Many quality centres maintain a learning journal or portfolio for each child as a record of their individual development, learning, interests and skills, and participation in the learning program.
Journals are valuable records of a child’s early learning and development as they;
The journal may include;
- Observations (recorded by educators) of what the child said and did,
- Notes from educators about what the child has been learning,
- Group or individual learning stories,
- Photographs,
- Video and audio recordings, and
- ‘Artefacts’ such as paintings or drawings.
A good journal will clearly demonstrate;
- The child’s learning through play and investigations,
- The children’s development and thinking,
- The evolution of learning projects and experiences that the child is involved in,
- Educator reflections, and
- Plans to extend the children’s thinking and learning.
Check out the ABC of Child Care series here.
Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.
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