Journal 14 - Discuss Chapter 10

It's very important to know the difference between the two terms; Marketing and Advertisement
Marketing is an organized plan to bring together a group or individuals of potential buyers to existing sellers for a mutual transfer of goods and services. Advertisement is a paid public announcement to attract potential and existing customers to its product.
There are five components that make up a marketing strategy. 1) Public relations - the daily positive interactions between administrators, staff and families. 2) Promotion - keeps product in the minds of the customer and helps stimulate demand for services. 3&4) Market analysis and research - reaching the community in order to assess need for your services. 4)Sales - The activities that lead to enrollment of new children.  Marketing takes on the bigger picture of acquainting the public to your business.
Print Advertising - The written word is the most commonly used form of advertisement for the child care industry.This can be done by advertisements placed in newspapers, on bulletin boards, magazines, flyers, bulk mailings, telephone books and calendars. All form of media need to be considered when you market your business.Also, try to come up with an idea that is unique and appeals to your target audience.
One very effective means of advertising is to use a picture of the children in your Center. This method never grows old. 
Advertising On-line - the internet is becoming one of the best ways to advertise. Many Centers and in-home child care now have web-sites that make it very convenient for new families to obtain information about your child care center. So don't just look at only one way to advertise, there are many very useful tools to utilize.

Journal 13 Entry - Special Event

Journal - 12

Journal 11

1) Visual Communication - learn by observation, recall what they have seen, can follow written or drawn instruction, likes to read, uses written notes, benefits by visualizing, watching TV/video/films

2) Auditory Communication - prefers listening and taking notes, listens for patterns, can recall what they have heard, can follow oral directions, repeats words aloud for memorization, uses oral language effectively

3) Kinesthetic Communication - learn through experience and physical activity, benefits from demostration, learn from teaching others what they know

I can reach parents by using all 3 of these communication types. Parents that are visual will benefit from newsletters, bulletin boards, handouts, t-shirts and hats, student mailboxes and scrapbooks. Parents that are auditory will benefit from face to face communication, oral directions, hearing stories outloud, listening to tapes or CDs or by group discussion.  Parents that are kinesthetic will benefit from playing games, reading body language/gestures, discussion while moving or yelling at you while your driving away. (I had to throw that one in).

Chapter 7 - Discussion

Visual Communication Techniques

 We communicate a positive and professional image through the use of logos, name tags, letterhead, t-shirts and hats, student mailboxes, motivational charts, awards and diplomas, bulletin boards, staff biographies, scrapbooks, a family resource library and a suggestion box.

 A logo is usually synbolic or pictorial in nature and may have components of the center name incorporated within it. Name tags convey professionalism and facilitate communication. They are also an important feature to maintain safety and security within the center. Letterheads give important documents a professional appearance. Letterhead is also an extra touch of professionalism that makes a positive impression. T-Shirts and hats are a good way to advertise your center. Parents love receiving these tokens as your appreciation. Student mailboxes are an effective communication system for ensuring families receive handouts and newsletters. They are also a great place to put childrens finished projects. A motivational chart is helps to break down the day into specific time frames. At the completion of each time frame, the child recieves a sticker for each successfully completed portion of the day. Children are often proud of their accomplishments throughout the day and eager to show off the stickers they received to their families. Working together, the family and teacher can support the child in their acquisition of new skills. Awards and diplomas are a great way of having accomplishments recognized. Acceptance and recognition of special quailities and talents can make a profound difference in the self-esteem of a developing child. Bulletin boards are low-tech but effective ways to communicate with each person that enter the door of the center. There are typically three types of bulletin boards - program specific, center wide, and staff specific. The purpose of each bulletin board is to provide an easy way for the audience to access important information. A scrapbook is a great way to share a child's everyday happenings by pictures. Children love to look through and share these pictures with family members and families are able to get a better sense of your program. A family resource library is a great way to pool relevant materials and to share with families all the resourses that you have. This source lets your families know that you are concerned about all aspects of your families well being - not just their academic growth. For informal and anonymous feedback a suggestion box is a great communication tool. Families can choose to sign their comments or to leave comments annonymous. These are all great visual communication techniques.

Journal 10 - Health Alert!

Journal 9 - New Policy

Journal 8

Journal 7 - What not to wear

  I believe when you work in the professional world you should dress accordingly.  How you dress reflects back on your center.  Whatever image you want your center to project (neat and professional or sloppy) may be the first impression families have.  If you dress sloppy, that image would reflect that you just don't care and then families may think that's how your center is run. So it is very, very important to dress appropriately.

Chapter 5 - Discussion

     It is so important to have a handbook.  This is where your procedures and policies are stated. The handbook is one of your first impressions and projects your centers image and also reflects your center's professionalism.  The handbook will be a very important vehicle of communication. Your mission and philosophy will  be stated in it. Also new families can get a feel of and learn a little about the staff members that work there.  You can put a little about all the staff that work there in it. 
     The most important part of the handbook is the Introduction, Policies and Procedures, Curriculum and the extras.

