Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Marcia Hebert's Blog Early Childhood Leadership ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.marciahebert.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Building Your Team—the Next Step](https://www.marciahebert.com/2026/05/building-your-team-the-next-step/) - Now that your staff members have been hired, how do we bring them together? How do we build relationships? How do these individuals become an effective team? You, as the leader, the director, the principal, hold the key. - [Building a Team…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2026/03/building-a-team-3/) - Just hired a new teacher! Now what? The next very important (and not to be skipped) steps are an orientation, training, and a good, solid, successful first week! Read on. - [Some thoughts about Interviewing...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2026/01/some-thoughts-about-interviewing/) - Hiring the best teachers and building a team are the two most important tasks of a Director. And interviewing candidates is the critical first step. What I learned ... - [Building Your Team...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/11/building-your-team/) - Where do you begin? Where do you look? Where do you find your teachers? Read on for the who, where, how, and why of building your team. My best to you! - [The Key to Solving Problems…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/10/the-key-to-solving-problems-2/) - in these first months of the new school year, despite your skills, your abilities, and your successes, there will be problems. There will be situations you will have to figure out; decisions you will have to make, and actions you will have to take. I found two strategies that work - every time! - [The Key to Solving Problems...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/09/the-key-to-solving-problems/) - A two-step process for solving problems and managing situations that inevitably occur in a workplace. - [Your Leadership Style…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/08/your-leadership-style/) - Your leadership style plays a role in creating a climate where people want to do their best. If this is important to you, read on and give some thought to developing a leadership style that fits you and your early childhood program. - [Leading by Example...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/07/leading-by-example-3/) - Directors, how are you preparing for the next school year? I'll share what worked for me throughout my career - and by design, my teachers, parents, and children! Read on ... - [Organizing Your Workspace…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/06/organizing-your-workspace/) - In addition to organizing your day and eliminating stress and a sense of chaos, there is another potential distraction to think about. Your workspace! - [Creating Blocks of Time…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/05/creating-blocks-of-time/) - Using 'blocks of time' to schedule your regular work tasks will save your sanity, your energy, and your overall effectiveness as director of your children's center. Read on ... - [Using Blocks of Time to Plan Your Workdays…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/04/using-blocks-of-time-to-plan-your-workdays/) - If you are not already using "blocks of time" to schedule your regular work tasks, this is the post to read! It will save your sanity, your energy, and your overall effectiveness as director of your children's center. - [Organizing Yourself…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/03/organizing-yourself/) - Directors, are your days crazy busy? If so, I have a plan to share with you that will save your sanity by allowing you to control your days and become more productive in the process. Read on... - [Journaling as a Work Practice…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2025/02/journaling-as-a-work-practice/) - Have you ever thought about 'journaling' as a work practice? I did it and I would recommend it to everyone! - [A Gift for You…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2024/12/a-gift-for-you/) - Two books that present the full picture of a woman's life - the life we present to the world (our careers) and the life we keep for ourselves (our inner journeys). Powerful. - [Your First Days as Director](https://www.marciahebert.com/2024/08/your-first-days-as-director/) - Where to begin? What must I think about? What must I plan? What must I do? in order to set the tone, build our team, and create a quality program for the children and their parents? Lots to consider - in the first days as Director. Read on for tried and true guidance ... that works. - [Great Summer Reading...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2024/07/great-summer-reading/) - What I bring to this book is a wealth of hands-on, real-life experience, humor, and common sense. I know the life of the education/business director. I have lived it. I know the problems and pitfalls and the solutions and strategies to avoid them. I've learned a lot because I have built four unique early childhood programs in my career. I am pleased to share with you. - [The Delicate Balance Between Work and Life](https://www.marciahebert.com/2024/05/the-delicate-balance-between-work-and-life-3/) - Most of us today have both a career and a family, which easily doubles the hundreds of details we must manage every day. How can we do it all and balance the demands of our work and of our life? Read on... - [Beyond the Book—Strategies for Weathering the Storms of Change](https://www.marciahebert.com/2024/03/beyond-the-book-strategies-for-weathering-the-storms-of-change/) - In my work as director of several early childhood programs, one of the important lessons I learned was that the only constant was change! Anticipating it; working through it; and learning and growing because of it were valuable leadership lessons - that I now pass on to you! - [Beyond the Book—Observe, Listen, and then, Act](https://www.marciahebert.com/2024/01/beyond-the-book-observe-listen-and-then-act/) - The Japanese people have an expression, 'read the air' which, in essence, means to take in one's surroundings before acting; to gauge what is happening before doing anything else. We, in early childhood classrooms, can also tap into this practice. Read on ... - [Professionalism…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2023/11/professionalism-2/) - What are some of the factors that contribute to professionalism? And, what can be done to move toward creating a more professional climate in your organization? Read on ... - [Beginnings...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2023/09/beginnings-3/) - What I've learned, as Director of 4 Early Childhood Programs, is that people will rise to the challenge - if it is clearly articulated and the expectations are set up front. Do you set the course for your program every September? If not, here how ... - [Beyond the Book—Coping with Change](https://www.marciahebert.com/2023/07/beyond-the-book-coping-with-change/) - The only constant in an early childhood program is change! How do we successfully navigate the ups and downs? We cultivate several important work habits. The first is to think more proactively and plan for the inevitable. Here are the others .... - [Planting Your Garden…](https://www.marciahebert.com/2023/05/planting-your-garden-3/) - Consider planting 'this' garden in your early childhood program! - [Inspiring Others...