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.  :(