Journal 6

Activity 4. 1 Role-Playing Scenario #1 Janet, Jessie, and Michelle


1.The situation with Jessie and Michelle is very complicated. The mother has a great deal of stress on her because she has very little help coming from her husband. With her having to work outside of the home she is faced with a schedule that has very little time in it for family life. She wants to spend more time with her Jessie, but providing for their basic needs a stronger pull.

2.Although, Michelle has a love for what she does being honest, respectful, and up front with Janet completely is very important. She does have a life outside of the school and all parents should respect that.

3. Janet is a parent that has chosen to send her son to this facility and because of that she has a right to know what is going on inside his classroom. Her concerns should be addressed.

4. I think that if both adults put the interest of the child first the meet could be very productive.

5. The fact that Janet and Michelle are having some communication issues only affect's Jessie's behavior if they together do not attempt to fiure out as a team how to help him by finding out what is causing his behavior problems.

6-8. It is Michelle's job to discuss late pickups if it is causing her to leave the facility after closing hours. And she should inform the director so, that the director could speak with her as well to see if there is a possible solution to her problem. To avoid further confrontations about it. The directors job is to make sure that the policies for the school are being respected when it comes to the children, their families, and staff.

9. The director could promote the staff as a group of respected professionals by providing training that educates her staff better when it comes to dealing with conflict with children and their families.

10. Michelle has a personnal life outside of the facility. But,once she enters the work place her focus should be on the children and the families that she serve. The fact that she does not make enough money or have a boy friend is out of place while working with the children and their families. If she needs to increase her salary she should talk with the director in maybe looking at moving up on the job.

11. There were some advantages and dis-advantages with Michelle not addressing Jessie's behavior sooner. The advantage could have been that she was working with him giving him a chance to redirect his behavior through intervention. And the dis-advantage when a child's behavior changes it is important to inform the parents immediately so, that it could be something that you are working on together. There may have been some changes in the home that would reflect his behavior. The parent and you are a team. You do not have to work alone.

12. Jannet's stress level is extremely high at home alone. With her boss there is an added stress level. How she is dealing with both of them could be the cause of Jessie's behavior in how she is dealing with him? By you giving her support and her not feeling all alone this may help her.

13. I would try to be accommodating to Janet. I would first be prepared to stay over time for this meeting. If it is not the habit of this parent to pick her child up late and all of a sudden this is the case, that is an indication of a problem. Second, I would let Janet take the floor and vent out her concerns and stresses. After listening to her that would give me some in sight on what I am up against and how to address it. Listening is the key. Thirdly, I would address the issues as mentioned to the best of my ability. If there is something that I could not answer I would assure her of getting the proper answer. Listening is the key to solving the problem. Then helping to form a solution.


4.2 Role-Playing Scenario Number Two: Amy and Elizabeth

1. I think that since Amy put so, much time into preparing the lesson plans that Elizabeth should have discussed her plans with her. Not discussing them and taking it upon her self to do what she wants is going to cause conflict.

2. Yes.

3. Amy should bring all the teachers together to discuss with them why she is taking the approach to  prepare the lesson plans for the teachers and get their input on it. The job of the director is to allow the teachers to teach the children in the classrooms. Even, though she was a lead teacher before these are teachers that are actually in the classrooms working with the children. She should approve the lesson plans but let them prepare them.

4. She could have been respectful, but stress clearly the importance of following the plan.

 5.I feel that it was Elizabeth's job since she missed the meeting. Amy may have felt shy to call her on off hours.

6. The stress is high for both of them. Both have personnal lives and the job is interwined. Both take their job seriously but there must be a balance.

7. The director wants that everyone is on the same page. She should bring all teachers together. Her job is a stressful and busy job without adding more to it. Everyone must play their part. The director hired the teachers to teach.

8.  The director sitting down with the teachers with a theme for several months and have the teachers work together as a team to set the lesson plans up so, that everyone is on the same page.