     1) Introduction: this is where you welcome your reader, include strenghts of your center which sets you apart from other centers in your area. The introduction is another place to explain your philosophy on child care. This is also an area you can provide families with background information about your teaching staff. This section is also where you can state your center's goals and objectives. Your introduction should provide families with a solid background of who you are and what you believe in.

     2) Policies and Procedures:  this is a very crucial part of your handbook. The policy and procedure section will keep your families well-informed to what your rules and regulations are.. This is where they will find answers to a variety of questions. This section also tell your families what you emergency policies and procedures are and what steps you take in each. This area states your operation hours and the importance of prompt arrival and pickup, what forms are necessary for enrollment, what your discipline policy is, your policies for treating injuries and what your sick child procedures are.

    3) Curriculum:  this area of your handbook should describe each age groups  developmental and educational needs. This area should include information on the typical level of social and emotional de- velopment displayed by each specific age group, curriculum objectives, areas of instruction and sample daily schedule.

    4)Extras:  this area describes what makes your center stand out from all the rest. This is where you would include what extracurricular programs you offer.  You can also include information on tuition and registration for these programs.

Journal - 6

   The confidentiality code was violated with the mother when the old school transfered Eric's medical and educational records to the new school. These records should have never left the old school.  The 2nd way the confidentiality code was violated was when  the director had a conversation about Eric with his old teacher.  This was personal information that should have never been shared. The confidentiality code was violated with the child when the old teacher discussed Eric's physical limitations and behavioral problems with the new director. The code of employees maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality when handling family and children affairs was definitely violated.  This showed a lack of professionalism. There should not have been a discussion concerning Eric's disability between the two directors prior to his enrollment. This meeting should have included Eric's mother with her total approval of both directors being there. 
    I think a conversation with Eric's classmates prior to Eric starting class would have eased the childrens curiosity about Eric's physical limitations.  That way the children could have asked the teacher questions and she could have reassured them.  This would have helped the transition to a new classroom for Eric easier.  Another way of easing Eric's transistion would be to have let Eric bring some comforts of home ( his stuffed Elmo for naptime and his pirates for show and tell. No teacher should EVER label a child bad! This made me angry when I read it.
    The teacher's conversation at the resturant was very inappropriate. It was violating the confidentiality code and there should have been disciplinary actions taken..  If this conversation happened in the staff lounge that would have been appropriate because the conversation was inside of the center.
    As a director, I would have reprimanded the teachers.  I would have stressed the importance of the confidentiality code and it's in place for a reason.
    If I was the mother, I would not have wanted to leave my child at this school. The teachers will have preconceived ideas about the child and he will not get a fair chance.  It's very evident that change does not go well with Eric.  He needs as much stability as he can get.  He also needs the love, trust, understanding and respect of the same caregiver. You know he must have some tremondous fears and needs a loving adult to help him with this.

Journal 5 - Staff Meeting

Monthly Staff Meeting for March

Monthly Theme:  Mastering the 3 R's - Resiliency, Renewal, Reflection

Staff - Teachers find themselves constantly feeling they have too much to do and not enough time

Discuss - Resiliency - work smarter not harder, reduce stress, get rid of clutter, organize paperwork

                Renewal - take time to take care of yourself, importance of exercise, keeping balance

                Reflection - start each day with a plan and take time to breathe and reflect

Importance of Staff Meetings

Staff meetings are beneficial to all staff because this is where we put our problems and concerns out front and we discuss as a group ways to solve our problems.  Don't ever feel alone with a problem.

Teachers:  Please have lesson plans on my desk 2 weeks in advance for approval

Monthly Classroom Observations:  I will spend 2 hours a month in each classroom for observation.

I have a sample Performance Appraisal Form I will be filling out at observation time - Please note attached form.

Remember :  It's good to have a sense of humor - laughter is the key to keeping our sanity

SMILE!

Journal #4 - How does it feel -

How does it feel when someone does not use your name, gives you the cold shoulder, does not make eye contact and only greets you with complaints? Well, I don't like any of these.  When someone does not  make eye contact with me when I come into a room or when I meet someone on the street, it makes me feel like I'm nobody. It makes me feel like I'm not worthy of any recognition at all. It makes me feel like that person wishes that I wasn't even there. When someone gives me the cold shoulder it makes me want to tap that person on the shoulder and say "Hello, are you there? I'm here, so please turn around because I'm talking to you."  When someone only greets me with complaints, it makes me want to turn around and run. It depends on how they start the complaint. If someone comes in slinging verbally abusive words my defense system will automatically go up.  I will not want to help you. Honestly, if someone is being disrespectful to me, I will not want to help solve the problem. If someone comes up to me saying " I have a problem. I was wondering if we can work this out," I then would be ok with helping find a way to solve this problem. We need to show respect to each other. Part of showing respect is to use a persons name when met, being warm and friendly and always making eye contact.

