Action is the test of what you know and can do. It is where you see the results of reflection and self-assessment. The CompSAT protocol, Keys to Reflection and Inquiry, is designed to help you formulate good questions, pursue inquiry, and take action to improve your daily practice. The results of your actions provide evidence of your professional growth, and hopefully, spur you on to generate more questions and take further action. Action and reflection are essential to the processes of growth and change.
How could you move beyond the everyday challenges of managing an early childhood program and take some bold steps to expand the experience of quality described above in the "Imagine a Program" presentation? Below are two options to explore.
Join with other family childcare providers or centers to set up a shared services alliance for handing more of your business functions. Read "Searching for Innovators" by Margie Carter.
Redefine training or professional development by adding a part time pedagogical leader position to your staff. Hire a person who can guide staff in studying their documentation and plan from their observations. Read "Growing a Culture of Inquiry" by Ann Pelo.
Use this template to record your observations, thoughts, and feelings. Download the Template
Consider a source of inspiration found in the Topic: Continuous program improvement in Performance Area 3 of the CA ECE Competencies. Scroll to page 111.
Can you find other places in this competency area that address your interests and needs?
If you are ready to move into developing a fuller action plan, use the worksheet "Assessing Your Systems, Policies, and Allocation of Resources" to guide your planning.
© Copyright 2011-2013 California Department of Education. All rights reserved. Electronic edition 2011, and 2013. Print edition 2012 ISBN:978-0-8011-1719-0. The ECE CompSAT project was produced by Fresno State University for the California Department of Education in 2013.
