At the heart of this transformative vision is the recognition that teachers play a pivotal role in nurturing young minds. Educa emphasizes the importance of teachers spending their valuable time directly engaging with children, fostering a spirit of exploration and inspiring them to discover the world around them. The company understands that teachers are more than educators; they are mentors, guides, and the catalysts for curiosity and creativity in young learners.

Educa also acknowledges the critical role of family involvement in early childhood education. By creating stronger links between educational institutions and families, children benefit from a more cohesive and supportive learning environment. Educa is committed to developing tools and resources that facilitate this connection, enhancing communication and collaboration between teachers and families.

As part of this initiative, Educa is rolling out a range of improvements and resources designed to support teachers, families and education bodies in their shared mission of “creating inspired explorers.” 

“We believe that every child, regardless of where they live, deserves the opportunity to become an inspired explorer,” said Simon Swallow, CEO of Educa. “This new direction for Educa is more than a philosophy; it’s a commitment to supporting teachers and families worldwide in nurturing the innate curiosity and creativity of young learners.”

Educa’s global perspective on early childhood education marks a significant step towards a more unified and effective approach to nurturing the next generation. By focusing on the essential role of teachers and the importance of family involvement, Educa is paving the way for a brighter, more explorative future for children around the world.

About Educa

Educa is a leading provider of early childhood education solutions, committed to fostering the development of young children through innovative teaching practices and strong family engagement. With a presence in over 10 countries, Educa is dedicated to creating a global community of inspired explorers.

The post ​​Educa Champions Global Early Childhood Education with a Unified Vision: “Creating Inspired Explorers” appeared first on Educa.

In the dynamic realm of early childhood education, understanding the diverse needs of young learners during rest periods is crucial. Not every preschooler will adhere to the same nap time schedule, and that’s perfectly normal. As educators and caregivers, it’s vital to offer a variety of calming preschool activities that cater to those individual sleep patterns and relaxation needs. Engaging with parents to establish a consistent routine that aligns with home practices can significantly ease a child’s transition into nap time at preschool.

Here’s how to approach quiet time with understanding and flexibility, and some expert-recommended quiet activities to gently guide those little bundles of energy into peaceful rest.

Collaborate With Families for Seamless Transitions

The foundation of a successful nap or quiet time routine is communication with parents. Share your preschool’s quiet time routines and seek their insights on their child’s at-home habits to foster a comfortable, anxiety-free nap time experience for everyone involved.

Set the Scene for Serenity

Prepare the preschool environment to promote relaxation. Lower the lights, introduce a hint of lavender scent, and arrange comfortable resting spaces with mats, cushions, and blankets. Remember, while you can create a conducive atmosphere, sleep can’t be forced.

Top Five Quiet Time Activities for Preschoolers

We asked Educa educators to share their best quiet time activities for children who think they don’t want to sleep. Here are their top 5.

1. “Read With Your Eyes, Listen With Your Ears”

Encourage children to relax their eyes while engaging their ears with a selection of rest time stories or soothing audio books. “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman is a classic choice.

2. Melodies for Slumber

Soft music can work wonders. Consider a variety of tunes, from nature sounds to white noise, and observe what best soothes your preschoolers. Tip: Create a playlist labeled “relaxation music for children” on platforms like Spotify to easily access calming tracks.

3. Mindfulness and Meditation

Guided meditations or simple breathing exercises are effective in calming active preschoolers. Utilize resources like the Daniel Goleman breathing buddies exercise, which even the teachers might find relaxing!

4. Designated Resting Areas

Create cozy, quiet corners not just for designated nap times, but as a standing invitation for children to unwind whenever they feel the need. Stock these areas with sensory items, soft toys, and books for a comforting retreat.

5. Quiet Time Boxes

Fill boxes with independent, calming preschool activities that can be rotated daily. These can range from whiteboards for drawing to puzzles and threading activities. Tip: Label the boxes by days of the week to keep the activities fresh and engaging.

