Module 3 Discussion

Supporting Teachers

In Chapter 12 of your course text, the authors outline six ways directors can support teachers who are tasked with producing high-quality educational programming. This includes being knowledgeable about emerging trends in educational programming, hiring and compensating a qualified staff, providing necessary resources and conditions for teachers, providing adequate planning time for teachers, supporting teachers’ growth through constructive feedback and professional development, communicating curriculum goals to families and stakeholders, and advocating for teachers and the educational program as necessary. For this Discussion, you will choose one of these responsibilities and consider how you might fulfill it. Reflect on the following:

• Choose one of the six responsibilities of directors (managers) for educational programs described in Chapter 12 of your course text.
• Consider what, specifically, you would do in order to meet this responsibility on a daily, weekly, and/or monthly basis at your child development center. For example, what tasks would you carry out, with whom would you interact, what events or meetings would you plan, and/or what products might you create in order to fulfill this responsibility?
• Reflect on how you would balance the need to fulfill this responsibility with your other managerial concerns, such as finances, facilities management, health and safety, and your other competing responsibilities.

With these thoughts in mind, follow the instructions below to post your response to this Discussion topic.

By Day 3 of Week 5:

Post an explanation of how you would fulfill one of the six responsibilities of directors for educational programming at your child development center. Identify and describe at least three specific tasks, interactions, events, or products you might carry out, plan, or create in the execution of this responsibility. Then, explain at least two strategies you might use in order to balance this responsibility with your other managerial concerns.

By Day 7 of Week 6:

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings. As you read their responses, note those to which you would like to respond with advice, questions, comments, and/or encouragement.

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ postings in any of the following ways:

• Build on something your colleague said.
• Explain why and how you see things differently.
• Ask a probing or clarifying question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.
• Ask for evidence that supports the posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Reflect on what you learned in this activity and/or insights you gained this week.