From Survive to Thrive : : A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program.

• Author: LeeKeenan, Debbie.
• TeilnehmendeR: Ponte, Iris Chin.
• Place / Publishing House: La Vergne : : National Association for the Education of Young Children,, 2019.; ©2019.
• Year of Publication: 2019
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (178 pages)

Theory meets practical tips in this guide for leaders of early childhood programs.

Table of Contents

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Chapter 1: What Does It Mean to Be a Director? -- The Director as Both Manager and Leader -- Know Yourself -- Recognizing Your Personal Attributes -- Identifying Your Leadership Traits -- Practice Facilitative Leadership -- Treat Teachers the Same Way You Expect Teachers to Treat Children -- Give Yourself the Permission to Lead -- Recognize What You Really Have Control Over -- Chapter 2: Program Context and Culture -- Reading and Understanding the Context of Your Program -- Gather Information -- Analyze the Information -- Set Program Goals and Develop an Action Plan -- Creating and Cultivating the Culture of Your Program -- Strong Relationships -- Meaningful and Effective Communication -- A Welcoming Environment -- Risk Taking, Reflection, and Growth -- Chapter 3: Achieving and Maintaining Program Quality -- Developing Policies and Procedures -- Vision and Mission Statements -- Organizational Chart -- Safety Procedures -- Identifying and Reporting Suspected Child Neglect and Abuse -- Guidance and Discipline -- Licensing Basics -- Physical Space -- Staff Education and Training Requirements -- Health -- The Licensing Process -- Accreditation -- Quality Rating Improvement Systems -- The Flow of the Year: A Director's Big-Picture To-Do List -- Chapter 4: Budget and Finances -- Basic Budgeting Concepts -- Identifying Revenue and Expenses -- Developing Financial Policies and Procedures -- Selecting a Financial Management System -- Tips and Strategies for Preparing an Effective Budget -- Be Transparent and Assume Accountability -- Allow for Autonomy -- Be Strategic -- Be Flexible -- Help! What Do I Do When My Budget Isn't Working? -- Step 1: Find Out What's Wrong -- Step 2: Reduce Your Expenses -- Step 3: Speed the Inflow of Revenue -- Step 4: Explore New Income Sources.

Keys to Successful Fundraising -- Chapter 5: Program Curriculum -- How Do You Decide the Best Curriculum Approach or Model for Your Program? -- Curriculum Approaches -- Packaged Curricula -- Play-Based Learning -- Emergent Curriculum -- Project-Based Learning -- Integrating Best Practices and Early Learning Standards -- Supporting Your Teachers in Implementing Curriculum -- When the Curriculum in Your Program Is Not Working -- How Do Teachers Document Their Implementation of the Curriculum? -- Ongoing Maintenance of a High-Quality Curriculum -- Chapter 6: Observation, Assessment, and Documentation -- Observation and Assessment -- Program Assessment -- How Am I Doing? Evaluating the Director -- Assessing What Children Are Learning -- What Is Documentation? -- Moving Toward a Culture of Documentation -- Practical Tips for Facilitating Documentation -- Chapter 7: Staffing -- Staffing Models and Scheduling -- Hiring Great Teachers -- Consider the Qualifications and Qualities You Need and Want -- Advertising for Applicants -- Interviewing Candidates -- Retaining Great Teachers -- Communicating with Staff -- Teacher Observation and Evaluation -- Supervising Teachers -- Staff Meetings -- Supporting Your Staff's Professional Development -- Goal Setting to Empower Teachers -- Ideas for Effective Professional Development -- Managing Confrontations, Conflicts, and Challenges with Staff Members -- Staff Dismissals: Having to Let Someone Go -- Chapter 8: Working with Families -- The Family's Role in Children's Learning and Development -- The Director's Role in the Home-School Partnership -- The Teacher's Role in the Home-School Partnership -- Funds of Knowledge Approach -- Welcoming Families to Your Program -- Communicating with Families About the Program -- Communicating with Families About Individual Learners -- Using Technology to Communicate with Families.

Family Engagement -- Family Goals Sheet -- Home Visits and Visits Outside of the Center -- Family Meetings and Conferences -- Building Community Through Family Events -- Managing Confrontations, Conflicts, and Challenges with Families -- Conflict Between Program Staff and Families -- Conflict Between Family Members in the Context of the Program -- Chapter 9: Center Enrollment -- Marketing, Advertising, and Recruiting -- Market Research -- Be Clear About Your Program's Mission, Philosophy, and Services -- Marketing Tools and Avenues -- Application and Admissions Process -- Application Materials -- Family Interviews -- Admissions and Selection -- Notification of Acceptance and Intake Forms -- Conclusion: Balancing Act-Managing Your Role as the Director -- Principle 1: Manage Your Time … and Appreciate Its Returns -- Principle 2: Learn to Let Go -- Principle 3: Exercise "Rotated Neglect" -- Principle 4: Make Time for Self-Care -- Principle 5: Be a Lifelong Learner -- Principle 6: Network -- Principle 7: Be an Intentional Decision Maker -- References -- Acknowledgments -- About the Authors.