The Director's Planner: Week of September 23, 2024

Behavior Reports, Fall Clean-Up, and Reflections

1 weekly challenge, 2 tips & tricks, and 3 action items written exclusively for Childcare Directors!

1 Weekly Challenge

This week, I challenge you to reach out to another Childcare Director in your area whom you haven't met yet. Being a Director is an incredibly demanding role, and fostering a supportive community with others who understand the daily challenges can be incredibly beneficial.

Consider sending an email or posting in your local Directors group to invite another Director for coffee or lunch. By breaking down these invisible barriers, you can cultivate meaningful partnerships and valuable support, allowing you to share experiences, challenges, and successes.

And if you are local to the Twin Cities, Minnesota area, keep your eyes out as I am planning an in-person get together next month!

2 Tips & Tricks

I. Ask Teachers to Reflect Before Submitting Behavior Reports.

Last week, another Director posed a question we’ve all faced: how can we encourage our teachers to stop writing up behavior reports for every minor issue? Especially as many “behaviors” that may stress us out as adults are actually developmentally appropriate for young children? In response, I developed a solution: a Pre-Evaluation that Teachers can complete before filling out a behavior report.

This two-page form is designed to help teachers take a step back and critically assess the behavior they’re considering documenting. The hope is that they will approach each situation more calmly and objectively, leading to fewer unnecessary behavior reports being brought to your office.

II. Start each morning with gratitude

Starting each morning with gratitude can set a positive tone for the entire day. Take a moment to reflect on just ONE thing you're thankful for, whether it's a supportive colleague, a beautiful sunrise, or simply that you hit all the lights on your way into work. This simple practice can shift your mindset, reduce stress, and enhance your overall well-being. By focusing on the positives, you’ll find it easier to approach challenges with a constructive attitude, fostering a more productive and fulfilling day ahead.

3 Action Items

I. Schedule your fall clean up

For those of us in the northern regions, fall means leaves, leaves, and more leaves! Make sure to schedule a fall cleanup with your lawn care company. If you don’t use a lawn car company, consider organizing a community event and invite families, staff, and kids to join a "Rake-a-Thon" in a few weeks!

II. Write your October Newsletter

Just one more week until October, and all free subscribers currently have access to my Insider materials through the end of the month. So be sure to check out the October Newsletter Toolkit (coming later this week), featuring best practices for newsletters, pre-written content, holiday & celebration ideas, and pre-designed resources.

III. Start tracking behavior reports

Make sure that all behavior reports are submitted to you for evaluation before being sent home. Instead of merely having parents sign the reports and filing them away, start tracking the number of reports sent home from each classroom. Document which children are receiving them, when the behaviors are occurring, and the specific behaviors being reported. This approach will provide valuable insights into classroom dynamics and help you understand how both the teachers and students are managing behavior.

And that’s it for this week.
It’s as easy as A, B, C, 1, 2, 3!

And remember, only one