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Childcare Chatboard

Cleaning Schedule

by cml

Jan 31, 2009

We are a small childcare facility in a church. One of the church members cleans our facility. She wants to increase her hours. We aren't sure she's giving us the original amount of hours (she comes in when we are closed). The church council is looking for some input. Does anyone have a very specific schedule of when to clean what. She is primarily ...See More

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Schari Cleaning toilet and floors, changing paper daily as needed, vacuuming and mopping are all things that are done daily in my home childcare.

It sounds like you have a bigger problem than giving her more hours if she is not doing an adequate job with cleaning. Perhaps its time for an evaluation to see how she is currently performing the task...See More

Feb 1, 2009

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Terri in CA Here is the sched our janitor goes by.

DETAILS OF CLEANING SCHEDULE: Daily: Procedure for cleaning each room 1-Red 2-yellow 3-blue 4-lobby 1. All chairs on tables 2. Vacuum each room 3. Clean chairs- place back on floor 4. Clean tables Bathrooms: 1. Wipe down masonite walls, and coving. 2. Toilets Clean tank top & handles. 3. Floors Mo...See More

Feb 2, 2009

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WHICH GRADE LEVEL IS BEST TO START WORKING WITH?

by JAMES NAVARRO

Feb 1, 2009

IM NEW AND HAVENT WORKED WITH KIDS YET AND I WONDER WHAT GRADE IS BEST TO START WITH AS FAR TRYING TO SEE IF I CAN MAKE IT IN THE REAL WORLD.

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Schari What experience do you have? Do you have a degree? What age class are jobs available in?

Maybe you should ask teachers if you can observe in their room for an hour or two. After seeing several different ages, you might have a better idea?

On 2/01/09, JAMES NAVARRO wrote: > IM NEW AND HAVENT WORKED WITH KIDS YET AND I WONDER WHA...See More

Feb 1, 2009

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Oh I love them, but...

by Love my little ones

Feb 7, 2009

Okay I love the little ones I have in my room, but they have lately been very clingy. And I know why. Our room is split in half. The younger toddlers at the front and the older ones in back (my side). About a month ago, the teacher in the front half of the room left for another job. Since then there hasn't been the same person in the front part of ...See More

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Schari How sad for those little ones to be feeling "lost" with a different teacher everyday. Hopefully you'll have a permanent person in there soon. I'm glad you love your job so much! What a blessing.

On 2/07/09, Love my little ones wrote: > Okay I love the little ones I have in my room, but they have > lately been very clingy. And I know ...See More

Feb 8, 2009

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Leah They certainly need you, and you are wise to understand their clinging. Yes, we do understand and sympathize. Hopefully you will have a teacher in the other area soon!

Feb 8, 2009

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teacher and teacher assist rolls

by M Peckham

Feb 15, 2009

2/15/09

I have been a toddler teacher for ages(19ms-30ms)for going on 6 yrs.

Always a turnover of assistants. They stay one to two years-assist. go away to school, get jobs making more money, or pregnant.I have had a lot of behavioral, anxiety, moody diabetics, mean, etc. helpers come to help who don't stay long.

How does...See More

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questions.... After reading your post, I wondered if you had an assistant that is consistent, and always there throughout the day, or do you have people coming and going? That would make the difference in how much of a permanent role you should allow them to take.

I love the toddler age, and have worked with the little ones for the last 16 years. I'd b...See MoreAfter reading your post, I wondered if you had an assistant that is consistent, and always there throughout the day, or do you have people coming and going? That would make the difference in how much of a permanent role you should allow them to take.

I love the toddler age, and have worked with the little ones for the last 16 years. I'd be happy to help in any way I can, but some of the responses provided below may not be what you are looking for...

I answered some of your post in-line, below....

> Always a turnover of assistants. They stay one to two > years-assist. go away to school, get jobs making more > money, or pregnant.I have had a lot of behavioral, anxiety, > moody diabetics, mean, etc. helpers come to help who don't > stay long.

If the assistant is permanent and always with you, they need to WANT to work with toddlers. This is such a different age, and if you don't want to work with this age, people won't last long.