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2023/03/inspiring-others/) - Whether it's a beautiful sunrise, or a special message, each has the power to move us emotionally. I discovered this power long ago and began collecting quotes that spoke to me. I have journals of them. - [A Look Back...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2023/01/a-look-back-3/) - Are you creating magic for the young children in your early childhood program? I hope so! Read on ... - [Beyond the Book—Zero-to-Three Model (A Parent’s Perspective)](https://www.marciahebert.com/2022/11/beyond-the-book-zero-to-three-model-a-parents-perspective/) - Making the shift to Zero to Three in our Child Care Center (where the youngest children and their teachers remain together until the child reaches preschool age) brought more benefits to our infant/toddler program than we could have anticipated. Here is one parent's perspective. - [Beyond the Book—Inspiration for the New School Year](https://www.marciahebert.com/2022/09/beyond-the-book-inspiration-for-the-new-school-year/) - Each year, we closed our child care center, to parents and children, the two days before Labor Day weekend. We worked, and worked hard to get everything ready for the upcoming first day of the new school year. And each year, as director of the program, I spoke to my very large team. This post shares my remarks from 2001 - and will give you an idea or two for your own program. - [Beyond the Book—Organizing the Moving Parts of a Child Care Center](https://www.marciahebert.com/2022/07/beyond-the-book-organizing-the-moving-parts-of-a-child-care-center/) - "Whose job is it?" was a question I asked myself often as Director of a very large Child Care Center. There were many, many moving parts in the course of a day and I was determined to juggle them with skill. This post highlights one of the processes we put in place. These are the "how we did it" details not found in "Beginning to End: The Life Cycle of a Child Care Center" (Yes, this is information Beyond the Book). - [Beyond the Book—The Mentor Teacher Program](https://www.marciahebert.com/2022/05/beyond-the-book-the-mentor-teacher-program/) - As Director of the John Hancock Child Care Center, I knew that the key to a quality early childhood program was to find, hire and retain the finest teachers! I also knew that we had to provide unique, individual opportunities for their professional growth. And so, our Mentor Teacher Program was born! How we did this is the subject of this blog post. - [Beyond the Book—Making Successful Transitions](https://www.marciahebert.com/2022/03/beyond-the-book-making-successful-transitions/) - I have learned that people experience change in very different ways - some embrace it; some dread it; some resist it; and some cannot handle change at all - and retreat. As director, I witnessed each. This caused me to think very carefully about how to present changes in my programs - and make them as gradual as I could. So, when it came to children moving up to the next age group each September, we created a thoughtful and gradual transition for both the children and their parents... - [Beyond the Book—Taking Time to Reflect](https://www.marciahebert.com/2022/01/beyond-the-book-taking-time-to-reflect/) - January is often the month for putting into practice something new and helpful. Have you considered journaling and reflecting about your work days? Here is a way to begin ... - [Beyond the Book—Setting the Stage for the Children](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/11/beyond-the-book-setting-the-stage-for-the-children/) - When we design our early childhood classrooms, we essentially become the director of a Broadway production. We have an empty stage—filled with possibility. We build the set (walls, flooring, doors, windows). We paint the backdrop scenery. We add the furniture and structures and place each—just so. We add the props (all of the smaller objects - ["Beginning to End"—The Life Cycle of a Child Care Center](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/12/beginning-to-end-the-life-cycle-of-a-child-care-center/) - After 40+ years in the field of Early Childhood Education - from teacher to director to consultant to author, I am so pleased to introduce my new book to you! "Beginning to End" is the book I needed when I accepted my first position as Director of a hospital child development center. I could have used a roadmap to help me navigate the ins and outs of being a leader and of building an education organization. This is that book! - [Beyond the Book—Building Your Team](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/05/beyond-the-book-building-your-team/) - If you are the Director of an Early Childhood Program, much of your work centers around finding and hiring your team - and then working together effectively. Building and growing your team will take time. But if you know some of the indicators of success, you can look for these traits in the people you interview. One of these indicators is having a high degree of Emotional Intelligence. - [Beyond the Book—Giving Feedback](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/06/beyond-the-book-giving-feedback/) - If you are the director or supervisor of an early childhood center, school, program or organization, undoubtedly you have had to address performance issues within your team. This is one of the most stressful parts of the job, and I hope what I've learned will be helpful to you. Read on... - [Beyond the Book—The Partnership](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/08/beyond-the-book-the-partnership/) - The partnership between parent and teacher cannot be underestimated. When it is built on mutual trust and respect, everything else falls into place - everything! Read on ... - [Beyond the Book—The Teacher-Parent Partnership](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/10/beyond-the-book-the-teacher-parent-partnership/) - Building a community between children, parents, and teachers is the #1 goal of an early childhood program. So, how do we cultivate a climate where parents feel welcome and relevant in our child care centers? - [Beyond the Book—Receiving Feedback](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/07/beyond-the-book-receiving-feedback/) - To continue the conversation from the previous post about giving feedback, I want to talk a bit about receiving feedback - from the parents in our programs. - [Beyond the Book—Your First (and most important) Days as Director](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/04/beyond-the-book-your-first-and-most-important-days-as-director/) - Once you accept the position as Director, you will need to think long and hard about what kind of director you will be for your team, for the parents, and for the children in your program. I think this is your first, and most important task - before you begin your new job. Read on to gather some thoughts from an experienced director. And then create your vision of you. - [Beyond the Book ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/01/beyond-the-book/) - With the publication and release of my early childhood leadership book, "Beginning to End" - the life cycle of a child care center, these next posts will share a bit more information, tips, strategies ... beyond the book. - [Beyond the Book—Creating Your Vision](https://www.marciahebert.com/2021/02/beyond-the-book-creating-your-vision/) - So, how do we directors begin? With the end in mind. We visualize what our programs will be like when they are running the way we would like them to run - in as much detail as we can dream up. We really see the end result of our work. We sketch, write - whatever gets our creativity going. We take our time and think about everything that matters in the course of a day, week, month, year. For example .... - [My New Adventure ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/11/my-new-adventure/) - From early childhood teacher to director, to consultant, to published author - writing, in order to share what I have learned during my 40+ year career, has become my new adventure. This is my first book! - [Success...