Documentation

Documentation is a practice that I have only come to meet within the last three years-the learning curve has been huge! Those who are new to ELKP -or those who are still waiting for it to come to them-may have heard of documentation (or documenting) as a means of assessment or "making learning visible". It is essentially capturing the learning process. Documentation is not to be taken lightly, nor is it an easy undertaking, but it is one that I enjoy nonetheless. I feel great pleasure in reflecting on the children's learning, through the dissection of my own notes and thinking. My creative side gets much satisfaction from creating (what I feel) are beautiful displays of the children's work and thinking. Not only do I appreciate these pieces, but the children also. Pride beams in their faces and throughout their entire bodies when they see their images or work displayed in a aesthetically pleasing way in our classroom. The children will often recount learning experiences that have been documented, which, in turn, may then extend the experience or blossom into a new inquiry. Very exciting stuff.

Now, this is certainly not your traditional way of assessing children and that is where I, and I know many other educators, struggle with (well, only at first!). I am so fortunate to have such wonderful, collaborative colleagues who I often turn to when I need help or guidance. However, at the end of day, I have (and I hope you will) come to learn that documentation is truly an authentic and beautiful representation of who children really are, what they know and what they have learned.

Speaking of wonderful, collaborative colleagues, I would like to thank them for sharing this video. I hope that you watch, that you enjoy and that you gain some insight into what documenting is. I also hope that you too will see the value, the necessity and the beauty of documentation and will be inspired to try it in your program.

http://vimeo.com/36323323

How Are the Children?

This past weekend some colleagues and I attended this amazing conference:

Transforming Pedagogical Practices
Making Connections Across Ontario

Saturday, November 10, 2012
Charles Sturt University

Hosted by

and

Keynote Speaker:

Jim Grieve

 QUICK BIO: Jim Grieve was appointed the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Early Learning Division for the Ontario Ministry of Education in November of 2009 to lead the provincial implementation of full day learning for 4 and 5 year old children in all Ontario schools. He has travelled the world (Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, The Netherlands, Italy, France) to study other school systems and districts.  

 

 Jim Greive's keynote address was titled "How Toddlers Will Save the World".

 

He and his colleagues usually greet one another by asking, "How are the children doing?" I love this. Just how are the children doing?

 

Mr. Grieve was a wonderful speaker; so full of light and passion! Passion for the FDK (full day kindergarten) program and for it's long term benefits on our children, our economy... our entire world, really.

 

I would like to share with you some important messages that stayed with me during Mr. Grieve's address.

 

 

"20% of a baby's brain is formed at birth"...how do we foster the rest of the 80%?

 

We have a tremendous influence on the lives of our children.

 

"If we invest in our children they will be forever changed and motivated to work in this world."

 

Another interesting thoughts by Jim Grieve...

 

"It's not about child develop, it's about human development"

 

Education needs to be modernized ...which is about "putting away your October box of pumpkins" and instead focus on...

 

INTERACTION
talking and listening to the children's interest and questions
getting down, eye to eye
provoking children to challenge thinking

"Kids are ready for school, how are we getting ready to receive them?"

 

We need to shift to our thinking from, "Will these kids be ready for grade 1?" to "Will grade one be ready for these students?"

(LOVED this quote! I think it was my favourite moment of the day)

 

 

 

Every conference that I have been to always tells us educators the same thing, that we have the most important jobs in the world. How are our interactions with our children each day shaping them?

 

I loved this image. It's not exactly the same one that Mr. Grieve shared with us, but the message was so beautiful that I really wanted to post it.  In China, trainers have dressed themselves in panda suits to teach panda cubs the way of panda life.

What does this say about how we as educators should approach teaching young children?

 

 

The conference then broke off into some smaller sessions with presenters from FDK programs around the region. The information and documentation presented was so inspiring. The sessions gave me a tonne of new ideas and information that I can't wait to share with Mrs. Clarkson.

Here are some messages from other sessions:

• The concept of "Spicy Work". Children working in groups to complete a task and create rules for communication. Children assure that all members are included and wait until all members are finished before moving on.

I also had the pleasure to once again hear Dianne Riehl speak. She and Karen Calligan from The Ontario Ministry of Education spoke about how we view children and how does this mindset transfer into and reflect in our teaching as well as our learning environments. My favourite quote from them...

"Wisdom is built by wonder" How do we get our children to wonder about the world?

The last session was presented by Dr. Sharon Speir, and Dr. Jeffrey Wood from The Rainbow District School Board and Laurentian University in Sudbury Ontario.

This team focused on teachers as researchers which really motivated to be even more reflective in my practise. What most captured me was the importance of my role in the documentation process and thinking about "what is the story you want to tell?" I loved the documentation of The Pedagogy of Love then it hit me...I have so much freedom in what I capture. Sometimes I get so distracted in capturing moments that align with the evident curriculum, but what about highlighting and teaching to the hidden curriculum? The education of the child's soul. This really moved me.

All in all it was a wonderful day with my colleagues. I feel so grateful to have had such a wonderful opportunity to expand my knowledge and challenge my thinking. I feel re-energised and ready to go back to the classroom feeling rejuvenated and ready to put my learning into practise.