> How does one work as a team with an assist.? I was taught > the teacher takes the lead, and the teacher should lead > the class in circle time. I guess lead in general. I try > including the assist.by having her read the story book at > circle time. I ask for assist. input when I'm instructing > during circle time which could be as little as ten min.of > teaching to 30 min depending on attention of toddlers. I > always welcome ideas from assist. for projects, holidays, > etc., or to add to project we are doing. > Also, if these assistants are working with you for one to two years, and you don't allow them - even challenge them - to grow and accept more responsibility, the work becomes one of monotony and no personal growth. Again, why would they choose to stay in a dead-end job? It is our job as lead teachers to prepare new teachers to take over and/or to challenge themselves, just as we should constantly be growing and learning ourselves.

> I don't see where I should let assist. lead the circle time > curric. and myself assist. Am I looking at this > incorrectly. The teacher before me, taught the class for 11 > years, and she instructed me how to run the class. Checking > with other highly recommended centers, I was instructed > correctly. I also have taken many many child resource > classes to be the best I can be. However, I always have > someone complaining.

Although they may be complaining, there may also be some validity to what they are saying. Have you really sat and listened to what is being said? Perhaps the message behind the complaints is more subtle...are they asking for more responsibility and input in areas where it could/should be allowed? > > Anytime someone suggests something, I'm asked to make a > change. I have had low stress in organization and > management of room, and one that was fun for kids. Nothing > but positive feed back from parents. Kids love me. However, > there seem to be a lot of trouble makers and jealous people > who work at center.

This can be a difficult one....and what I'm suggesting is that you really look at yourself, your philosophy, your program, etc. Are you 'stuck' in your ways and don't want change? Is your director someone who simply wants to avoid confrontation, or are they asking you to extend out of your comfort zone? Have they given you any reasoning as to why they want the changes, or are they trying to please everyone without making waves?

