journal #5

Monthly Theme           Rain forest animals
Monthly readiness  skill:   will have each teacher discuss for each classroom
Curriculum: hands on learning, outside play, theme based books, internet learning about the monthly and weekly theme.
Lesson plans & coming attractions: lesson plans must be turned in 2 weeks ahead of time to either me or assistant director to be looked over and approved. Gymboree coming as visitors every friday for this month.
Teacher lesson planning time: if you feel you need lesson planning time get with me or assistant so we can schedule a time out for you.
New co-workers: take time to address and introduce any new co workers who just started within the month.
state: go over some policies and rules that have been noticed that we need to go over.
requested time off: time off requests email me 2 weeks ahead of time to be approved.
Questions: allow everyone to ask any questions or concerns answer as a group.



                 I believe staff meetings are important because it is away for all emplyees to get to know one another. When you are centered to a particular room you may not know or recognize knew faces. Also meetings can be used as a tool for training or to go over problems that are seen. Its also a way for teachers to voice concerns, complaints, questions they may have about lesson plans or drop off and pick up. The monthly and weekly themes need to be brought up so teachers and assistants can plan for the month. If anything special or if dhs came that needs to be brought up so it can be discussed as a group. Communication is key when dealing with people and this is an effective way to communicate and get to know youre staff.

journal #4

 When someone does not use my name, gives me the cold shoulder, doesn't make eye contact and only greets me with complaints. First impression is that they are angry with you about something. I would feel like i did something wrong. To me when someone just starts talking to you without saying you're name or even a good morning or good afternoon, that immediately lets me know they are mad and they have a quick need to be heard. Means that something has been on their mind for a long time and they wanna share it. My first instinct would possibly get angry at the way they are approaching me. Another feeling would be defense, obviously anyone would try to go on the defensive side if they felt like they were being attacked. When someone gives me the cold shoulder it makes me feel like they are so angry with me that they don't even wanna be bothered with me. obviously i would feel horrible and try to make it right, but i also feel the silent treatment is usually a calm before the storm. It will eventually lead up to something bigger. When a person doesn't make eye contact and only is complaining i would of course again feel bad and try to fix the situation. i think when dealing with a complaint the best thing to do is listen first and then react. Even though i would be feeling like i wanna cut the person off to defend myself or my staff.

journal #3

pg 18 scenario.  I would let the family know of the policy again. Let them know that although they have talked to the teacher about children having allergies in this classroom that there is always a chance a child can have an allergy to peanuts and the parents not know or forgot to inform us. For that reason and the protection of the children we cannot have any peanuts or anything with peanuts in the school. Then proceed to maybe make other suggestions of the kind of cookies that would be more appriate.

pg 19 scenario  Well personally with my experiences with staffing in nursing homes and daycares, i would not make the excepetion for this staff member. If this is the way the schedule rotates then everyone should go by it. If you make this exception for this staff memeber then it possibly means that another staff member wont get to be rotated to that shift which is not fair even though she has a family issue. I would only be open to switching with another employee if both came and talked to me and signed a form stating they are switching for that particular friday. If this happens also need to let the other employee know they are responsible for the shift they traded for. I think this is the best way to be fair for everyone.

pg22 scenario I know i would be angry with this teacher but confronting her loudly in front of children and possibly parents and other teachers is inappriate. First i would wait until its just me and  her then i would let her know that i noticed she put up the same lesson plan i showed her. Then i would tell her that if she is having trouble writing her own lesson plans i would gladly help her out in the following weeks. if this was a continual problem i would eventually go to the director or the assistant director.

pg23 scenario Lets see firstly i would let the father know how sorry i was and although this doesnt make the situation better he has every right to be angry and upset. Also assure him that you try youre best to keep an eye on all the children and if the child would have cried or let me know what happend you would have taken the proper first aid steps and filled out an incident report. He has every right to go to the director with this and assure him you will do a better job in keeping an eye on the other children including his daughter. Also let the daughter know in the fathers presence that if anyone hurts her in the classroom to let me know immediately.

journal #2

pg 2. people that i will interact with the most are 1) current students and families 2)staff 3)future students and families 4)neighbors 5) vendors

pg 4 i feel like this director handled the situation appropriately and i wouldn't have added anything to this communication.

pg 9 #1 i visualize my business/daycare as being consistent, having low turnover with staff and being known for communicating with families and staff.

       #2 I personally wouldn't consider my daycare to be a high dollar daycare i prefer to work with low income and those that take dhs. I feel like if you have higher rates and are private pay then you need to  have a really good curriculum, happy staff and good food.

      #3 I would be an academically oriented center. each lesson plan should be made to tailor fit the needs of the age group of children.

     #4 Making sure information is displayed and told to teachers in school. Be upfront about your curriculum for the school and don't say anything you cant back up. We need to be a place where teachers use all types of learning for the variety of different children. Learning should be fun and informative for the kids.

    #5 the strengths of my center would be low turnover for the staff. i really think that is so important if you can have consistency with your staff then i families believe i am doing my job. Families are more comfortable with familiar faces. I believe communication is an important strength to my center. Letting parents know ahead of time about transitions, new teachers, new directors. If a child gets bit or gets hit or hurt at school i believe family should be notified immediately.

    #6 i think all centers can improve by staying informed and up to date about all the dhs rules and regulations. they change often so that is a weakness. You have to stay on point about ratios in your daycare to me the most important. obviously I'm not perfect so myself can always improve by taking more classes and upping my degree and update classes and such.

               My name is Geneva Smith I currently work at walmart as an overnight stocker. I previously worked at The Goddard School in edmond for about 7 months. This was my first childcare paying job and this is the place i found out that I would like to make child care a career. I also volunteered in the kids nursery at my church every sunday for about 3 yrs. This is the place I wanted to switch the industry I was currently in and pursue my love for children. I have 3 kids that are 6,4 and 2. Education is important to me because it sets the foundation for who you are and opens up many possibilities to the future. I am deciding to pursue my education because I need to be able to provide a living for my family and be able to love what I'm doing. I believe if you make school important at an early age it will become second nature as the child grows. Have a great week.