ERIC Number: ED401033
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1996
Pages: 81
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Improving a Military Before and After School Program for Kindergarten Children through Staff Training.
Smith, Susan L.
Concerns about the quality of a before- and after-school program on an overseas military installation arose due to low staff morale, caregivers' lack of training and experience, and child behavior problems. This practicum project devised and implemented a 10-week training program to increase staff knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and to provide them with guided practice in evaluation of program components. Caregivers were assisted, through reflective teaching and peer advising, in using their new knowledge to alter the children's activity environment. The training module topics were: (1) keeping children safe; (2) promoting good health and nutrition; (3) creating and using an environment for learning; (4) promoting physical development; (5) promoting cognitive development; (6) promoting communication; (7) promoting creativity; (8) building children's self-esteem; (9) promoting social development; (10) providing positive guidance; (11) working with families; (12) being an effective manager; and (13) maintaining a commitment to professionalism. Resources were also collected to assist staff in future planning. Evaluation results indicated that staff gained knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and were able to implement changes to the daily schedule, the environment, and the activities. These adaptations resulted in children engaging in more appropriate activities throughout the program day, and an 80 percent decline in the number of child behavior problems. (Eleven appendices include a list of additional training materials and sample training activities. Contains 24 references.) (KDFB)
Descriptors: After School Programs, Behavior Problems, Caregiver Training, Child Caregivers, Child Development, Child Health, Class Activities, Classroom Environment, Cognitive Development, Creativity, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Discipline, Educational Quality, Elementary Education, Elementary School Students, Inservice Education, Job Skills, Job Training, Nutrition, Parent Participation, Physical Development, Program Evaluation, Program Improvement, Reflective Teaching, Safety, School Age Day Care, Self Esteem, Social Development, Staff Development
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Practicum Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A