Look closely at what the needs of your
child care staff are, and not just what you have done in
the past, or who is easily available to present training.
This is a great opportunity to address the real needs and
gaps at your center!!
Your local CCR&R’s are great
resources for locating trainers for inservice training.
Try to set up separate, concurrent
training sessions specifically for Infants/Toddler
Teachers.. They have a valid complaint when they say that
they sat through a training and nothing applied to them.
Give nice certificates for staff
participation. This can make people feel as if they have
really completed something and that it is of value.
Be specific about when you want people
back from breaks. Do not just say "10 minutes"…
say "Be back at 6:20"
Utilize your resources. You may have many
parents that have businesses, or work closely with
businesses, and would gladly donate door prizes or food
if asked.
Keep in mind the need to move and
attention spans. Vary training with small group
activities and provide opportunities to move and stretch.
Welcome everyone, thank them for
attending, and have people introduce themselves.
Be aware of the physical comfort of
participants. Obtain adult size chairs if possible.
Post some of the handouts and poems in
highly visible areas for staff after using them in
in-service training. This is an effective way to
reinforce concepts, and to assist in the continuing
assimilation of information.
Related articles can enhance and
supplement training. Individuals have different learning
styles, and some will retain information better in this
format. Corresponding articles also lend credibility to
the information presented.
Consider incorporating a Health and Safety
topic reminder in each monthly staff meeting or training.
You can delegate a staff member to coordinate and present
this information, if desired.
Ask questions encouraging participation
and discussion. By soliciting comments and feedback and
involving the staff, you will be able to better assess if
the training is meeting their needs.
Try to keep trainings positive and upbeat.
Training and staff meetings are generally two different
things. If you are truly doing a training, keep
"housekeeping" things and announcements to 5
minutes. If there are issues involving only a couple of
employees, deal with them individually.
Small group activities allow for some
movement after a long day, and breaks up the training
format. It also allows for staff members to work together
and communicate with each other. Some employees will be
more comfortable speaking and offering ideas in a small
group, but not a large group setting. Any "fill in
the blank" activities that are included in modules
are intended to be facilitated in small groups.
Discourage the usual "clicks"
when breaking up into small groups. You want staff
members to all get to know each other and function as a
team. Break into groups in fun, creative ways – buy
a bag of Hershey miniatures assortment and have each
staff member choose their favorite (making 4 groups);
write the names of sitcom families or characters on
pieces of paper (Ginger, MaryAnn, the Professor; Jan,
Marcia, Cindy – "Okay – Gilligan’s
Island group over here, Brady’s over there"
Consider training in clusters of centers,
capitalizing on the areas of strength in your colleagues,
and pooling resources.
Make reasonable attempts to eliminate
barriers to attendance (childcare, transportation,
dinner, etc.), whenever possible.
Give staff ample notice, &/or consider
having training on the same night every month. Talk it up
and be positive – your attitude about training will
set the tone and attendance.
If there is any type of text that needs to
be covered, have each staff member read a paragraph or
bullet, and then relay what they think that means, if
they agree, &/or give an example. This ensures that
staff are active participants, and you are not the only
one speaking. People also remember information longer
when associated with personal examples.
Use inexpensive little doorprizes to
reinforce behavior you want to see. Only the staff
members that were on time can put their name in for the
drawing; if the topic is science, everyone votes on which
teacher has the best science area, etc.
Even if your state doesn’t require
it, keep a training log – both an overall center
log, and individual staff training logs. Remind staff
members what the requirements are for in-service hours in
your state.
Convey to staff the benefits they will
receive from the training, and its relevance. ("This
will help you to do your job and make your day much
easier.")
Communicate to new employees upon hire
that on-going training is an expectation and part of the
position.
Have fun!! Make your trainings something
your staff want to attend and an opportunity to build
your team! Again, as with anything… your staff will
look to you for cues. Build enthusiasm.