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/10/success/) - How would you define Success? Ralph Waldo Emerson's words are ever timely and always inspirational. Enjoy. - [Leadership...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/09/leadership/) - 13 Inspiring Traits of Exceptional Leaders ... - [Inspiration …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/08/inspiration/) - Whether it's a beautiful sunrise, or a special message, each one has the power to move us, emotionally. I discovered this power long ago and began collecting inspirational quotes that spoke to me... - [Planting Your Garden ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/07/planting-your-garden-2/) - I don't know who originally created the following "garden", but beyond the play on words that brings a smile, there is wisdom and guidance here for all of us. - [Keys to Success … Attitude](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/06/keys-to-success-attitude/) - The longer I live, the more I realize the tremendous impact of attitude in a work environment. Hard work and knowledge will get you close, but a positive attitude will get you to the top! - [Keys to Quality …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/05/keys-to-quality/) - Every now and then I come across an article that fits beautifully with our work toward quality early education and care. Here, then, are the twelve characteristics of effective early childhood teachers. When one combines these characteristics with both knowledge and skill, you have the makings of an excellent teacher. - [Working Together: Building a Team](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/04/working-together-building-a-team/) - I love to watch flocks of geese flying over my house in their familiar “V” formation. Graceful. Perfectly spaced. And honking. Within this post, I’ll share what some believe about why geese fly the way they do. And then, and more importantly, what we can learn from them. Enjoy the quick read! - [Spring Cleaning …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/03/spring-cleaning-2/) - Happy Spring! Part of my spring-cleaning ritual has always included reflecting about my life, and taking stock. Spring is my time for tossing out what doesn't fit or work anymore, and thinking about what I might add instead. If my earlier goals no longer seem realistic or important, what should I do with the rest of my life? Should you be doing some spring cleaning today, here are some thoughts to consider. - [Leading by Example …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/02/leading-by-example-2/) - Years ago, I came upon a blog post written by Dharmesh Shah, Co-founder and CTO of HubSpot. He is ‘spot on’ (no pun intended) overall—and his thoughts are relevant to this leadership blog. The following are selected portions of his post, which I offer to you—the leaders (directors, managers, and supervisors) within our early childhood community. - [The Delicate Balance Between Work and Life ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2020/01/the-delicate-balance-between-work-and-life-2/) - How do we balance the demands of our work and our life? Strategies, tips, short-cuts, realistic expectations, setting priorities, managing stress, and cutting ourselves some slack in the process of living and working help greatly. Here are some resources ... - [Endings and Beginnings …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/12/endings-and-beginnings/) - I love both endings and beginnings! Both give me an opportunity to take stock of my Life. Both give me an opportunity to begin again - to take from last year what I now want in my Life. To remember those things that went especially well. And yes, to reflect upon those things that didn't go as well as I had thought. To end and then begin again is energizing! And, it makes my Life interesting! - [Through a New Lens ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/11/through-a-new-lens-2/) - We have family living in Japan. We travel there, and when they come here to the states, they stay with us. It is a time of bridging two cultures, two languages, two ways of living - and in the process, building relationships. And along the way, I have begun to see my home, my ways of doing things, my culture, my language, and my life through another's eyes. More and more I am looking at everything around me through a news lens. And as I reflect, my personal experience mirrors my professional experience - what are my young children seeing, hearing, feeling, as I introduce them to new experiences in the classroom? Am I focused on 'what I am doing' or am I focused on 'what the children are receiving'? I hope the latter ... - [Holidays as Early Childhood Curriculum …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/10/holidays-as-early-childhood-curriculum-2/) - From my vantage point as teacher, then director, and consultant to many, many early childhood programs, I often wonder why we use holidays as our curriculum with very young children ... - [Spaces and Places for Young Children—Thoughtfully Designed](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/09/spaces-and-places-for-young-children-thoughtfully-designed/) - I love creating aesthetically pleasing environments for children! I love the possibilities within each space! I love moving furniture to get just the right placement! I love finding the perfect container for our nature walk treasures! I love adding unique materials to the shelves! And, I love to watch the children discover all that is waiting to be discovered! - [What’s the Hurry …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/08/whats-the-hurry-2/) - More than twenty-five years ago, I had the privilege of speaking with a professor from Tufts University. He had written a book, and was at our AEYC meeting. Little did I know then that my work with young children would be shaped by this chance discussion with David Elkind, author of "The Hurried Child". - [“Read the Air …”](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/07/read-the-air/) - We, in early childhood education, can also tap into this practice. “Reading the air” easily applies to the way we enter a classroom of young children; how we join a group of preschoolers already at play; and how we enter a conversation between colleagues. Do we enter quietly, respectfully, and take in all that is happening within the space? Do we observe and listen first? And then, do we enter in a way that “fits” with what is already happening? Do we “read the air?” - [Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/06/why-reading-aloud-to-our-children-will-change-their-lives-forever-2/) - Reading aloud to children before they start school is a win/win situation for all concerned. The research is in. There are huge gains to be made—for children and adults alike. I’ll spend the next few minutes hopefully inspiring you to read, read, read aloud to the young children in your life and, as Mem Fox says, “change the world one page at a time.” - [Helping Children Make Friends](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/05/helping-children-make-friends/) - A preschool classroom isn’t a community unless every child has at least one friend. We have found that children need three types of skills to make and keep friends. They must be able to establish contact with another child; they must be able to maintain a positive relationship; and they must be able to negotiate when a conflict arises. And, this is where we teachers come in. By coaching and teaching, we can help children practice the skills they need to make friends. - [Make Time to Talk with Children](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/04/make-time-to-talk-with-children-3/) - Talking with children makes a difference! "The more that adults intentionally make time for talking and sharing experiences, the more support there is for children's language development and later reading comprehension success." from the National Institute for Literacy Are you making time to talk? - [Let them be Little...