What Not To Wear

Coach:  I am guessing that you want to know what I think about this show.  This show bothers me. I don't like to watch it.  I feel these two fashion experts (Clinton and Stacy) are ganging up on Lexa and imposing on her what they think is fashion acceptable. I think whatever you wear, no matter what it is, should reflect your personality and nobody elses so who are they to say what is appropriate and what isn't. I think today anything goes and we should embrace individuality.  I would like to say a few mean things to that Stacey chick. Beauty is on the inside not outside.  We put way too much emphasis on the outside anyway.  So you can see why this show gets on my nerves. I think we need to dress for ourselves and not others! If you do not feel comfortable that will show on the outside.  That Stacey chick told Lexa not to sweat the small stuff but it is the small stuff that is so irritating!  Everytime Lexa said "This is just weird", I wanted to laugh.  GO GIRL, TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK!

Journal #3 - 3 Positive C's - 3 Negative C's

    We should strive to incorporate the 3 positive c's and the 3 negative c's into each of our communication.  To be an excellent communicator we should master the skill of Clarity. We should language that is easy for our audience to understand. We should plan ahead when we have to initiate a difficult conversation. We also should master Consistency. We should be committed to following and enforcing our policies and do not practice favoritism. Also, the 3rd c would be Caring.  We should hold children dear to our heart if we are to be in this profession. Children sense when they aren't cared for even with no actions at all. Children learn best with support and respect. We should also master the skill of listening to other.
   We should also strive to completely eliminate the negative c's. The 1st negative c is Confrontation.  We need to be careful that our actions do not make other feel uncomfortable and refrain from using words such as bad, wrong, or I want. We want to facilitate discussion, not confrontation.  The 2nd negative c is Conflict. The very first step in resolving conflict is to identify the issues that everyone agrees upon. The ability to handle conflict and resolve it appropriately is a difficult skill. We need to be able to think on our feet, know our policies and handbook and be prepared for questions.  The 3rd negative c is Carelessness.  To be an effective communicator, we need to be organized. We need to keep information current and accessible to prevent any mixups and hurt feelings from happening.  This is my conclusion of the 3 Positive C's and the 3 Negative C's.

I did It!!!!!!

   Yeah!!!!!!!!  I did it!!  I figured it out! I made my flyer and brochure!  It's amazing what a difference a good night sleep makes when your trying to figure something out.  You have so much more patience.  Thanks Coach for the pep talk.  It made me feel so much better.  Sorry for being so grumpy on my blog yesterday.  :))

  Ok, today I'm going to use my blog to air my frustrations.  I've been trying to use publisher to make my daycare center flyer and brochure.  I know I'm making it harder than it has to be.  I've never used publisher before. I think learning how to use publisher ought to be a class in itself. Sorry I'm being a grippy butt.  I think I just need to go to bed. Project 1a and 1b are going to be late.  It took me all day just to get publisher on my computer.  I will get it.  I'm so frustrated and tired now I think I will go to bed and try again in the morning. Tonight, I'm not so sure you can teach old dogs new tricks.  Maybe my attitude will be better in the morning.  :(

Journal #2 - Communication Strategies

There are 5 target audiences that you need to effectively communicate with:
  1.  Current students and families
  2.  Staff
  3.  Future stundents and families
  4.  Neighbors
  5.  Vendors
Current students and families are our #1 target audience - We need to make sure our children and families are happy with our center. Our reputation  is of utmost importance. Our communication with our families is also of utmost importance.  Communication ensures there's not any misunderstandings.

To have an effective and suitable staff is also very important to ensure the success of your center. Communication between director-staff-and families makes sure that your center runs smoothly and that there are no misunderstandings. Message boards and a policy manual are a very effective way of keeping staff members familiar with your operation and policies.

Communication should not stop there. Vendors are another very important aspect of your center. If vendors aren't treated with respect that then may reflect back on your business. We need not forget everyone we come into contact with can have a negative or positive effect on our business.

I visualize my business as being a very warm, happy inviting place for children.  When children leave my center, I want them to be academically ready for kindergarten. I also want it to be very fun and stimulating place for them to be.

Peggy, I'm not sure if this is how you want me to blog?  If not, please let me know and I will go about it differently.  Thanks,  Denise

  Hi, my name is Denise McClure.  I'm currently a hairdresser wanting to change my line of work.  I love working with children.  I would love to own and direct my own daycare.  Since now I have the opportunity,  I decided to start taking classes so I can make wise decisions as I  go along with this journey.  Education is very important to me.  I want to be well informed before I throw myself into this calling.

OMG!  I'm still trying to figure out what I doing......blaaaa.....