When observing children, it's important that we use a range of different observation methods from running records, learning stories to photographs and work samples.  Using a variety of different observation methods can assist you in observing a child's interest, skills, abilities, and needs. It provides a foundation for a child's individual assessment and planning. Collecting a series of observations before interpreting and planning will provide a well rounded and holistic picture of the child.

One of the most important types of documentation methods that educators needs to be familiar with are “observations”. Observations are crucial for all early childhood settings and are used to build an understanding of a child’s skills, interests, abilities and focuses on what they can do.

Within Australia, Programming and Planning is reflected and supported by the Early Years Learning Framework. Educators within early childhood settings, use the EYLF to guide their decisions to interpret and assess children’s learning and development.

The Early Years Learning Framework describes the curriculum as “all the interactions, experiences, activities, routines and events, planned and unplanned, that occur in an environment designed to foster children’s learning and development”.

Portfolios have become a popular form of documentation used to give families, a keepsake at the end of the year. It is usually a folder containing samples of child’s work and photos of experiences the child was involved in throughout the year. However, it has become much more than a folder for storing artwork and photos so to speak. Portfolios are a journey of a child’s learning....

Reflective practice is learning from everyday situations and issues and concerns that arise which form part of our daily routine while working in an early childhood setting. It’s about reflecting not only about what happened but why. It also guides our decision making. It forces us to analyse different aspects of experiences we offer to make judgements in what should be repeated, extended or changed. This enables us to develop and extend on children’s learning and build upon their knowledge and skills.

This is a tutorial on How to Write a Learning Story. It provides a simple and easy step by step approach on what you need to include in order to complete a learning story.