If I can help or offer assistance, please email me. > > I would like to hear my boss tell others that I am a > successful teacher in the way I run my room, but it is > always changing things for the worse.Most really don't want > to work, just gossip. They don't want to clean up after > kids. We teach them to clean up, but they can only do so > much. Teachers complain they are tired. When asked why, > they say was up late watching tv. etc. > > > Most of my work and monthly curric. planning is done at > home,for there is no time before we start circle time. I > start work at 7am and immediately sent to infant/waddler > room until 8am. 8 A.M. I transition my toddler class to our > toddler rm which we go through our play area before > entering our main room. After their vroom down the slide we > enter our room and other parents drop off their kids which > leads right into diaper time at 8:30. 9 A.M. is snack,then > our circle time. I don't even have time to get my daily > papers for circ. time out until last minute which is > hectic. > > Talking to my assist. other than hello and letting her know > important things about kids morning drop off is about it. > Assist. comes in at 8:45 has to mark lunch items to be > ready to bring kids over to lunchrm at 9:00 while I'm > finishing diapers and greeting parents and calming kids > that miss their parents.Before it worked better. Parents > put bags in refrig and while kids were seated and eatig un > lunchrm, we were able to label everything. The fifteen min > assist was there before 9:00 brkfst was spent helping clean > up and tending to parents and kids with me. I need myself > and assist at hectic drop off for our attention on the kids > not marking for lunch. Changes for the worst. > > I don't get any free time to do much of anything unless I > use my lunch time. This is toddler age where they can't > really do much for themselves. We are teaching them to > learn, so I prepare most at home. That way I just have to > grab it out of my travel bags. All prep is done and ready > to go. People fail to remember that toddlers 19-30 don't > wait long, and that is besides a span diff. in age. My > assist. has freedom to go in any of my work bags and read > any curriculum papers, or use any of my childcare > belongings when she wants to. > > One more issue. My boss wants to put push toys in the room > along with ovens for play on a full 8hour 5 day basis which > is stressful,for it is a distraction for my age group when > I need to teach, get ready to put mats down, and especially > when diapering when in room by myself, or when I need to > use certain areas of room at certain times, like reading > circle etc. The toddlers climb on them, sit, stand, jump, > and knock over them if and when I can't get to them fast > enough. I'm trying to tell my director that it is stressful > for we need all our attention on the children-biters, hair > pullers, sick, cranky, etc. That this is the terrible two > ago. She says we need to teach them. I let her know we are > busy putting the time in with the kids, if all the other > apparatus is in the room, all we are doing in redirecting > them. We get new 19-20mos olds all the time,and have to > keep teaching them over and over again. For four years all > I needed to be concerned with is our shelf toys-which is a > lot, and all concentrated in on area, so rest of room was > for play, circle time-table and chairs, reading circle > exercise, diapering etc. When we useto have our dish-oven- > sink time, we pushed it in the room, then took it out to > change over to next activity---no worry about kids > climbling, standing, jumping and falling on their face, > knocking anything over which means stopping story being > read to keep redirecting over and over and over again. > Taking away from quality time with my toddlers. > > I know how to run my class to make the kids happy, and cut > my stress down, but boss keeps putting obstacles in my way > which is nothing but stress. I feel disrespected. > > Her reasoning for added toys in room----to prepare them for > the next class so they don't take all toys out at one time. > She is even giving this story to the waddler room-walkers > to 19ms. My remark to boss: The next class teacher has to > teach her class the rules of their room,and that every age > group and class is different. My kids don't take all toys > out at one time, we have a change over of play items every > 10 to 15 min depending on the children's attention span. I > allow the children to choose what they want to play with. > Ex. large cars, med. cars, puzzles, dishes, etc. Basically, > between 9:00 to 11:00, at which time11:00 is lunch we > have a structured day. After 3:00 it is down time, so from > 3:00 to 5:45, it is relaxed play time,and again they choose > what and how long they would like that station play. We > have two rooms. Our main room for all mentioned above, > and another side with a slide and cars for large motor > skills. That is where the push toys and oven are from. It > is a nice set up, but we need to keep those toys that they > can knock over and climb and jump out of for designated > time, like a station time. Those toys are like magnets to > the kids, and it interfers with teaching anything, as > little as reading in circle time. Mats on the floor for > naptime and those push toys and oven is a teacher's > nightmare. > > PLease help! Getting through to boss, and letting assist > feel working like a team. Am I off somewhere? > > Thank you! > M Peckham > [email removed]

Feb 15, 2009

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Schari These are good answers to your questions. One more thought - do you have a monthly meeting time with your asst? When there are no children around? My assts. often said they felt better after we were able to meet privately and discuss things. I always feel like an after hours meeting gives you time to discuss things that can't be discussed during a ...See MoreThese are good answers to your questions. One more thought - do you have a monthly meeting time with your asst? When there are no children around? My assts. often said they felt better after we were able to meet privately and discuss things. I always feel like an after hours meeting gives you time to discuss things that can't be discussed during a busy work day.

