In-House Newsletter
June 2018
Education Specialist
Coaching Strategies At-a-Glance
Whether you are having a Powerful Interaction with a teacher during a planned coaching session or in a spontaneous meeting in the hallway, this At-a-Glance can be a helpful reminder of Powerful Interactions steps and strategies.
Step One: Be Present
· Quiet the Static. Adjust to find the “just right fit.”
Step Two: Connect
· Be Trustworthy. Be on time. Refer to past conversations and discoveries to recall your shared history of working and learning together.
· Listen to Learn. Ask questions to learn more. Remember everyone brings expertise to the table.
· Communicate to Form a Partnership. Keep the conversation two-way. Pause often for think time and let your partner know you are thinking.
Step Three: Extend Learning
· Focus on Goals. Restate the purpose as you open your meeting. Review the goal you set together.
· Notice Moments of Effectiveness. Use “I notice” statements. Be prepared with a few clear notes identifying the moments of effectiveness you want to highlight. Highlight why the teacher’s actions and words are important to teaching and learning. Avoid judgmental or evaluative words (“I liked how you did…”). Instead, say
§ I noticed _________.
§ I was watching children do________.
§ I saw _______during the transition.
I noticed you using _______as a strategy for _______.
· Use Prompts and Questions to Think Together.
o Use open-ended questions. Sometimes the phrases “Let’s think about…” or “I wonder about…” or “I’m interested to know more about…” invite a conversation more than simply asking, “Why did you do that?” Discussion starters to follow “I notice” statements include
§ I’m curious to know what you observed.
§ During this experience, what worked well for you? Why do you think so?
§ Tell me more about_______.
§ I am interested to know more about your decision to ______.
o Highlight a strategy the teacher uses “unconsciously” and encourage her to use it with more intention.
o Encourage him to try a new strategy.
o Suggest a resource that might be helpful.
o Offer to model a strategy.
· Document Plans and Progress Together. Invite the educator to summarize the conversation and establish a time frame for completing the next step. Stay in touch. Invite the teacher to email you with a success story. Send them a note of encouragement.
Rainbow Representative
Staff Appreciation Idea- Thursday, June 21st is National Smoothie Day. Show your teachers how much their hard work is appreciated by creating a smoothie bar! This can include a variety of frozen fruits, fruit juices, and yogurt. From now until the 21st, put paper flip flops in your staff lounge, and encourage the teachers to write positive comments about one another! You might need to get the positive comments flowing by starting a few on your own!
Family Connection Idea- Sunday, June 17th is Father's Day. Celebrate all the special fathers at your center! Encourage each classroom to create a small Father's Day gift. This can be something as simple as a Thank You card and a hand print, or more complicated. Encourage the classes to wrap their gift, and send it home with the family before the weekend.
See Rainbow's Pinterest page for more ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/rainbowccc/fathers-day/
Each month, we will continue to provide ideas as well as general tips for connecting with staff and families. We would also love to hear your ideas and see your hard work! Please send ideas and pictures of completed activities to education@rainbowccc.com.
Health, Safety and Licensing Coordinator
Extreme Weather Safety
It’s that time of year again, the sun is shining, birds are chirping and the heat is blazing! We’re frequenting the outside, enjoying activities and spending time with loved ones. While soaking up that hot sun, we must also be very mindful of our little ones. They run and play without a care in the world, and in most cases, are distracted by the fun they’re having. I can recall being so engulfed in a game of tag that I forgot I was thirsty or perhaps needed a break. Therefore, we must remain proactive in our approach of protecting our children from the elements. Did you know that in recent years, extreme heat has caused more deaths than all other weather events, including floods? Individuals who are at greater risk from the effects of heat include children and senior citizens. Given this information we as a company must be dedicated to safeguarding our main priority, our children. Listed below are a few tips on doing just that. By following these tips, we can prevent extreme weather incidents from happening.
1. Do NOT leave children unsupervised in parked cars/buses. Even in less threatening temperatures, vehicles can rapidly heat up to dangerous temperatures. A child left inside a car is at risk for severe heat-related illnesses and/or death, even if the windows are cracked open.
2. Seek shelter in cool areas. Air-conditioning is the best form of protection against heat-related illness, so be sure to spend as much time in air-conditioned spaces (e.g., shopping malls, public libraries, heat-relief shelters) as possible during extreme heat waves.
3. Stay informed. Listen to local news and weather channels for health, safety and weather-related updates, including heat warnings, watches and advisories. Follow the guidance from local officials.
4. Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen. Choose lightweight, light-colored, and breathable fabrics (such as cotton), as well as broad-spectrum sunscreen (with protection from both UVA and UVB sun rays) to protect you and your child from the heat and potential sun-related skin damage.
5. Drink lots of fluids. Remember to drink plenty of liquids, regardless of your activity level. Check your baby’s diaper for concentrated (dark in color) urine, which can indicate dehydration. Fluids should be drunk before, during and after being exposed to extreme heat. Also, avoid hot meals as they may increase body heat.
6. Know how to identify heat-related illnesses. Learn symptoms and signs of heat-related illnesses/conditions such as heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps, and severe sunburn. If children show these symptoms, seek medical assistance immediately. Refer to the CDC website for a complete list of health conditions caused by extreme heat exposure, and how to remedy them.
The tips above are just the start of knowing how to prepare for and respond to extreme heat. Use the following resources to help ensure your readiness. Department of Homeland Security. Ready Kids: Extreme Heat. http://www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts/extreme-heat