For outdoor relaxation, consider a separate box with water painting supplies, chalk, and imaginative play toys.

Conclusion

Every child’s need for rest varies, and the quiet time activities we provide in our preschool settings should reflect this diversity. By curating a collection of calming activities, you can ensure that every child has the opportunity to rest or engage in gentle, restful play. We invite you to share your favorite quiet time strategies for preschoolers in the comments, fostering a community of care and support in early childhood education.

The post 5 Proven Quiet Activities for Nap Time appeared first on Educa.

In the enchanting world of early childhood education, the mastery of fine motor skills lays the groundwork for academic success. Engaging in activities that involve filling and pouring, for both preschoolers and toddlers, can be a delightful way to bolster these skills. It’s not just about the simple act of transferring materials from one container to another; it’s about shaping the mind and preparing young learners for the structured learning to come.

Let’s explore how these seemingly simple activities for young children can have profound benefits for our little ones.

The Importance of Filling and Pouring Activities

Filling and pouring is a common schema among young explorers. These pursuits are more than just play; they’re vital for developing visual motor integration, and even exploring physics, among toddlers and preschoolers. By engaging in these tasks, children learn to coordinate their hand movements with visual input and begin to understand the physical properties of items like sand, beans, or water. These can be essential skills for future writing, reading, and math tasks.

Open-Ended Play: A Pathway to Learning

Open-ended preschool activities encourage exploration and experimentation. Filling and pouring without a predefined outcome enable children to solve problems, adapt their strategies, and think independently. This kind of play isn’t bound by time or expectations, allowing toddlers and preschoolers to learn at their own pace.

Everyday Items as Educational Tools

Turning everyday items into educational tools is a cost-effective and creative way to enrich activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers alike. Here’s a list of materials you can use to set up a filling and pouring station:

• Water, sand, and a variety of grains like rice and birdseed
• Small stones, beads, and pompoms for texture variety
• Natural elements like mud, leaves, and flower-infused potions

Mindful Selection of Materials

While creativity is encouraged, it’s crucial to select materials mindfully. When using food items, consider the cultural implications and allergy concerns. If you’re ever in doubt, substitute with non-food items to ensure inclusivity and safety.

A Variety of Utensils for Exploration

Offer children an array of utensils to keep activities interesting and challenging. Items like measuring cups, funnels, and watering cans not only vary the experience but also introduce concepts of measurement and volume.

Structured Preschool Activities for Filling and Pouring

Here are three tried-and-true preschool activities that focus on filling and pouring:

1. Scooping with Beads: Fine motor exercise with different-sized scoops and containers.

This activity example from Sugar Aunts is designed to be a hand dominance development activity and is part of her occupational therapy series. It is also valuable for developing “precision of very small wrist motions”. Using the paper trays inside the muffin tins and different size scoops gives children fine motor exercise as they try to scoop and pour into the trays.

2. The Great Water Challenge: Problem-solving activity that involves transporting water to create a river.

Set up a challenge where children try to get water from one place to another in the playground by “making a river”. This example from Bright Futures Early Learning Center was constructed using foil and rocks after students put their problem solving skills to work (hint: it helps if there is a slope). The children had to collaborate and interact to come up with a solution for getting the water from the playground to the sandpit.

3. Funnels and Tubes Play: Using pipes and funnels for a dynamic pouring experience.

This pouring activity from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls uses pipes, funnels and dyed beans (alternatives such as stones or sand would work just as well). It may take a little setting up initially (assembling the pipe structure) but can then be used over and over again.

Teacher’s Role in Filling and Pouring Activities

Educators can maximize the learning potential by:

• Engaging in conversations and describing what the children are doing.
• Posing questions to provoke thought and articulation of their actions.
• Making observations and discussing hypothetical scenarios to encourage problem-solving.
• Modeling positive attitudes and behaviors throughout the activity.

In conclusion, filling and pouring activities are fundamental in any early learning curriculum. By incorporating these into your lesson plans, you not only refine fine motor skills but also foster an environment of inquiry and discovery. These activities, for toddlers and preschoolers, serve as the building blocks for a future love of learning.