On 2/15/09, questions.... wrote: > After reading your post, I wondered if you had an assistant > that is consistent, and always there throughout the day, or do > you have people coming and going? That would make the > difference in how much of a permanent role you should allow > them to take. > > I love the toddler age, and have worked with the little ones > for the last 16 years. I'd be happy to help in any way I can, > but some of the responses provided below may not be what you > are looking for... > > I answered some of your post in-line, below.... > >> Always a turnover of assistants. They stay one to two >> years-assist. go away to school, get jobs making more >> money, or pregnant.I have had a lot of behavioral, anxiety, >> moody diabetics, mean, etc. helpers come to help who don't >> stay long. > > If the assistant is permanent and always with you, they need > to WANT to work with toddlers. This is such a different age, > and if you don't want to work with this age, people won't last > long. > >> How does one work as a team with an assist.? I was taught >> the teacher takes the lead, and the teacher should lead >> the class in circle time. I guess lead in general. I try >> including the assist.by having her read the story book at >> circle time. I ask for assist. input when I'm instructing >> during circle time which could be as little as ten min.of >> teaching to 30 min depending on attention of toddlers. I >> always welcome ideas from assist. for projects, holidays, >> etc., or to add to project we are doing. >> > Also, if these assistants are working with you for one to two > years, and you don't allow them - even challenge them - to > grow and accept more responsibility, the work becomes one of > monotony and no personal growth. Again, why would they choose > to stay in a dead-end job? It is our job as lead teachers to > prepare new teachers to take over and/or to challenge > themselves, just as we should constantly be growing and > learning ourselves. > >> I don't see where I should let assist. lead the circle time >> curric. and myself assist. Am I looking at this >> incorrectly. The teacher before me, taught the class for 11 >> years, and she instructed me how to run the class. Checking >> with other highly recommended centers, I was instructed >> correctly. I also have taken many many child resource >> classes to be the best I can be. However, I always have >> someone complaining. > > Although they may be complaining, there may also be some > validity to what they are saying. Have you really sat and > listened to what is being said? Perhaps the message behind > the complaints is more subtle...are they asking for more > responsibility and input in areas where it could/should be > allowed? >> >> Anytime someone suggests something, I'm asked to make a >> change. I have had low stress in organization and >> management of room, and one that was fun for kids. Nothing >> but positive feed back from parents. Kids love me. However, >> there seem to be a lot of trouble makers and jealous people >> who work at center. > > This can be a difficult one....and what I'm suggesting is that > you really look at yourself, your philosophy, your program, > etc. Are you 'stuck' in your ways and don't want change? Is > your director someone who simply wants to avoid confrontation, > or are they asking you to extend out of your comfort zone? > Have they given you any reasoning as to why they want the > changes, or are they trying to please everyone without making > waves? > > If I can help or offer assistance, please email me. >> >> I would like to hear my boss tell others that I am a >> successful teacher in the way I run my room, but it is >> always changing things for the worse.Most really don't want >> to work, just gossip. They don't want to clean up after >> kids. We teach them to clean up, but they can only do so >> much. Teachers complain they are tired. When asked why, >> they say was up late watching tv. etc. >> >> >> Most of my work and monthly curric. planning is done at >> home,for there is no time before we start circle time. I >> start work at 7am and immediately sent to infant/waddler >> room until 8am. 8 A.M. I transition my toddler class to our >> toddler rm which we go through our play area before >> entering our main room. After their vroom down the slide we >> enter our room and other parents drop off their kids which >> leads right into diaper time at 8:30. 