WEBVTT 00:00:08.699 --> 00:00:12.539 Welcome to the Forgotten ECE, the show where 00:00:12.539 --> 00:00:14.880 before and after school educators, summer camp 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:18.219 and PD staff and CYWs have a place where they 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:21.399 are seen, heard, and valued. I'm your host, Jamie 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:33.159 Wakeler, and I am so excited you're here. Hello, 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:38.350 everyone. Welcome to the Forgotten ECE Podcast, 00:00:38.810 --> 00:00:43.929 the podcast where we explore, uplift, and advocate 00:00:43.929 --> 00:00:47.369 for the incredible work being done in before 00:00:47.369 --> 00:00:50.229 and after school programs, PD day programming, 00:00:50.729 --> 00:00:54.229 and school age care. I'm your host, Jamie Wagler, 00:00:54.250 --> 00:00:58.090 and today I want to talk about something we don't 00:00:58.090 --> 00:01:02.649 talk enough about, and that, my friends, is collaboration 00:01:02.649 --> 00:01:07.090 between programs. Now, I am not just talking 00:01:07.090 --> 00:01:10.530 about collaboration with one room or team. I'm 00:01:10.530 --> 00:01:14.489 talking about real intentional collaboration 00:01:14.489 --> 00:01:20.030 between centers, between sites, shifts, programs, 00:01:20.290 --> 00:01:24.140 and even across agencies. Do you understand? 00:01:24.379 --> 00:01:26.540 Sorry, that was so conceited. I don't, I don't 00:01:26.540 --> 00:01:29.120 clap at people. Anyways, that kind of collaboration 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.079 that doesn't just help us survive, it actually 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:35.540 helps us thrive. The truth is here that we are 00:01:35.540 --> 00:01:37.500 stronger together and our children deserve that 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:39.140 strength and that's what I want to bring here 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:41.519 today. So I am so happy you're here. Let's dive 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:44.519 in. Let's dive into the actual, the reality that 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:46.920 we're living in. So let's name what it is. The 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:49.260 reality we're living in, really. Let's start 00:01:49.260 --> 00:01:52.900 by naming what so many of us are experiencing. 00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:55.379 Maybe it's your before and after school program 00:01:55.379 --> 00:01:58.540 is in a school that doesn't see you as part of 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:01.159 the learning community. Maybe you're operating 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:04.239 alongside another agency or even under the same 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:07.099 organization, but you never meet, never share 00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:10.210 and never plan together. Maybe your morning and 00:02:10.210 --> 00:02:14.449 your afternoon teams have zero overlap in communication. 00:02:14.750 --> 00:02:17.949 It's not that we don't care. It's that we are 00:02:17.949 --> 00:02:23.830 all stretched so incredibly thin. But that disconnect, 00:02:23.889 --> 00:02:28.150 it creates cracks and those cracks show up in 00:02:28.150 --> 00:02:31.189 how our children transition, how families communicate 00:02:31.189 --> 00:02:36.069 with us and how supported or unsupported our 00:02:36.069 --> 00:02:39.469 educators feel. And here's the thing, collaboration 00:02:39.469 --> 00:02:44.629 is not just a buzzword. It's a lifeline for quality 00:02:44.629 --> 00:02:48.009 care, for educator wellness, and for consistent, 00:02:48.150 --> 00:02:51.909 meaningful experiences for kids. You gotta know 00:02:51.909 --> 00:02:54.949 that, right? You gotta be here with me. Let's 00:02:54.949 --> 00:02:57.189 imagine for a second what it could look like 00:02:57.189 --> 00:03:01.360 instead. In a collaborative environment, staff 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:06.919 teams across shifts or sites share common philosophies 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:10.419 of care. There are regular touch points for communication, 00:03:10.620 --> 00:03:12.419 even if it's something as simple as a shared 00:03:12.419 --> 00:03:15.400 notebook or a digital platform. Text each other. 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:19.560 Have a social media group just for this. If you 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:23.180 use Bright Wheel or Seesaw or any of those digital 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:25.840 platforms for communication with families, make 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:28.659 a group for the staff or a five minute check 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:33.580 in. Educators co -create shared visual schedules, 00:03:33.979 --> 00:03:36.879 SEL strategies and language used with the children. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:40.580 Staff don't just know each other's name. They 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:42.819 know each other's strengths and lean on each 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:45.460 other. This is the world's perfect thing. This 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:48.280 would be amazing if we could do this. Ideas, 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:51.099 challenges, celebrations, move between rooms, 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:53.539 not just within them. And think about this as 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:55.699 outside of your center. What if you're collaborating 00:03:55.699 --> 00:03:58.120 with another center? What if you have similar 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:01.300 views? What if you have similar outlooks? Like 00:04:01.300 --> 00:04:03.719 here in Ontario we all go by the How does learning 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:06.159 happen with the four foundations, belonging, 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.960 expression, engagement and well -being? Why can't 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:11.580 we talk about this with other centers? Why can't 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:15.219 we lean on each other to provide a quality, high 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:18.600 quality program? It is not us against them and 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:21.360 them against us. It is being there the best we 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:24.540 can for our kids, for the students. And kids, 00:04:24.699 --> 00:04:28.279 kids feel that continuity. They don't have to 00:04:28.279 --> 00:04:30.620 reorient themselves every time a new adult is 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:34.500 in the room. They feel safe, known and held by 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:38.939 the team, not just a shift. Now, let's be real 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:43.680 for a second. Now, let's be real. If collaboration 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:47.740 was easy, we'd all be doing it. Here are some 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:50.779 common barriers that I've noticed over my time 00:04:50.779 --> 00:04:54.310 scheduling. Obviously morning and afternoon shift 00:04:54.310 --> 00:04:57.930 staff never overlap sometimes. Or the person 00:04:57.930 --> 00:04:59.810 who starts early in the morning and the person 00:04:59.810 --> 00:05:01.769 who starts later in the afternoon don't overlap. 00:05:02.089 --> 00:05:04.209 What if we lived in the perfect world and we 00:05:04.209 --> 00:05:06.009 had different staff for each of those programs 00:05:06.009 --> 00:05:08.290 because we didn't do split shifts? They would 00:05:08.290 --> 00:05:11.180 never see each other. So how do they stay connected? 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:14.660 It could be hierarchy as a barrier. One program 00:05:14.660 --> 00:05:17.540 in your center might look like school and the 00:05:17.540 --> 00:05:20.680 other might be just care. Thinking of your school, 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:23.139 if you're connected to a school and you're a 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:25.540 before and after school child care center. Burnout 00:05:25.540 --> 00:05:29.560 is real. We are tired and collaboration feels 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:33.060 like one more task. I know people are stretched 00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:36.920 thin. People are feeling it in all sorts of ways. 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:40.240 And I see it as a supervisor. I see it in before 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:42.319 and after school programs. I see it in the children. 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:46.079 I get it. But we could use collaboration as our 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:48.939 superpower, as a strength. Turnover. Turnover 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:50.720 is huge in before and after school programs. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:53.300 New staff means starting over again and again 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:55.319 and again, and it's exhausting for everyone, 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:58.060 I know. And then isolation. Some centers feel 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:01.199 like islands, even when they're across the hall. 00:06:01.540 --> 00:06:05.500 I feel this to my core. I know a lot of centers 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:08.160 that don't. have good communication with their 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:10.740 before and after school program. I was recently 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:14.339 in BC which was incredible for a conference there 00:06:14.339 --> 00:06:17.360 and we talked a lot about how sometimes the before 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:20.079 and after school programs aren't even in the 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:22.680 same building as the school age programs and 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:26.459 I lived that in my first job and I live it now 00:06:26.459 --> 00:06:29.439 I guess because We have two before and after 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:31.720 school programs, one that's in the main site, 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:33.199 I'll call it, and the other one that's at a different 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:36.339 school. And I know they feel isolated. And I 00:06:36.339 --> 00:06:40.079 mean, me as a boss, I'm pretty great, okay? I 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:42.939 try a lot to make people feel connected, but 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:45.920 it's still hard. My favorite part about this 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:48.139 summer is that we're all under one roof, so we 00:06:48.139 --> 00:06:50.279 can really work on those connections. But there's 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:52.480 gotta be more we can do throughout the year. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:55.699 See you and I want to say something important 00:06:55.699 --> 00:06:59.560 collaboration doesn't have to be perfect to be 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:03.240 powerful It just has to be intentional. So how 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:05.060 are we gonna do it? You're asking me. I know 00:07:05.060 --> 00:07:07.100 you're sitting there I can see it right now and 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:09.399 you're shaking your head like oh my gosh. This 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:12.819 woman is crazy She has no idea how we're supposed 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:15.939 to do this. Actually. I do I do know because 00:07:15.939 --> 00:07:18.300 I'm going to tell you I'm gonna give you some 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:21.040 some ideas Hopefully that helps. We're gonna 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.680 take some steps together towards stronger collaboration, 00:07:24.980 --> 00:07:28.699 even if we're short on time and energy. So first 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:31.399 and foremost, we gotta look at the shared language. 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:34.379 We're gonna create common toolkit of phrases 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:38.420 and visual cues and behavior support. Whether 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:42.120 a child is with the morning staff or the afternoon 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:45.740 team or another site. They hear the same message. 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:48.079 You are safe, you are capable, and we believe 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:50.620 in you. And we need this across all of our programs. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:53.420 Next, what about a mini meeting? Even 10 minutes 00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:56.680 weekly huddles or voice memos between shifts 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:59.160 that can build connection. If you're doing these 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:01.279 mini meetings with other centers, maybe it's 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.300 jumping on a quick Zoom call at the end of the 00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:05.079 week or the beginning of the week. As a quick, 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:08.980 we got this. Use sticky notes for the people 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:11.939 across your programs, digital logs or a Google 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:15.240 form to pass messages between teams. Think about 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:18.579 joint planning days. Let's advocate for a joint 00:08:18.579 --> 00:08:21.860 PD day or reflective practice time where both 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:26.139 teams or centers or multiple sites come together. 00:08:26.459 --> 00:08:28.860 This could be twice a year and that would build 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:31.439 momentum. It doesn't have to be an every week 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:33.500 thing. It doesn't have to be an every month thing. 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:36.049 We could do this. What about quarterly? Hey, 00:08:36.169 --> 00:08:37.909 what did happen in the first three months? Hey, 00:08:38.009 --> 00:08:40.450 what happened in the next three months? Let's 00:08:40.450 --> 00:08:42.809 utilize our strengths and our brains to build 00:08:42.809 --> 00:08:45.399 this together. Next, the other thought was buddy 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:48.519 site systems like pair up with another program 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:51.879 to swap ideas, monthly books, century setups. 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:54.299 If you do circle time with your before and after 00:08:54.299 --> 00:08:58.059 school, circle time prompts, gross motor activities, 00:08:58.340 --> 00:09:01.740 games outside. This would be an awesome way to 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:04.899 reduce planning burnout and get fresh inspiration. 00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:07.460 And again, this could be done across centers. 00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:10.600 You could team up with a center and have a rotation 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:14.240 of these excellent Materials. And my last idea 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:18.379 is to celebrate together. Collaboration isn't 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:22.700 just linguistics. It's relationships. Celebrate 00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:26.299 each other. It's time to share a success story. 00:09:26.539 --> 00:09:28.659 Leave a thank you posted. Build that culture 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:30.559 of gratitude and recognition between each other. 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:32.919 Because no one feels what you're feeling as much 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:35.320 as your partner or people in the same program. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:37.480 They get it. They're there with you. They're 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:40.480 on the floor running. When you have a bad day, 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:42.580 when the kids have a bad day, they're the ones 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:44.639 that will be able to pull you out of this funk. 