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/03/let-them-be-little-3/) - The longer I live, the less I understand the rationale behind the "rushing," the "hurriedness," the "sense of urgency" that accompanies everything we do today. Why the fast lane? Where are we going? What are we racing to? - [A Look Back ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/01/a-look-back/) - As Director of an early childhood program, are you creating a environment for magic? - [The 20th Reunion at the John Hancock Child Care Center](https://www.marciahebert.com/2019/02/the-20th-reunion-at-the-john-hancock-child-care-center/) - It has been eight years since our John Hancock Child Care Center in Boston closed. As we were all saddened by the corporate decision, we were determined to make our last months memorable. The following is from my journal entry of June, 2010. “On a recent summer afternoon—a Saturday—when so many other events are planned, they came to ours! Hundreds of people attended. Unbelievable! The line to the front door stretched down the block! The perfect celebration for our 20 years as the John Hancock Child Care Center. And, it was quite the party! - [The Image of a Child](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/11/the-image-of-a-child-2/) - In Reggio Emilia there is much discussion around the principle – The Image of the Child. For it is the point from which all teaching and learning begin. How much time have we spent thinking about our image of the child? And, do our early childhood settings reflect the image we hold? - [Building a Team: The Developmental Stages of a Teacher](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/10/building-a-team-the-developmental-stages-of-a-teacher-2/) - When designing staff development opportunities, directors of early childhood programs must know the individual members of their teams. And, if developmental events are to really make a positive impact, they must, as a first step in assessing training needs, observe and reflect upon the ages and stages of these teachers. - [Building a Team: The First Days – Orientation](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/09/building-a-team-the-first-days-orientation/) - When it comes to building a team and adding to our staff, I put a lot of effort into the “new” teacher’s first week. When people know what is expected of them, when they know who, what, where, when, why, and how about the child care center, they begin their work more confidently. - [Building a Team](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/08/building-a-team-2/) - All this summer, I watched many flock of geese fly over my house in their familiar “V” formation. Consider what some believe about why geese fly the way they do. And then, consider what we can learn from them ... - [Building a Team: First Things First …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/07/building-a-team-first-things-first-2/) - When it comes to hiring, leave no stone unturned – look everywhere! - [Working Together: Attitude](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/06/working-together-attitude-2/) - One factor that has a tremendous impact on the ability of teams to work together is ATTITUDE! - [Working Together: A Word About Expectations](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/05/working-together-a-word-about-expectations-2/) - How does a director or leader of an early childhood program cultivate a climate in which people consistently do their best? - [Working Together: Characteristics of Effective Teachers](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/04/working-together-characteristics-of-effective-teachers-2/) - If we're going to teach young children, our aim should be high! What does it take to become an effective early childhood teacher and to excel in our profession? - [Make Time to Talk with Children](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/03/make-time-to-talk-with-children-2/) - Young children need practice engaging in conversation with the important adults in their lives. A shared conversation – a two-way dialogue – a back-and-forth. By our talking with them, they build their speaking and listening skills. They build important language skills, necessary for later reading and comprehension. The question for us is, "How do we do this effectively?" - [Let them be Little](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/02/let-them-be-little-2/) - The longer I live, the less I understand the "rushing," the "hurriedness," the "sense of urgency" that accompanies everything we do today. Why the fast lane? Where are we going? What are we racing to? Can't we slow things down – for our children? Can't we celebrate the ordinary moments – that, as we know, are anything but ordinary! Can't we follow the children's lead in this? And, can we let them be little? - [All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten](https://www.marciahebert.com/2016/01/all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten/) - One of the most delightful and inspirational writers about life is Robert Fulghum. He writes with wit and wisdom - you will smile and nod as you read . Enjoy this excerpt from one of his most popular books, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, published in 1989. It begins - “Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there, in the sandbox at preschool." Enjoy! - [Plotting the Course ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/12/plotting-the-course/) - “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. - [Beginnings – A Shared Vision …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/11/beginnings-a-shared-vision-2/) - 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! - [Professionalism ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/10/professionalism/) - 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 ... - [Beginnings ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/09/beginnings-2/) - 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! - [Strategic Planning …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/08/strategic-planning/) - 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. - [Places of Delight and Wonder ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/07/places-of-delight-and-wonder/) - “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 - [Just Playing …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/06/just-playing/) - 