Saturday, September 28, 2013

Journal 6

Pg. 66 in textbook

Discussion questions:

1 & 2. The confidentality code was violated which the mother and Eric in a few ways. First, the director got all of Eric's records without the mothers permission. Also, the teacher was planning to tell all of the parents of the children in the room that Eric was a biter. The teacher also forced Eric's mother to fill out information about Erics father even though it sounds like she left his name off the forms intentionally. The director also basically diagnosed Eric with ADHD before even meeting him, and Erics teacher was also having a conversation about his physical features with another teacher.

3. I do not think the directors should have spoke about Eric's disability prior to enrollment. This resulted in Eric being labeled as a hyper child who has behavior problems. The director of Erics new center already had her mind made up about his before she had ever met him. She also self diagnosed him with ADHD.

4. I believe the new director and Erics mother should have been included in this meeting. His mother could have informed  the director of any disabilities or behavioral issues that Eric may have.

5.  I do not think it is fair to Eric to have a conversation about him with others. That would give the other children in the classroom an opportunity to talk about Eric with out him being there. I think that would be unfair.

6. I think Erics mother could have brought him to his new school and let him visit before dropping him off for an entire day. Also, I think the teacher could have helped him feel more comfortable by letting him have his Elmo doll during resting time. I also think the teacher could have spent some time getting to know Eric and she could have introduced him to the other children and encouraged them to play together.

7. I think the teachers conversation at the restaurant was out of line. I understand a teacher wondering what is going on at home when a child's behavior changes. However, this conversation could have lead his mother to be afraid that the teacher was talking about her son to a group of people. This could have resulted in Erics mother to not trust his teacher.

8. I think if this conversation was in the staff lounge in would have been different. There would not have been any potential parents around to hear the conversation. Also, it could have been more of a discussion about the cocerns of the "biters" home life rather than sounding like a hot topic for the dinner table.

9. I would apoligize to the mother and reassure her that her son would be treated fairly. I would also be sure the teacher remembers confidentaility and understanding when dealing with children. Each child is an individual and is unique in thier own way. I would also let her know she is welcome in my office any time to discuss any concerns she is having.

10. I think the mother should leave the child at that school. I do not love the school based on the scenario but the child seemed so nervous on the first day and if the teacher and director gave him a chance he may surprise them.

11. I feel that Eric deserves a fresh start with a new group of childen. If the teacher remembers we are here to help children grow and learn than I think Eric will be okay.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Journal 5

 
 
Staff Meeting
September 21, 2013
6:00 P.M.
 
  • Fall Carnival
    • Our annual Fall Carnival is Friday October 25th from 7:00-8:30 P.M.
    • Please encourage your families to let their children dress up in their Halloween costumes.
    • Every teacher must sign up to run a booth- please see the list in the office
    • Each classroom will create a themed basket of items to auction off at the carnival. Please choose your theme and post a flyer asking for donations.
    • Please make a list of items you may need for the booth you are running and turn it in to the office 
  • Lesson Plans must be turned in to the office each Friday. This is in order to ensure they are developmentally appropriate and posted on time as well.  
  • Cell phones- please stay off of them. We have a no cell phone policy in the classrooms. This includes resting time.
  • Outside cleanup- please clean up outside after your class has been outside. This includes pushing in chairs, lining up all push toys against the fence, putting all balls back in the crates, and cleaning up all trash. We want to ensure that our facility is clean and safe for families.
  • Please greet each child and parent when entering the classroom in the morning! The children feel more welcome when you greet them, speak to their parent and have a friendly attitude. It makes the drop off process easier for everyone involved.
  •  CPR/ First Aid training- October 15th at 10:00 in the school age room.
    • You must have current CPR/First Aid to be employed here. It is required for all staff.
    • Please see the sign up sheet in the office if you need this certification.
  • Thank you all for everything you do. We appreciate your dedication and hard work each day.

Staff meetings are very important. It is one of the only times you have an opportunity to discuss important issues with the entire staff. It is also a time to do trainings on issues specific to your facility. The staff get to know each other better and see who their co-workers are. Many staff member are only morning staff or only afternoon so it gives them a chance to meet everyone and ask any questions that they may have.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Journal 4

I am an Assistant Director at a childcare center so I communicate with families on a daily basis. I am a very outgoing person. I greet each person as they walk through the door in the morning and I tell them to "have a great evening" before they leave for the day. I have worked at the same center for years so I know all of the families and they all know who I am. Most of the clients at my center are very nice, and they reply when I speak to them, but there have been times when I have had to deal with some clients who are not as friendly.

Many of our parents are in a rush to pick up their children and leave at the end of the day. I understand that, but when someone pretends they do not hear me speaking to them, gives me the cold shoulder, or ignores me, I can become a little irritated. Most of the time it is because they are on their phones so it isn't just me they aren't paying attention to. They are too busy talking on their phone to notice anything going on around them, sadly sometimes this includes their child.

Another reason a parent at the center may not acknowledge me is because tuition is due and they have not paid. In this situation they are in and out of the building so fast is is nearly impossible to catch them. They pretend not to see or hear anyone.

Then the individuals who do not ever speak to you, avoid you at all costs, and act like you don't exist, ask to speak to you in the office. So I think, maybe they want to make a payment or something has been going on in their personal lives that may explain their rude behavior. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. So my patience is once again tested when they have the nerve to complain because breakfast is served too early, or their child has paint on their clothes.

I love my job, I love the families that we serve, and I love the children that we work with. I have had to deal with some individuals who are inconsiderate and unfriendly. In this situation, I always try to make sure I speak with them every opportunity I get. I know it doesn't feel good to be ignored or for someone to give you the cold shoulder so I make a point to communicate with all of my clients to be sure we are meeting all of their needs to the best of our abilities. Even if they make us crazy sometimes! :)

Monday, September 2, 2013

Journal 3

Pg. 18

This situation happens too often in childcare. Families tend to get very excited about birthdays. In this scenario, I would speak with the family about bringing a different type of treat with out peanuts for the party. Although there is not a child in the classroom with a peanut allergy, some children are very sensitive to nuts and it is just a precaution. All nut products are banned from the center due to allergies. I would explain that I am very sorry or the inconvenience and explain that it is a policy for the entire center not just for one classroom.

Pg. 19

In this situation, I would probably not allow the staff member any extra early Fridays off unless she switched Fridays with a co-worker. It would set precedence with other staff members and they would expect to get off early as well. Once you make an exception for one person everyone expects it.

Pg. 22

I would mention that I was planning to use those ideas for the bulletin board and if he/she wanted to work together to for ideas for a lesson then we could do that instead of taking ideas that I had worked so hard on.

Pg. 23

I would ask the child in front of her father what happened. I would also reassure the father that I keep a very close eye on the children at all times and that she did not cry or mention the incident. I would tell them that each incident is documented and reported to the families and the office. I would apologize and speak with the child about communicating when she gets hurt by another child in classroom.