I just wante dto share that I have just completed the NAEYC accreditation process this past school year. Going through the process as a team always you to look at all of the standards set and see how your are meeting those standards, and recognizing areas that need improvement. Having the NAEYC Accreditation certificate is more than just a certificate on the wall, but a reflection of the quality, dedication, and on-going process of everyone in the program.
In what ways does Roberto inspire you to stronger leadership and empowerment?
Roberto's approach towards making positive changes is very inspiring. He used a coaching and community-building perspective to launch his changes that became more of a community project than a managers. This style of leadership is very inspiring because he focuses on the team, he doesn't use his director title to be authoritative.
Can you imagine adapting any of his innovative practices?
Roberto's meetings were very well organized. He pushed parents and teachers to self-reflect, and become deeper thinkers in the process. When he asked his teachers in the toddler room to remove their clocks on the wall, it automatically makes sense. When children are expected to clean up during a very meaningful activity because of the time, it really shuts them down. We have a clock in our room, but we are very flexible and follow the children's lead. Some days we may eat lunch at 11:30, sometimes it may be at 11:00. The children will let us know when they are hungry, when to clean up, etc. Sometimes they'll decide to stay inside at centers than go outside, even though our written schedule has it the other way around. When the children have more lead, great things happen.
What are your next steps?
I would love to remove the clock from the walls. A clock should not dictate how the day goes, and for that alone, it is worth removing. I will ask my teacher about removing it for a week just to observe what changes will take place with out it.
Hi Anjo,
ReplyDeleteI first wanted to congratulate you and your program. I have never gone through that kind of experience, but I hear it is a lot of work and I have heard some stories. Keep up the good work.
You mentioned that you would like to remove the clock from the wall of the classroom because it should not dictate how the day should go. I like the sound of that and this can also help to to promote having any hurried time for the children. Without having a clock in the classroom, what other resources or ways will you have to have a sense of time? How will the the daily schedule flow without having a clock? Will all the teachers be staring at watches/phones to see the time? Will you need to change the schedule for the classroom so you can successfully remove the clock, which was previously used to dictate time?
Hi Anjoleen,
ReplyDeleteAccreditation is something I have been thinking about for a long time. This is something that I wonder about in terms of neo-liberalism and oppression. Here are some questions I consider in my own work -- especially because accreditation is found at the college level and when I worked as a teacher.
Who gets to decide how to define accrediation? Does the cost of accreditation leave some programs out? Should accreditation be central to a budget and come before resources and support of children, teachers, and families? Can a director position accreditation as a way to oppress teachers, children, and families? Can the overall process of accreditation silence the possibilities of what oculd be a site? In what ways does the practice of accreditation further competition and capitalism rather than the development of programs that listen and respond to children? Can both exist together?
Jeanne