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." - [The Effective Director …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/05/the-effective-director/) - 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. - [Spring Cleaning ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/03/spring-cleaning/) - 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: - [Giving Feedback – The First Step …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/12/giving-feedback-the-first-step/) - Many directors struggle with giving constructive feedback to their teachers. Many try to avoid it and hope that poor performance, or even missing a deadline once, will somehow improve on its own. I’m here to tell you that it does not happen on its own. Directors must intervene in some way to bring the problem to light, and to set the appropriate expectation for future performance. What I have learned in managing hundreds of people is that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ In other words, if I can prevent something from happening in the first place, then I won’t have to deal with it later. Time is a precious commodity to the director of a child care center; how to make the most of it is the never ending quest! - [Giving Feedback … (Part Two)](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/01/giving-feedback-part-two/) - If you are the director or supervisor of an organization, undoubtedly you have had to address numerous performance issues. This post continues the topic, Giving Feedback. As you navigate one of the most stressful parts of a supervisor’s job, I hope it will be helpful to you. I address some of the potential pitfalls and some of the successful techniques, and encourage you to start practicing. If you have a tried-and-true strategy for addressing concerns, continue to use it! But, if you are the supervisor who would rather let things go, and hope for the best – instead of confronting a performance issue – then read on, begin with small steps, and try it this way. Once you begin to address concerns in a timely fashion; once you have a template for shaping your words and conversations; and, once you meet with satisfaction and turn a performance issue around by giving feedback, you will be empowered. It gets easier each time you do it. You still have to prepare, but your delivery becomes more confident, and the results more successful. - [Giving Feedback … (Part Three)](https://www.marciahebert.com/2015/02/giving-feedback-part-three/) - 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! - [An Attitude of Gratitude ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/11/an-attitude-of-gratitude/) - Because we hold the same vision for quality care and early education for our young children, it has been a joy to work with so many directors and teachers to make positive differences for children. I am grateful for your friendship! - [Keys to Success](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/10/keys-to-success/) - From time to time, I need a little inspiration. I’m probably not alone in this. I love to find “quick reads” that leave me energized, uplifted, and keep me focused on my work. So, from my "inspiration folder," I thought to pass these Keys to Success on to you – enjoy! - [“Read the Air …”](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/09/read-the-air-2/) - The Japanese people have an expression, “read the air,” which, in essence, means to take in one’s surroundings before acting. Take a few moments to use one’s senses – observe and listen – to gauge what is happening in this place at this moment, before doing anything else. "Reading the air" is a respectful practice and we in early childhood education can easily apply it in our work. If you haven't yet spent some good time observing and listening to the hum of your classroom, I invite you to add this practice to your teaching this new school year. - [Ten Commandments for Teachers …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/07/ten-commandments-for-teachers/) - Grace L. Mitchell was my professional mentor, my motivator, my cheerleader, my role model, and my friend. A long, long time ago, she gave me her Ten Commandments for Teachers. It is timeless, and often made it to the bulletin board in our staff room. It is concise, and yet filled with best practices and positive values. Embedded in Grace’s words, you can hear her philosophy, visualize her dramatic flair, and understand the depth and breadth of her teaching. We, who worked with her, were deeply inspired. She ignited our passion of caring for and educating young children and we immersed ourselves in this field – always stretching, always growing. - [Leading by Example ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/06/leading-by-example/) - I recently came upon a blog post written by Dharmesh Shah, Co-founder and CTO of HubSpot. He is ‘spot on’ (no pun intended) – and his thoughts are relevant to this leadership blog. The following are selected portions of his post, which I offer to you – the leaders (directors, managers, and supervisors) within our - [Mentoring – Fitting the Pieces Together …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/05/mentoring-fitting-the-pieces-together/) - When we added the "mentor teacher" rung to the career ladder in our early childhood program, we provided recognition to our experienced and skilled teachers. We offered learning opportunities to them, particularly in the areas of peer coaching, reflection, leadership, and adult development. In addition, we offered learning opportunities to our novice teachers (protégés) who were committed to furthering their professional development. And the end result was improvement in the overall quality of our entire program. We learned a lot along the way - to be passed on to you - who might be interested in doing the same thing in your program. - [A Mentoring Program …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/04/a-mentoring-program/) - If you are the Director of an early childhood program, I’ll bet you have asked yourself the same question I asked myself years ago – how could we retain our fabulous teachers while keeping them in teaching positions? So often teachers had to become supervisors and directors in order to grow in our field. But, many wonderful teachers didn’t want to move into leadership and management. They were fabulous teachers!!!! So, how could we retain them – and yet, offer them growth and professional development doing what they loved, and were very good at? - [Small Groups ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/03/small-groups/) - One of the most underused strategies in an early childhood classroom is also one of the most beneficial to both teachers and children. But, we often don’t even think of breaking up the large group into smaller, subsets of children during the course of the day. "Small Groups" gives new meaning to "Less is More". - [Food for Thought ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/02/food-for-thought/) - We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to produce over 100 percent. Here’s a little math that might prove helpful in the future. - [The Primary Caregiver …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2014/01/the-primary-caregiver/) - I am a huge proponent of the primary caregiver system – because it works! It works for children; it works for parents; it works for teachers; and it works for directors. It is the glue that holds teachers responsible and accountable for providing consistent, appropriate care and learning experiences for each