The Hard Work Was Worth It
Tender Hearts Family Daycare owner and child care provider, Katy Schultz, was not sure what to expect when she first started YoungStar. Now, having been through the process twice, Katy recognizes what a positive experience YoungStar provides. Katy felt constantly supported by her Technical Consultant, Mary Sue Voights, who was there to answer any questions along the way. In the beginning there were trials. However, Katy accepted the challenge of finding innovative solutions to those trials. Katy knows that these challenges are goals towards improving the experiences for the children she cares for. In addition, her second year of participating in YoungStar has been easier as she now knows what to expect.
Improving the Learning Environment
A major goal for Katy was to focus on portfolios. Katy knew the many benefits that would result if she could accurately assess the children and keep track of development. The portfolios helped her to communicate better with her students’ parents, and plan purposeful activities based on the specific development of the children. Setting goals for each child and tracking their progress from day to day, month to month, and even year to year helped her provide an environment where the children could learn to their greatest potential. Katy notes that the parents love the portfolios because they can see the growth that has taken place for their child. “YoungStar has guided me to improve how I do things in my center, in the way of lesson planning, portfolios, and how to get the parents more involved,” says Katy.
Effectively Engaging Families
Katy has actively involved her students’ families in YoungStar by writing about her accomplishments in her program newsletter and soliciting feedback from families on her annual survey. She also communicates one-on-one with each student’s family, which allows her to understand the context of home. She also meets with families twice a year during student conferences. Katy believes that the modifications she has made to her program through YoungStar have been worth it for the positive responses she has received from parents. Her parents recognize how hard she works to continually make improvements to her program for the benefit of their children while they are in her care.
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