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:48.240 They're the ones that are there for you. Let's 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:52.200 team up. Let's celebrate each other's wins. Let's 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:55.159 stop working against each other and really start 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:58.220 pulling on each other's strengths. Once when 00:09:58.220 --> 00:10:01.360 I had different, it wasn't once, not too long 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:04.440 ago. I had a different morning before school 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:06.200 educator and a different after school educator 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:10.580 and what we would do is write in a book. So we 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:14.320 had like a journal and each morning or each afternoon 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:16.740 if something happened or something good or a 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:19.500 challenge we would write it in the book and to 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:21.480 share it with the other person. So in the morning 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.179 they would write something in the afternoon would 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:24.919 read it and then the afternoon they'd write something 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:27.980 so the morning would read it and it really just 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:31.090 turned into this beautiful reflection and laughter 00:10:31.090 --> 00:10:35.029 and shared projects. They ended up planning PDs 00:10:35.029 --> 00:10:38.789 together and then one educator came to me after 00:10:38.789 --> 00:10:40.669 and told me that they really felt like they were 00:10:40.669 --> 00:10:42.789 part of a team and not just covering a shift. 00:10:43.169 --> 00:10:45.570 This is what happens when we build bridges instead 00:10:45.570 --> 00:10:48.870 of silos. This is what happens when we collaborate. 00:10:49.090 --> 00:10:52.230 It's really finding each other and like I said 00:10:52.230 --> 00:10:54.950 before utilizing those strengths to help each 00:10:54.950 --> 00:10:57.340 other. I find a lot in before and after school 00:10:57.340 --> 00:11:00.379 education and in early childhood education itself. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:05.019 We fight a lot for advocacy, we fight a lot for 00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:08.059 professionalism, and we fight a lot to be seen 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:12.360 as knowledgeable individuals. And we might have 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:13.799 to do that, we might have to fight against our 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:15.740 community, or we might have to stand up against 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:18.259 the government, we might have to advocate online, 00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:20.759 but with each other we should be there and get 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:23.080 it. We should understand where one another is 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:25.720 coming from. So I want to invite you to pause 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.320 and reflect for a minute. Who is someone from 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:30.960 another team or site that you could connect with 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:35.120 this week? What's one tool or idea from today 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:38.879 that feels doable? And where could you bring 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:43.639 a spirit of curiosity and kindness into collaboration? 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:47.740 We don't have to overhaul everything overnight. 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:52.120 Start small, a conversation, a high, a wave, 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:56.659 a shared tool. A thank you. We're not meant to 00:11:56.659 --> 00:11:59.799 do this work alone. And it's time we learn we 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:04.279 don't have to. When we collaborate, truly collaborate, 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:09.940 we create more consistency, more joy, and more 00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:13.240 possibilities for the children in our care. And 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:17.019 we model for them what it means to be a part 00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:21.090 of a connected, compassionate community. Thank 00:12:21.090 --> 00:12:24.730 you so much for tuning into the Forgotten ECE. 00:12:25.029 --> 00:12:28.970 If this episode resonated with you, I would love 00:12:28.970 --> 00:12:31.669 it. Love, love, love, love it. If you shared 00:12:31.669 --> 00:12:35.049 it with a colleague or left me a review. Want 00:12:35.049 --> 00:12:37.789 to continue the conversation? Because I love 00:12:37.789 --> 00:12:40.149 talking and networking, if you hadn't noticed. 00:12:40.470 --> 00:12:44.309 Find me on my Instagram at Miss Jamie underscore 00:12:44.309 --> 00:12:48.679 R E C E. or hit up my website, missjammieconsulting 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:53.600 .com. Let's keep doing the big, the bold, beautiful 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:57.000 work of nurturing children and nurturing each 00:12:57.000 --> 00:13:00.720 other. Until next time, keep being magical and 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:10.730 keep building those bridges. Bye y 'all. Thank 00:13:10.730 --> 00:13:13.289 you. Amazing listeners for your support. Don't 00:13:13.289 --> 00:13:15.570 forget to follow me on Instagram at missjamy 00:13:15.570 --> 00:13:18.529 underscore R -E -C -E. Give a star rating and 00:13:18.529 --> 00:13:21.049 leave a review. Have something you want to hear 00:13:21.049 --> 00:13:22.970 about in relation to before and after school 00:13:22.970 --> 00:13:25.929 programs or full day summer camp? DM me or comment. 00:13:26.250 --> 00:13:28.690 Again, thank you so much and happy learning.