Don’t forget to document these moments with an amazing Learning Story to share the joy of discovery with parents.

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As an early childhood educator, you might have come across the term ‘provocations’ and wondered about its implications in your childcare or preschool setting. Originating from the Reggio Emilia Approach, provocations are incredible tools for learning, offering a wealth of opportunities to stimulate young learners’ creativity, initiative, and imagination.

What Exactly Are Provocations in Early Childhood Education?

In essence, provocations are open-ended activities designed without a predetermined outcome. These experiences, initiated by the teacher but with no end product in mind,  are crafted to ignite curiosity and inspire exploration, whether children are working independently or collaborating in groups. As defined by Journey into Early Childhood, provocations are “deliberate and thoughtful decisions made by the teacher to extend the ideas of the children,” allowing them to develop vital skills such as inventiveness, flexibility in thinking, and the ability to reflect and plan.

Implementing Provocations in Your Teaching Practice

The balance between child-led and teacher-led learning is a subject of ongoing discussion among early childhood educators. Unlike traditional, outcome-based learning activities, provocations encourage an open-ended style of engagement. They are thoughtfully set up with the intention to spark thinking, using a variety of materials that children can connect in myriad ways. The focus here is on nurturing learner dispositions rather than teaching specific skills, fostering an environment where there is no ‘wrong’ way to explore.

Creating Effective Provocations

What makes a successful provocation? Engaging reflective teaching strategies, to wonder about the ideas, needs, and interests of the children will serve as your starting point for provocations. Educators set up a beautiful and inviting scenario using a variety of elements such as nature-based materials, loose parts, and tinker trays to inspire creativity. The most effective provocations are those tailored by teachers who take the time to understand what resonates with their learners and encourage collaborative engagement. 

Items to Consider for Your Provocations:

• Engaging visuals like photos or books
• Natural elements or specimens
• Conceptual themes (changing seasons, light, gravity)
• Familiar materials presented in new ways
• Children’s interests
• Unique objects (magnets, maps)
• New creative mediums
• Thought-provoking questions

For more insights into ‘Reggio Inspired’ practices, resources from platforms like Let the Children Play, Racheous: Respectful Learning & Parenting, and Fairy Dust Teaching offer a wealth of information. These include ideas for creating Reggio-inspired learning environments, both indoors and outdoors, as well as suggestions for materials and experiences.

If you’re seeking further information on the Reggio Emilia Approach, organizations such as Reggio Children, Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange, North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, and Reggio Emilia – Aotearoa New Zealand are excellent resources.

In conclusion, provocations in early childhood education are not just activities; they are gateways to a world of exploration and discovery. By integrating these into your teaching practice, you open up endless possibilities for your young learners to develop, imagine, and grow.

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In an era where parents delve deeper into the realm of early childhood education, the demand for exceptional childcare services is at an all-time high. Parents seek more than mere convenience; they are on the lookout for childcare centers that offer a unique edge. This shift presents a golden opportunity for childcare centers to amplify their marketing efforts and make their services known.

Understanding that effective marketing can be a game-changer in the competitive landscape of early education, let’s explore marketing ideas tailored for childcare centers eager to establish a distinctive presence.

1. Create a Buzz with Community Events

One of the most effective marketing ideas for childcare centers is hosting community events. Whether you’re unveiling a new center or reinforcing your established presence, public events like open houses, family BBQs, or educational fairs can serve as the perfect platform for parents to familiarize themselves with your offerings. Enhance these gatherings by distributing informative brochures or even enrollment forms, and seize the opportunity to gather contact information for future engagements.

2. Elevate Communication to Market Your Childcare Business

Every interaction is a marketing opportunity. Ensure that all correspondence, from emails to newsletters, features your childcare center’s name, contact details, and a succinct description or slogan. This constant visibility reinforces your brand and reminds parents of your center’s values and offerings.