child. - [Happy New Year!](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/12/happy-new-year/) - On this eve of the New Year, I tend to reflect on all of the things that really mattered this past year. In my work with you – as consultant, coach, mentor, and teacher – what got my passions fueled? Who inspired me each day? What motivated me? Where did I find the answers? How did I ask the questions? Most importantly, did I make a positive difference? On this eve of the New Year I have, for you, two gifts. - [Holidays as Early Childhood Curriculum …](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/11/holidays-as-early-childhood-curriculum/) - From my vantage point as teacher, then director, and now consultant to many many early childhood programs, I often wonder why we celebrate holidays in our programs with very young children. - [An Invitation ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/10/1156/) - Performance management consulting probably best describes what I do. Because I actually want to make a difference – a positive difference – as a result of my consulting, coaching, mentoring, and teaching. My goal is to inspire and motivate each team to try another way, a better technique, a way of working with children and adults that improves their performance. My philosophy is to bring my best to work each day! So, I love working with programs whose director and teachers want to perform optimally as well. It’s a perfect fit! So, while I provide workshops and training sessions that are written and delivered for each unique program and team, I also work for, and with, the director and management team. I observe and brainstorm possibilities and solutions around staff, parent, child, and environment issues; I facilitate discussion among teachers about developmentally appropriate curriculum, materials, and experiences; I develop strategic plans with directors for expansion, new space, new facilities, new organizational structure; I introduce new elements into the existing performance package, setting clear expectations and goals. And I am always available to talk with directors about anything and everything that happens in an early childhood program – in person, over the phone, or via email. I know life in an early childhood program – I lived it for more than thirty years! And, I learned much through my experiences... - [Beginnings ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/09/1145/) - A new day! A new start! A new school year! As the Director of an Early Childhood program, I’ve always loved beginnings. They’ve given me the opportunity to start over again every single year – to set the tone, to set the expectations, to set the goals, and to set the roadmap. - [Through a New Lens ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/08/through-a-new-lens/) - This month of August, as we begin the designing, the planning, and the purchasing for our classrooms, I ask you to think about a “different perspective.” Will you make the shift in your head from what you are doing to what the children are receiving? It’s a subtle shift, but it is transformational! Will you become the child and walk in his shoes? Will you let go of some of your “comfortable” habits and routine ways of planning activities for the children; designing space for the children; creating routines and schedules for the children? Will you try something a bit different? Will you look through a new lens as you begin this school year? Will you focus your energy first on the children, and their individual and collective experiences with you? And then, on your planning, designing, and implementing phases? I believe that if we can use all of our senses, as our children do, we can more fully understand their experiences in our classrooms. And, in the process, together create an extraordinary child-focused, child-centered program. - [Planting Your Garden ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/07/planting-your-garden/) - Planting this particular garden of "p"s, "squash," "let us," and "turn up" might just be the thing to do as you reflect on the coming school year. Enjoy! - [Coping with Change – Strategies for Weathering the Storm](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/06/coping-with-change-strategies-for-weathering-the-storm/) - “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” (Charles Darwin) Today, we live in an age of instability; so, to think more proactively, and plan for the inevitable or, to actually make the changes needed, is a matter of survival, not choice. - [Managing Effectively – Reining in the “Time Robbers”](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/05/managing-effectively-reining-in-the-time-robbers/) - When we begin to take a closer look at how we spend our time, we can begin to control it, and become more productive in the process. This is the essence of effective management. - [The Delicate Balance Between Work and Life ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/04/the-delicate-balance-between-work-and-life/) - In a world that seems to be moving ever faster, finding the delicate balance between our work and our personal lives is a goal to attain for many. Strategies, tips, short-cuts, realistic expectations, setting priorities, managing stress, and cutting ourselves some slack in the process of living and working help greatly. And so, I have included some resources we have found helpful. My hope is that you will find them helpful as well. - [Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/03/why-reading-aloud-to-our-children-will-change-their-lives-forever/) - Reading aloud to children before they start school is a win/win situation for all concerned. The research is in. There are huge gains to be made – for children and adults alike. I’ll spend the next few minutes hopefully inspiring you to read, read, read aloud to the young children in your life and, as Mem Fox, author, professor, and respected literacy expert, says, “change the world one page at a time.” - [What's the Hurry?](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/02/whats-the-hurry/) - My desire for all of us who live and work with young children is to read, absorb, and reflect upon The Hurried Child. And if what David Elkind says speaks to you as well, make changes in your life – and in your work with these little ones. - [De-Clutter Your Classrooms – For the Children!](https://www.marciahebert.com/2013/01/de-clutter-your-classrooms-for-the-children/) - There is good reason and solid research behind “de-cluttering our early childhood environments,” and it focuses our thoughts and energies on the children. If you have read my blog posts, you’ll understand that the rationale behind my decisions and actions as a teacher and director focuses on what is the best practice – for the children! De-cluttering our environments is one such practice. - [Thinking About Transitions ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/12/thinking-about-transitions/) - Have we given enough thought to the many changes and many transitions that our children experience throughout the day? More importantly, have we thought about the impact of these transitions on the children? Are we producing anticipation, expectation, and excitement, or, are we causing uncertainty, anxiety, and stress? Read on. - [How Do I Learn Just Who I Am?](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/11/how-do-i-learn-just-who-i-am/) - "I learn from you who I am. Within your eyes I see reflected me. Within your voice I hear how you see me. You are the mirror that I look into