Why is he not here?
I’m talking about my dad. He is not there. The man who said “You can achieve anything; just dream!” He has always been there for me at all of my school achievements from childhood on and it seems so strange that he is not in the stands. I can’t find him anywhere.
I asked myself; “why are you feeling this way?” Then I tell myself; “he could not be in the stands cheering for you because passed away six months ago before your graduation.”
As I was sitting there two options came into my head get up and run out or calm down and get my feelings in check. It took me about ten minutes to pull myself together and I did a good job at it. The graduation was a success and all went well. I still missed my dad but through it all I made it.
I had to "listen to and acknowledge my feelings, accept that my feelings were offering me some useful data," and finally I had to "identify my options." Bruno, H.E. (2008). Leading On Purpose: Emotionally Intelligent Early Childhood Administration. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)