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The Kinder Garden Child Care

Recently I have begun seeking ways to utilize technology in order to: streamline my child care record keeping, maintain my NAFCC accreditation portfolio, maintain my Quality Rating Scale portfolio, and maintain portfolios on each of the children in my care. Below are several that are works in progress that I have created and begun to implement. They were created using google forms.

Form #1- Observation Record My method for completing observations on the children has been something I've worked hard to perfect. I think I'm getting close... I simply record a child involved in the desired activity for several minutes. The purpose of having a video recording is so that I can take my time when viewing the child's actions and behaviors and attend to other things that are going on at the time of the observation. This has proven to be much more efficient than taking notes on a piece of paper. Once the video sample is taken, I put the camera away and continue to care for the children. At a later time, either while the children are napping or after child care hours, I sit down with this digital form in front of me and my digital camera (iPhone). By pausing and playing I transcribe exactly what I saw and what was said in the What? portion of the form. My favorite portion of this form is the So What? section, where I write a short letter to the child regarding what I saw during the observation. I share with them what I am going to do as a provider to help ensure that they continue to progress in this area of development. Finally, in list form, I write several curriculum ideas in the Now What? section using the Early Childhood Learning Guidelines. I also ask for families to respond to their child's observation in the form of a short letter. I think these completed observations will serve as treasured keepsakes in the years to come for families and children not to mention how well they will inform my practice and curriculum decisions. The spreadsheet serves as a collection tool for all of the observations I do. If I want to single out a particular child's observation I simply select that entire row, copy and paste it into a document and share the information with families either by e-mailing the observation or by printing it and giving them a hard copy. Observation Record Spreadsheet Live Form View

Fire Drill Record Spreadsheet Live Form View

Attendance Record Spreadsheet Live Form View

Payment Record Spreadsheet Live Form View

Injury Report Spreadsheet Live Form View

Daily Report Spreadsheet Live Form View

One of the measures of quality my state requires for it's quality rating system is to create, distribute and collect a parent survey. I created a survey using Google forms that I ask each family to fill out each January. My reasoning behind choosing January is that it gives me the fall to demonstrate my abilities and then it gives me the spring to reflect on their comments and feedback. This form can be adapted to fit any program and should be an opportunity for providers to seek guidance and clarification on areas needing improvement. Yearly Parent Survey-Quality of Program Spreadsheet Live Form View

Once I created the parent survey, which was adapted from questions on the National Association of Family Child Care parent survey, I simply adapted the questions to be asked toward the provider and it now serves as a self study. The ability to be introspective and reflect on ones practices can be very humbling and enlightening. Once this form is completed the provider can take the answers and create a written plan of improvement. Yearly Self Assessment Tool Spreadsheet Live Form View

Developmental Goals Parent Input Spreadsheet Live Form View

Another fabulous use for Google forms has been to create my weekly menu by putting each of my menu items for breakfast, lunch, and snacks into a drop-down menus. By simply loading the form on my iPhone or my iPad I can make my week's menu in a matter of minutes. I share the spreadsheet with each family via email so they now have documentation of each meal, each day. If something changes for some reason it is possible to go onto the spreadsheet and change the meal that was different. If I want to add a menu item to the drop-down menu all I have to do is edit the form from google docs.