and mold the image of myself." - [How Are Our Classroom Environments Working?](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/10/how-are-our-classroom-environments-working/) - After the planning, designing, arranging, and equipping has been accomplished, we will quickly know if the environment we have created for the children is or is not working! Our observations of the children’s behavior will tell us what we need to do next, and whether we need to improve the environment, the materials, or the activities. - [Do Our Classroom Environments Send the Right Messages to the Children? ](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/09/do-our-classroom-environments-send-the-right-messages-to-the-children/) - Teachers who are aware of the power of the environment arrange their spaces thoughtfully and intentionally to send the messages they want children to receive. - [Interesting Elements to Add to our Environments for Children](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/08/interesting-elements-to-add-to-our-environments-for-children/) - Sometimes, we come upon a piece of equipment or an unlikely object that works so well in our programs for young children that we just have to pass the idea on. Such is the intent of this post. - [Spaces and Places – Thoughtfully Designed](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/07/spaces-and-places-thoughtfully-designed/) - “The aesthetic appeal is all about color, lighting, display, texture, nature, sounds, and smells; and the warm, home-like feel is about softness, real-life materials blended into the child’s world of things.” This is a thoughtful, intentional design for early childhood environments. - [Spaces and Places – The Basics of Designing Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Environments](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/06/spaces-and-places-the-basics-of-designing-infant-toddler-and-preschool-environments/) - Who will live in this space? If we can thoughtfully and in great detail answer this one question, and, in essence, become these children, we will be well on our way to designing environments that meet both the developmental needs and interests of their inhabitants. - [Spaces and Places](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/05/spaces-and-places/) - Years ago, when we were getting ready to open the John Hancock Child Care Center in Boston, I had the privilege of working with Jim Greenman (author of Caring Spaces, Learning Places [Children’s Environments That Work] and Places for Childhoods: Making Quality Happen in the Real World). Jim had been hired to design the indoor - [Let them be Little](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/11/let-them-be-little/) - The longer I live, the less I understand the "rushing," the "hurriedness," the "sense of urgency" that accompanies everything we do today. Why the fast lane? Where are we going? What are we racing to? Can't we slow things down – for our children? Can't we celebrate the ordinary moments – that, as we know, are anything but ordinary! Can't we follow the children's lead in this? And, can we let them be little? - [The Partnership](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/04/the-partnership/) - The partnership between the parent and the teacher cannot be underestimated. When it is built on mutual trust and respect, everything else falls into place. Everything! - [When Parents Have Concerns](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/03/when-parents-have-concerns/) - Even in the most competently run early childhood programs, parents have concerns and sometimes complaints. And, they have a right and a responsibility to express their concerns, and, to receive thoughtful responses. There are some general strategies to use in these situations – strategies that will also help us continue to build positive relationships. Read on... - [Parents Can Teach Us About Their Children – If We Ask Some Good Questions](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/02/parents-can-teach-us-about-their-children-if-we-ask-some-good-questions/) - As early childhood educators, helping relationships develop naturally and authentically between parents, teachers, and children is what we do. Some of us do this with ease. Some of us need a little guidance. And some of us have used the strategy of building the parent relationship through the child with much success. - [Our Relationship With Parents](https://www.marciahebert.com/2012/01/our-relationship-with-parents/) - Parents – the third leg of the three-legged stool. When all three are in balance, so is the stool. The stool can be a metaphor for the classroom, the school, the organization. To the director of the early childhood program, there is nothing more important than balancing this stool! The relationship between the child, the teacher, and the parent is the foundation for everything that happens in the program. How to do this effectively and build a true partnership is the challenge and the objective. - [A Look Back ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/12/a-look-back-2/) - This past year I have had the privilege of working with numerous directors of early childhood programs, as well as their teams of teachers. And what I experienced, time and time again, was their passion, their enthusiasm, and their strong commitment to quality. I also observed many magical moments, as I moved from program to program and watched masterful teachers in action. We are fortunate to have these people in our programs. As we know, the magic begins with a few, and then ripples throughout the organization. And, as we also know, it begins at the top. - [Make Time to Talk with Children](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/10/make-time-to-talk-with-children/) - Young children need practice engaging in conversation with the important adults in their lives. A shared conversation – a two-way dialogue – a back-and-forth. By our talking with them, they build their speaking and listening skills. They build important language skills, necessary for later reading and comprehension. The question for us is, "How do we do this effectively?" - [The Image of a Child](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/09/the-image-of-a-child/) - In Reggio Emilia there is much discussion around the principle – The Image of the Child. For it is the point from which all teaching and learning begin. How much time have we spent thinking about our image of the child? And, do our early childhood settings reflect the image we hold? - [Working Together: A Word About Expectations ](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/04/working-together-a-word-about-expectations/) - How does a director or leader of an early childhood program cultivate a climate in which people consistently do their best? - [Building a Team: The Developmental Stages of a Teacher](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/02/building-a-team-the-developmental-stages-of-a-teacher/) - When designing staff development opportunities, directors of early childhood programs must know the individual members of their teams. And, if developmental events are to really make a positive impact, they must, as a first step in assessing training needs, observe and reflect upon the ages and stages of these teachers. - [Beginnings: Plotting the Course ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2010/11/beginnings-plotting-the-course/) - “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 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 - [The Hundred Languages of Children](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/08/the-hundred-languages-of-children/) - "The Hundred Languages of Children," written by Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia approach, is beautiful and thought-provoking, and a way to reflect upon our work with young children as we begin the new school year. - [Working Together: Communicating Effectively](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/07/working-together-communicating-effectively-2/) - As leaders and directors of organizations, we do a great deal of communicating. When we focus on, and concentrate on our listening – in every interaction – our skills improve and we will communicate more effectively! - [Working Together: Are you a good listener?](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/06/working-together-are-you-a-good-listener/) - Listening – active listening – is key in communicating effectively. Are you a good listener, and do you take the time to reflect upon how you are coming across to others? - [Connections ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2010/07/connections-2/) - It is really all about making connections, and about sharing what we know and what we have learned. And, it’s about building relationships with like-minded people who share our passions. - [Working Together: Attitude](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/03/working-together-attitude/) - One factor that has a tremendous impact on the ability of teams to work together is ATTITUDE! - [Working Together: Characteristics of Effective Teachers](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/05/working-together-characteristics-of-effective-teachers/) - If we're going to teach young children, our aim should be high! What does it take to become an effective early childhood teacher and to excel in our profession? - [Building a Team: The First Two Days – Orientation](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/01/building-a-team-the-first-two-days-–-orientation/) - When it comes to building a team and adding to our staff, I put a lot of effort into the “new” teacher’s first week. When people know what is expected of them, when they know who, what, where, when, why, and how about the child care center, they begin their work more confidently. - [Building a Team: First Things First ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2011/01/building-a-team-first-things-first/) - When it comes to hiring, leave no stone unturned – look everywhere! - [Building a Team](https://www.marciahebert.com/2010/12/building-a-team/) - All this fall, I watched many flock of geese fly over my house in their familiar “V” formation. Consider what some believe about why geese fly the way they do. And then, consider what we can learn from them ... - [Beginnings: A Shared Vision ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2010/10/beginnings-a-shared-vision/) - What is important to us in our work with young children, their families, and one another? And, have we really thought these things through? Because, ultimately, shouldn’t we see evidence – in the child care center, and in the classroom – of what matters? Shouldn’t the words in our philosophy, our mission statement, our goals, - [Beginnings: Professionalism ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2010/10/beginnings-professionalism/) - Each year, required reading for my team of early childhood teachers and supervisors is an article by M. Parker Anderson entitled, “Professionalism: The Missing Ingredient for Excellence in the Workplace.” It is required because, after years of living on this planet and interacting with thousands, I’m dismayed that I agree with her assessment that, “professionalism - [Beginnings ...](https://www.marciahebert.com/2010/09/beginnings/) - A new day! A new start! A new school year! As the Director of an Early Childhood program, I’ve always loved beginnings. They’ve given me the opportunity to start over again every single year. What a gift! To start fresh – to take what I’ve learned from the previous year and add it to my practice. - [My First Post – The 20th Reunion at the John Hancock Child Care Center](https://www.marciahebert.com/2010/07/the-first-post/) - a post about being first. ## Pages - [About Me](https://www.marciahebert.com/about/) - Welcome to my Early Childhood Leadership Web site! “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” – Lao Tzu This quote best sums up my life, for I am a teacher—first, last, and always. From my earliest - [Consulting, Mentoring, and Coaching](https://www.marciahebert.com/consulting-mentoring-and-coaching/) - Because my focus has now shifted to writing exclusively, I no longer provide consulting, mentoring, and coaching for early childhood programs. But I decided to keep these pages on my website, because they, too, might be food for thought for you – as you continue your professional journey. I’m pleased to share. When I was - [Contact Me](https://www.marciahebert.com/contact-me/) - You can contact me via email at marciahebert@earthlink.net. - [Directors' Comments](https://www.marciahebert.com/directors-comments/) - The following are unsolicited comments from directors and teachers during my consulting years. I received numerous emails and notes after delivering training sessions, workshops, consulting, coaching, and mentoring services. I thought you might find the feedback helpful, as you consider how best I can support you in your work. As you’ll see, I work with - [Workshops and Training](https://www.marciahebert.com/workshops-and-training/) - Because my focus has now shifted to writing exclusively, I no longer provide workshops and training for early childhood programs. But I decided to keep these pages on my website, because they, too, might be food for thought for you—as you mentor, coach, and teach your own colleagues. I’m pleased to share. As with all training ## Categories - [Early Childhood](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/early-childhood/) - [John Hancock Child Care Center](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/john-hancock-child-care-center/) - [Managing Early Childhood Programs](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/managing-early-childhood-programs/) - [Training for Early Childhood Directors](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/training-for-early-childhood-directors/) - [Early Childhood Leadership](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/early-childhood-leadership/) - [Early Childhood Teachers](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/early-childhood-teachers/) - [Performance Management Skills](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/performance-management-skills/) - [For Early Childhood Directors](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/for-early-childhood-directors/) - [Early Childhood Curriculum](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/early-childhood-curriculum/) - [Training for Early Childhood Professionals](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/training-for-early-childhood-professionals/) - [Quality Early Education and Care](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/quality-early-education-and-care/) - [Child Care](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/child-care/) - [Early Childhood Professionals](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/early-childhood-professionals/) - [Hiring and Building a Team](https://www.marciahebert.com/category/hiring-and-building-a-team/)