3. Harness the Power of Social Media Engagement

A robust online presence is non-negotiable in today’s digital world. Social media platforms, particularly Facebook, are invaluable for keeping your community abreast of important dates and events. More so, these platforms offer the chance to build your brand’s voice—be it professional, nurturing, or friendly—allowing parents to gain insights into your childcare center’s culture and philosophy.

4. Foster Word-of-Mouth Through Parent Advocacy

Word-of-mouth remains a potent tool in the arsenal of marketing ideas for childcare centers. Encouraging parent referrals through incentives or memorable experiences can transform satisfied clients into vocal advocates. A noteworthy referral program or a strong online communication system, like Educa, can motivate parents to spread the word about your exceptional services.

5. Continuously Educate Your Audience

Marketing ideas for childcare centers should also involve education. Share your educational philosophy, the merits of your curriculum, and your investment in staff development. This can be accomplished through blogging or sharing pertinent articles on social media, reinforcing your center’s expertise and commitment to early childhood education.

6. Expand Your Network Beyond the Childcare Center

Step out of the confines of your center and immerse yourself in local networking opportunities. Speaking at parenting groups or early education workshops can position you as a thought leader, allowing for natural marketing of your childcare services. Always come prepared with business cards and consider offering special discounts to nurture ongoing relationships.

By adopting these targeted marketing ideas for childcare centers, you can enhance your visibility and showcase the unique qualities of your early education services. Remember, the goal is to create an engaging, informative, and accessible presence that resonates with the values and needs of modern parents seeking the best early education for their children.

The post Marketing Strategies for Child Care Centers and Preschools appeared first on Educa.

Step 1: Assess Your Readiness

Opening a preschool or center requires a unique blend of passion, patience, and business acumen. Before taking the plunge, it’s crucial to evaluate if this venture aligns with your personal and professional goals. You must possess a deep-seated passion for early childhood education, the capability to manage a business, and the qualifications—or the means to hire qualified staff—to meet your state’s licensing requirements.

Step 2: Conduct a Needs Assessment & Craft a Business Plan

Understanding your community’s needs is the cornerstone of a successful preschool or daycare program. Research the number of young families in your area, existing childcare options, the specific needs for certain age groups, and the prevailing market rates. Utilize resources like your local Child Care Resource & Referral agency and the U.S. Census Bureau to gather data. With this information at hand, construct a comprehensive business plan that addresses all aspects of your programming, from startup costs to curricular frameworks.

Step 3: Prepare Your Facility

Select a location that is accessible, safe, and conducive to learning. Ensure compliance with zoning laws and licensing guidelines. Create a warm and inviting atmosphere with child-friendly furniture, educational toys, and ample safety equipment. Remember, the physical environment plays a pivotal role in the learning process for young children.

Step 4: Develop an Engaging Curriculum

Your mission statement should be reflected in your curriculum, balancing the fine line between academic readiness and the promotion of learner dispositions. Consider adopting or developing a curriculum that emphasizes play-based learning, and don’t be afraid to explore innovative educational philosophies that cater to the diverse needs of young children.

Step 5: Assemble a Qualified Team

The strength of your preschool lies in the quality of its educators. Hire staff who not only meet the necessary qualifications but are also aligned with your program’s philosophy and values. Ensure all staff members are equipped with up-to-date safety and health training certifications.

Step 6: Choose the Right Tools and Services

Leverage modern tools to streamline operations, from billing systems to parent engagement platforms like Educa, which facilitate communication and foster a sense of community.

Step 7: Strive for Quality Ratings or Accreditation

Participate in your state’s Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) to gain credibility and demonstrate your commitment to high standards. Consider seeking accreditation from esteemed organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to stand out as a leading provider.

Step 8: Market Your Program Effectively

With your curriculum and team in place, it’s time to showcase your preschool or daycare center to the community. Develop a strong online presence with an informative website and active social media profiles. Local marketing efforts can include partnerships with community centers and health care offices, as well as hosting open house events to introduce your facility to prospective families.

