From survive to thrive : a director's guide for leading an early childhood program / Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

LeeKeenan, Debbie, author.

Ponte, Iris, author.

Contributor:

James Hosmer Penniman Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Early childhood education--Management.

Early childhood education.

Educational leadership.

Management.

Physical Description:

vii, 167 pages: colour illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Association for the Education of Young Children, [2018]

Summary:

With so many demands and limited time, being an early childhood program leader is more challenging than it's ever been. This guide, grounded in current research and based on the experiences of the authors as well as directors from across the country, blends theory with practical tips you can implement immediately. Each chapter provides the building blocks you need to-Develop effective policies and procedures that work for your program-Manage a healthy budget-Build a strong staff-Forge robust home--school partnerships with children's families-Handle confrontation and conflict-Achieve and maintain full enrollment in your centerPlus, each chapter recommends additional resources you can explore to take your knowledge and professional development to the next level. Use the guidance and strategies contained in this book to go from surviving in your role as director to thriving in it.

Contents:

Chapter 1 What Does It Mean to Be a Director? p. 1

The Director as Both Manager and Leader p. 2

Know Yourself p. 4

Recognizing Your Personal Attributes p. 4

Identifying Your Leadership Traits p. 5

Practice Facilitates Leadership p. 5

Treat Teachers the Same Way You Expect Teachers to Treat Children p. 6

Give Yourself the Permission to Lead p. 8

Recognize What You Really Have Control Over p. 10

Chapter 2 Program Context and Culture p. 13

Reading and Understanding the Context of Your Program p. 14

Gather Information p. 14

Analyze the Information p. 15

Set Program Goals and Develop an Action Plan p. 16

Creating and Cultivating the Culture of Your Program p. 18

Strong Relationships p. 18

Meaningful and Effective Communication p. 20

A Welcoming Environment p. 20

Risk Taking, Reflection, and Growth p. 22

Chapter 3 Achieving and Maintaining Program Quality p. 27

Developing Policies and Procedures p. 28

Vision and Mission Statements p. 28

Organizational Chart p. 31

Safety Procedures p. 33

Identifying and Reporting Suspected Child Neglect and Abuse p. 34

Guidance and Discipline p. 35

Licensing Basics p. 40

Physical Space p. 40

Staff Education and Training Requirements p. 41

The Licensing Process p. 42

Accreditation p. 43

Quality Rating Improvement Systems p. 46

The Flow of the Year: A Director's Big-Picture To-Do List p. 46

Chapter 4 Budget and Finances p. 51

Basic Budgeting Concepts p. 52

Identifying Revenue and Expenses p. 52

Developing Financial Policies and Procedures p. 54

Selecting a Financial Management System p. 54

Tips and Strategies for Preparing an Effective Budget p. 56

Be Transparent and Assume Accountability p. 56

Allow for Autonomy p. 56

Be Strategic p. 56

Be Flexible p. 58

Help! What Do I Do When My Budget Isn't Working? p. 58

Step 1 Find Out What's Wrong p. 59

Step 2 Reduce Your Expenses p. 59

Step 3 Speed the Inflow of Revenue p. 59

Step 4 Explore New Income Sources p. 60

Keys to Successful Fundraising p. 61

Chapter 5 Program Curriculum p. 65

How Do You Decide the Best Curriculum Approach or Model for Your Program? p. 66

Curriculum Approaches p. 69

Packaged Curricula p. 70

Play-Based Learning p. 71

Emergent Curriculum p. 72

Project-Based Learning p. 73

Integrating Best Practices and Early Learning Standards p. 75

Supporting Your Teachers in Implementing Curriculum p. 76

When the Curriculum in Your Program Is Not Working p. 77

How Do Teachers Document Their Implementation of the Curriculum? p. 78

Ongoing Maintenance of a High-Quality Curriculum p. 79

Chapter 6 Observation, Assessment, and Documentation p. 81

Observation and Assessment p. 82

Program Assessment p. 82

How Am I Doing? Evaluating the Director p. 85

Assessing What Children Are Learning p. 86

What Is Documentation? p. 89

Moving Toward a Culture of Documentation p. 91

Practical Tips for Facilitating Documentation p. 92

Chapter 7 Staffing p. 95

Staffing Models and Scheduling p. 96

Hiring Great Teachers p. 97

Consider the Qualifications and Qualities You Need and Want p. 97

Advertising for Applicants p. 98

Interviewing Candidates p. 98

Retaining Great Teachers p. 101

Communicating with Staff p. 102

Teacher Observation and Evaluation p. 104

Supervising Teachers p. 106

Staff Meetings p. 110

Supporting Your Staff's Professional Development p. 112

Goal Setting to Empower Teachers p. 112

Ideas for Effective Professional Development p. 114

Managing Confrontations, Conflicts, and Challenges with Staff Members p. 116

Staff Dismissals: Having to Let Someone Go p. 118

Chapter 8 Working with Families p. 121

The Family's Role in Children's Learning and Development p. 123

The Director's Role in the Home-School Partnership p. 124

The Teacher's Role in the Home-School Partnership p. 124

Funds of Knowledge Approach p. 126

Welcoming Families to Your Program p. 126

Communicating with Families About the Program p. 127

Communicating with Families About Individual Learners p. 129

Using Technology to Communicate with Families p. 130

Family Engagement p. 132

Family Goals Sheet p. 132

Home Visits and Visits Outside of the Center p. 133

Family Meetings and Conferences p. 135

Building Community Through Family Events p. 136

Managing Confrontations, Conflicts, and Challenges with Families p. 138

Conflict Between Program Staff and Families p. 139

Conflict Between Family Members in the Context of the Program p. 140

Chapter 9 Center Enrollment p. 143

Marketing, Advertising, and Recruiting p. 144

Market Research p. 144

Be Clear About Your Program's Mission, Philosophy, and Services p. 146

Marketing Tools and Avenues p. 147

Application and Admissions Process p. 152

Application Materials p. 152

Family Interviews p. 154

Admissions and Selection p. 154

Notification of Acceptance and Intake Forms p. 155.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the James Hosmer Penniman Book Fund.

ISBN:

1938113365

9781938113369

OCLC:

1037058978

Publisher Number:

99978316387