Activity 4.3 Role-Playing Scenario Number Three: Eric, Mother, and Teacher
Discussion Questions:
1. When she arrived at the new school to discover that his medical and educational records had been
transferred from his old school to the director of his new school.And the fact that the director had a long conversation with the director about Eric's behavioral problems that he had at the previous school.
2. His records were given to his new teacher and instead of her using them to understand how she could help him she informed the other parents about the new boy in school and his behavior problems. She also openly discussed unprofessional his situation with other teachers not, to help him but to speak highly of herself and degrade him. She also, felt the need to know about the personnal life of his parents.
3. No, I do not agree that the directors should have even communicated without the permission of the parents. This should have came from the parent instead.
4.The mother should have been included in any conversation that pertained to her child.
5. The introduction of Eric coming into the classroom should have been made. He entered a new classroom with new people.
6. An introduction, letting him keep his stuffed animal, and even though the policy was that peanut butter was not allowed, allowing him to keep his sandwich, give him a buddy for the day, and the teacher being more understanding and compassionate.
7. I think that her conversation was very un-professional.
8. Again her conversation was un-professional. She was not discussing it to help him or any of the other children. She should be spoken with and if it continued fired. The parents trust us and we are looking out for the children.
9. As a director I would remind her of our mission and policies. If she continued she would be replaced.
10. I do think she should leave her child in the school but remove him from that class. One bad apple can't spoil the rest.
11. Eric is already tramatized because he left a school with friends and a teacher he was probably comfortable with. It would not be in his best interest to continue to move him. Giving him a chance to re-adjust would be the wise thing to do.

Activity 4.4 Role-Playing Scenario Number Four: The Winter Holiday Play

1.No, it is not appropriate to have a holiday program that focuses on just one religion or celebration. But in order to celebrate others it is best to be able to speak with families that have different celebrations freely. If you don't feel comfortable of differences you are not going to include instead exclude.
2.Mrs. Day is the teacher and she has a child in the classroom that has a diverse culture. She should want to have a good relationship with her and her family.

3.The potential problem is that this family coming out of Saudia Arabia is Muslim and they problem are not accustom to seeing customs.

4. I think that it was very inappropriate. She has not taken the time to get to know this family and already she is stepping on their beliefs.

5. The teacher could have approached them explaining that they were getting ready for a play on Christmas and did they celebrate it?

6. No, I do not think she should explain to Tayla about the concept of Christmas, but instead talk with her parents.

7. I think that perceived it as a slap in the face.Very disrespectful.

8. I think that Tayla's mother should have came forward after the letter to explain her way of life. And not left it on the teacher at this point.

9. The parent and the teacher getting together is appropriate.

                     Importance of Staff Meetings




Staff meetings allow information to be shared, opinions to be expressed openly, problems that occur within the facility to be solved, training to be obtained for new and old employees, and a support group to be established.

Effective Staff Meeting Agenda

                                             Monthly Staff Meeting and Agenda

Monthly Theme: To allow the staff to share, brainstorm, and interact.

Monthly Readiness Skill: the staff will acquire the skill of sharing information, opinions, solving problems, and supporting one another as a team.

Task for staff:

1. Making decisions
2. promote good feelings
3. express themselves in a positive manner
4. evaluate staff responsibilities
5. identify or analyze an issue

Activities and ideas for the Staff Meeting:

1. Flower Petal: this activity helps to promote the feeling of goodwill and teamwork. Each staff member will write a job that they perform that they do not like. The dislike could be cleaning cubbies, or the bathroom. Then, they attach the slip of paper onto the petals of the flower. A co-worker would take turns removing a slip fomr the petal and that would be their job for a week to perform to help one another out.
2. Thermometer: this is a great way for your staff to express themselves. They would receive a handout with a graphic of a themometer. They would each be asked to talk about "What makes them upset" or "What calms them down"?
3. Pack up Your Troubles: This is a great activity for reducing negativity on the job.You place a suitcase on the table. The staff members take turns by writing down or acting out packing away the negative things that they have had to deal with on the job. No personal problems from home should be allowed to be discussed since the focus once you come to work is focusing on the children and their families.