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Where is Your Favorite Place in Your Center? - Insights From Directors, Teachers, and Children

by Kate Duffy and Katie Clark
November/December 2001
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Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/where-is-your-favorite-place-in-your-center-insights-from-directors-teachers-and-children/5014273/

Sometimes it seems we spend a great deal of time putting out fires and reacting to urgent situations in our centers. How often do we reflect on the aspects of our centers that please each of the constituencies we serve: children, families, and staff? Have you ever asked your staff or the children in your center, "Where is your favorite place in the center and why?"


We thought it would be a fun and insightful exercise to survey over 300 children, teachers, and directors to answer this question. Reading the responses, we discovered that each person's feelings were as unique as the individuals themselves. What we learned is not new: without the input of others, a director cannot entirely know which direction is best for a diverse community of learners.

While the saying goes, you can't please all of the people all of the time, surveys allow everyone to have a voice. And when each voice is heard, better decisions are made. Surveying as a basis for planning is an inclusive practice that recognizes and addresses the diversity of people.

In co-directing our preschool for 11 years, we found that:

n Staff surveys helped assess professional training needs.
n Surveying other centers and small businesses helped ...

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