Category Archives: Early Childhood Teachers

Plotting the Course …

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

“How do you know when you’ve arrived, if you don’t know where you’re going?”
A good question, particularly for the one-in-charge – the director, the manager, the leader of the organization. But, unfortunately, a question not often asked. Sadly, many of us squander our precious time, energy, and resources spinning our wheels – just going through the motions of dealing with those things that demand our immediate attention. This will get us through the moment and perhaps the day, but there is no real feeling of satisfaction or accomplishment. We feel pushed and pulled in many directions, and no longer in control. Reactive! Playing defense!
There is another way. Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Leadership, Early Childhood Teachers, For Early Childhood Directors, Managing Early Childhood Programs, Performance Management Skills, Training for Early Childhood Directors | Leave a comment

Beginnings – A Shared Vision …

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

A good question to reflect upon at the beginning of each school year is this: What is important to us in our work with young children, their families, and one another?
Because, ultimately, shouldn’t we see evidence of what matters, what is important – in the child care center, and in each classroom? Shouldn’t the words in our philosophy, our mission statement, our goals, come to life? Shouldn’t we see, hear, and feel the reality of our conceptual thoughts and ideas?
Yes! Yes! And, yes! Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Leadership, Early Childhood Teachers, For Early Childhood Directors, Managing Early Childhood Programs, Training for Early Childhood Directors | 1 Comment

Professionalism …

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

At the beginning of each school year, required reading for my teams of early childhood teachers and supervisors was an article by M. Parker Anderson entitled, “Professionalism: The Missing Ingredient for Excellence in the Workplace.” It was required because, after years of living, working on this planet, and interacting with thousands, I agreed with Ms. Anderson’s assessment that, “professionalism is missing and unaccounted for” in so many places of work. Read on … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Leadership, Early Childhood Teachers, For Early Childhood Directors, Managing Early Childhood Programs, Performance Management Skills, Training for Early Childhood Directors | 3 Comments

Beginnings …

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

What a gift! To start fresh – to take what I learned from the previous year and add it to my practice. To remember those things that went especially well, and keep them in this year’s repertoire. And, yes, to reflect upon those things that didn’t go as well as I had planned. As I saw it, that was my job as the leader of the program, school, organization – to set the course. And, the best part of beginning is that I could reset the course annually. What I learned is that how I began each school year, each training session, each presentation, each meeting, set the tone for what was to come, and the expectations that we were all to meet or exceed. The beginning was that important!
Continue reading →

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Strategic Planning …

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

It has been said that there are three types of early childhood directors: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. To make things happen, a director must have a strategic plan. Strategic planning is the process of developing and maintaining a strategic fit between the organization and its changing marketing opportunities. It relies on developing a clear company mission, objectives, and goals. Continue reading →

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Places of Delight and Wonder …

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

“We become attached to spaces that charm, delight, or move us. What brings this on? – a certain slant of light; an intriguing staircase; an alcove; the feel of smooth wood; or, unexpected beauty or form. Children have, or can acquire, more taste than we expect.” – Jim Greenman
Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Leadership, Early Childhood Teachers, John Hancock Child Care Center, Managing Early Childhood Programs, Training for Early Childhood Directors | 1 Comment

Just Playing …

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

The value of play cannot be underestimated. It is the child’s work. Play is how he makes sense of the world; how he sees himself within it; and how he learns. This is a timeless poem with a message from a child – “please don’t misunderstand me when I play; I am learning as I play. I may someday be a father, mother, artist, inventor, teacher, scientist, businessman, chef, doctor, nurse, or athlete.” Continue reading →

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The Effective Director …

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

In order to open and then manage a child care center, conventional wisdom says that the director must be trustworthy, helpful, friendly, kind, cheerful, thrifty, and brave.
Conventional wisdom also says that the director should be a good planner, evaluator, decision maker, problem solver, conflict resolver, budget keeper, motivator, communicator, trainer, and advocate.
But the most effective directors I have known have other intangible strengths as well. And, they are the true leaders of their programs. Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Leadership, Early Childhood Teachers, Managing Early Childhood Programs, Performance Management Skills, Training for Early Childhood Directors | 2 Comments

Spring Cleaning …

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

As directors and leaders of early childhood programs, we entered our field with a profound sense of purpose – to craft an exemplary program; to make a difference in the lives of children; and to build a successful business. Often, as the years go by, we can begin to lose sight of our original goal. We can become consumed with the day-to-day hassles, the minutiae, so much so that survival seems our only course. We are, as they say, “in the weeds.” The big-picture has been lost to micro-management. That’s why it is helpful to periodically step back and reassess where we are heading. Spring is my time for reflection. Sometimes, reflection will reveal to us that we need to make some changes in how we do our work. We need to do some spring cleaning in order to get ourselves back to our original sense of purpose. Here are some thoughts for you to consider: Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Leadership, Early Childhood Teachers, Managing Early Childhood Programs, Performance Management Skills, Training for Early Childhood Directors | 1 Comment

Giving Feedback … (Part Three)

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Marcia Hebert

Preparation, preparation, preparation was, and continues to be, the quality standard of bringing our best to work each day. Leaders who are prepared for the conversation, the solution to the problem, the outcome of the situation, the resolution to the conflict, or managing the performance issue will more easily guide others to a satisfactory outcome.

When you are going to give feedback – either positive or negative – preparation is usually more important than the delivery. If I have prepared well (and have, in my mind, anticipated and planned for the many pitfalls and turns the conversation might take), the delivery will take care of itself. To a confident and competent leader, preparation, preparation, preparation is the key! Continue reading →

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