9 A.M. is snack,then >> our circle time. I don't even have time to get my daily >> papers for circ. time out until last minute which is >> hectic. >> >> Talking to my assist. other than hello and letting her know >> important things about kids morning drop off is about it. >> Assist. comes in at 8:45 has to mark lunch items to be >> ready to bring kids over to lunchrm at 9:00 while I'm >> finishing diapers and greeting parents and calming kids >> that miss their parents.Before it worked better. Parents >> put bags in refrig and while kids were seated and eatig un >> lunchrm, we were able to label everything. The fifteen min >> assist was there before 9:00 brkfst was spent helping clean >> up and tending to parents and kids with me. I need myself >> and assist at hectic drop off for our attention on the kids >> not marking for lunch. Changes for the worst. >> >> I don't get any free time to do much of anything unless I >> use my lunch time. This is toddler age where they can't >> really do much for themselves. We are teaching them to >> learn, so I prepare most at home. That way I just have to >> grab it out of my travel bags. All prep is done and ready >> to go. People fail to remember that toddlers 19-30 don't >> wait long, and that is besides a span diff. in age. My >> assist. has freedom to go in any of my work bags and read >> any curriculum papers, or use any of my childcare >> belongings when she wants to. >> >> One more issue. My boss wants to put push toys in the room >> along with ovens for play on a full 8hour 5 day basis which >> is stressful,for it is a distraction for my age group when >> I need to teach, get ready to put mats down, and especially >> when diapering when in room by myself, or when I need to >> use certain areas of room at certain times, like reading >> circle etc. The toddlers climb on them, sit, stand, jump, >> and knock over them if and when I can't get to them fast >> enough. I'm trying to tell my director that it is stressful >> for we need all our attention on the children-biters, hair >> pullers, sick, cranky, etc. That this is the terrible two >> ago. She says we need to teach them. I let her know we are >> busy putting the time in with the kids, if all the other >> apparatus is in the room, all we are doing in redirecting >> them. We get new 19-20mos olds all the time,and have to >> keep teaching them over and over again. For four years all >> I needed to be concerned with is our shelf toys-which is a >> lot, and all concentrated in on area, so rest of room was >> for play, circle time-table and chairs, reading circle >> exercise, diapering etc. When we useto have our dish-oven- >> sink time, we pushed it in the room, then took it out to >> change over to next activity---no worry about kids >> climbling, standing, jumping and falling on their face, >> knocking anything over which means stopping story being >> read to keep redirecting over and over and over again. >> Taking away from quality time with my toddlers. >> >> I know how to run my class to make the kids happy, and cut >> my stress down, but boss keeps putting obstacles in my way >> which is nothing but stress. I feel disrespected. >> >> Her reasoning for added toys in room----to prepare them for >> the next class so they don't take all toys out at one time. >> She is even giving this story to the waddler room-walkers >> to 19ms. My remark to boss: The next class teacher has to >> teach her class the rules of their room,and that every age >> group and class is different. My kids don't take all toys >> out at one time, we have a change over of play items every >> 10 to 15 min depending on the children's attention span. I >> allow the children to choose what they want to play with. >> Ex. large cars, med. cars, puzzles, dishes, etc. Basically, >> between 9:00 to 11:00, at which time11:00 is lunch we >> have a structured day. After 3:00 it is down time, so from >> 3:00 to 5:45, it is relaxed play time,and again they choose >> what and how long they would like that station play. We >> have two rooms. Our main room for all mentioned above, >> and another side with a slide and cars for large motor >> skills. That is where the push toys and oven are from. It >> is a nice set up, but we need to keep those toys that they >> can knock over and climb and jump out of for designated >> time, like a station time. Those toys are like magnets to >> the kids, and it interfers with teaching anything, as >> little as reading in circle time. Mats on the floor for >> naptime and those push toys and oven is a teacher's >> nightmare. >> >> PLease help! Getting through to boss, and letting assist >> feel working like a team. Am I off somewhere? >> >> Thank you! >> M Peckham >> [email removed]

Feb 16, 2009

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Kindercare teacher trainings/Knowledge Learning Corporation

by Loretta

Feb 16, 2009

I have been working for this company for over 7 years, and the trainings are always the same. I am getting very frustrated since they advertise on their website that they provide the best trainings for their teachers in the U.S. I have a B.S and a CDA and I would like to get past the same old crap. I feel like I am being trained and talked to like ...See More

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Donna music/TN FWIW, I field tested a music curriculum developed for Knowledge Adventures, and had the option of doing trainings for Kindercare centers on it. I turned them down, both because of the level of training desired-basically, they wanted me to show the teachers how to hit play on the CD player and then hand out instruments when the CD told them to do so...See More

Mar 9, 2009

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Loretta This is so true. They have their own curriculum for infants all the way up to school-age. I think the curriculum that is written is that bad to a point but they have closed the door to any other types of curriculum or outside ideas. It has gotton to the point where the individuality of the teacher and the children are invisible. At our last trainin...See MoreThis is so true. They have their own curriculum for infants all the way up to school-age. I think the curriculum that is written is that bad to a point but they have closed the door to any other types of curriculum or outside ideas. It has gotton to the point where the individuality of the teacher and the children are invisible. At our last training, they told everybody, they are on a curriculum diet. Basically, they can not do anything, but what is in the curriculum books they give us. We can not put up any work or any projects on the walls that was not in this curriculum book. They said that this diet would continue until everyone learned how to follow the curriculum correctly. I actually spoke up at this moment and told them that I felt affended as a teacher. My personality as a teacher was being stripped. The personality of my students and the classroom was being stripped because of this. I understand how we need to have structure and follow an age appropriate curriculum but I don't understand why they have to restrict it to the point to where it takes away the personality of the students and teachers. I learned a long time ago that this is all about money. Nothing else. I understand they are a buisness, but when you work with chilren it is so much more. A teacher that I work with asked our curriculum specialist if corporate had a goal of when we would be off this curriculum diet and this is what our CS said" The teachers in this company don't have the skills to make their own decisions. These are teachers with only high school degrees and they are complaining about curriculum that is written by people who have bachelors and masters degrees. The teacher felt very affended because she had an education. When this teacher told me this I felt affended too because I also have a degree. They plan on never letting teachers add their own ideas. This was their plan the whole time. They try to sugar coat it so the teachers won't get mad, but to me this is lying. I don't appreciate being lied too. Which is something this company does a lot. I just found out that I will not be getting reimbursed for the outside education I have did, even though they say we do. My director just got declined for her extra education as well. I just wanted to add that I have did this music program with kids, and I have been lucky that my director hasn't talked to me about not following it to the T. I have tried to do the whole music program and the kids don't want to do it and they aren't having fun. I have to pick and choose what will work and add my own stuff. Which is not following the curriculum diet. I have been lucky to get away with it but I don't know for how much longer, but If I will be forced to follow it all in the future, I will pull my hair out and will just quit doing it. This is an extra program that parents pay for. I believe that the kids should get learn in a fun environment, and some of this material is just to boring or lame for the children I teach it for. I believe you have to know your children. One thing works for kids while something else doesn't work for another. I feel that following a hand written curriculum by the book at this age just isn't appropriate. You have to teach to the individual child and adjust curriculum to the group that you have. I know that this company will not budge. So if anyone who really is strong about teaching children, I suggest you do not work for this company. I really enjoy the Reggio Emilia style. I suggest anyone interested in working with children look into this style. It is very inspiring and very child directed. It takes a lot of work though. Thanks for listening to my two scents, and apologize about any misspellings. I was typing fast as the ramblings came. Thanks On 3/09/09, Donna music/TN wrote: > FWIW, I field tested a music curriculum developed for Knowledge > Adventures, and had the option of doing trainings for Kindercare > centers on it. I turned them down, both because of the level of > training desired-basically, they wanted me to show the teachers > how to hit play on the CD player and then hand out instruments > when the CD told them to do so, not any actual training on early > childhood music education and how to choose and use music > materials in your classroom-in fact, it very much seemed like > they wanted the teachers limited to using ONLY those specific > units in this specific way, and not to deviate from the script in > any way shape or form, and because of the low rate of > compensation. The amount they were offering wasn't worth > prostituting my view of what good ECED music ed is, and showed me > exactly how little they thought of MY professional skills. And I > regularly give workshops for free, so money isn't usually a > motivator when it comes to doing an in-service. > > The sad part is that the curriculum units were reasonably well > done, and I think most preschool teachers could easily do a good > job teaching them. I don't know a single preschool teacher who > NEEDS to have the lesson on a CD, nor do I know a single > preschool teacher who needs instructions on how to hand out egg > shakers to 3 yr olds. > > >

Mar 14, 2009

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NAEYC

by cml

Feb 19, 2009

Just curious. I heard mentioned that the NAEYC accreditation process is lengthy and costly. Can anyone who has gone through it recently, give me a ball park estimate of the cost? Thanks

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special needs childcare

by mary

Feb 20, 2009

i have a question that maybe someone can help me with on here. I appologize if i may seem that i am intruded in anyway, i am a mother of 2 special needs children in indiana, one has autistum specturum disorder and is moderately mentally handi-capped, the other has respitiry problems and has a higher functioning for of autisum, i have ran a home bas...See More

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GiGi Do they go to public school? why would you need day care if they are in school? Do you get SSI for them? Do you have a case worker for them? Your public school has a social worker that should work with you for transittioning them as adults after school.

On 2/20/09, mary wrote: > i have a question that maybe someone can help me with on ...See More

Mar 16, 2009

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I need ideas for a focus group

by Missy

Mar 4, 2009

Hi

I was asked to do a focus group for our staff in May but i have no idea what to talk about. Does anyone have any suggestions? Your ideas are greatly appreciated.

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