Conclusion

Starting a preschool or childcare center is a significant undertaking that can make a lasting impact on your community and the field of early childhood education. By following these steps and committing to continuous improvement and innovation, your setting will not only be a place where children can grow and learn but also a testament to your dedication to shaping future generations.

The post A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Preschool or Childcare Program  appeared first on Educa.

When writing Learning Stories, it’s important to always focus on the learning process rather than the end product and in using positive language. For instance, is a child being “stubborn” or “determined?” “Loud” or “expressive?” “Nosy” or “curious?”

Language that is positive, engaging and specific is more beneficial and enjoyable to hear and read. We’ve compiled a list of 100 positive adjectives and 50 positive adverbs to help jump start your writing.

100 Positive Adjectives

50 Positive Adverbs

The post 100 Positive Adjectives and Adverbs for Writing Learning Stories appeared first on Educa.

However, recent years have seen a shift towards more authentic forms of assessment. This type of assessment concerns what children can do in real-world contexts and how they can apply their learning in new and different situations.

Besides being a more comprehensive approach, the authentic assessment also reflects more profoundly and accurately on a child’s progress. But, more importantly, it eliminates the limitations posed by the conventional checklist assessment.

What is Authentic Assessment?

The most concise and apt authentic assessment definition is that it is an approach to assessment that focuses on measuring how well students can perform tasks that are meaningful and relevant to real-world experiences. In an authentic assessment, the emphasis is on what students can do with their knowledge rather than memorizing facts or reproducing information from lectures. To be considered authentic, an assessment task must meet specific criteria. It must be:

• Purposeful: The task must be connected to a real-world problem or scenario.
• In-depth: The task must require students to use their knowledge and skills to complete it.
• Complex: It must be open-ended and allow for different solutions.

Components of Authentic Assessment

Authentic assessment relies heavily on observation. Therefore, the teacher regularly observes the student and reflects on their progress through a learning story.

Every story showcases the teacher’s observation of the children, focusing on events that contribute to the child’s growth. At Educa, the following elements comprise learning stories used for authentic assessment.

Framework Selection

The DRDP or Desired Results Development Continuum is one of the most popular frameworks used for authentic assessment in early childhood education. It is a comprehensive, research-based assessment system that allows educators to track children’s development and progress across multiple domains.

The DRDP has three versions:

• DRDP is aligned with California’s Early Learning and Development Standards
• DRDP-Preschool is aligned with the state’s former preschool learning foundations
• DRDP-Kindergarten is aligned with California’s Language Arts and Mathematics Content Standards.

Other popular frameworks for authentic assessment include the Reggio Emilia Approach and the Project Approach. Educa’s DRDP rating tool allows teachers to use the respective framework for efficiently reporting the child’s progress.

Learning Stories

Teachers use learning stories to capture and document a child’s learning experiences over time. 

A learning story includes the following elements:

• A description of the event being documented
• Observations of the child’s behavior and attitudes
• Teacher’s reflections on the child’s learning
• The context in which the event took place

Educa Academy provides paid training on learning stories and professional development courses led by experts from around the world.

Linking to Framework Measures

Essentially, the goal of learning stories is for them to be linked to domains or measures of the chosen frameworks. For instance, the Essential View subsection of DRDP has 29 measures. Learning stories should be able to show evidence of the child’s progress concerning these measures. In addition, it allows educators to have a more holistic understanding of where the child is developmentally and what areas they need support.

When writing a learning story, it is essential to use language accessible to both parents and administrators. In addition, the focus should be on the child’s strengths rather than on their weaknesses. Since it can be tricky for teachers to use MS Word or Google Docs to link learning stories with framework measures, it’s best to use an online learning story solution like that from Educa. In addition, since educators can instantly share reports with parents, there’s plenty of room for real-time input and collaboration.

Reporting

The final step in the authentic assessment process is to compile all gathered data and observations into a report. The report should show the child’s progress over time and identify where they may need additional support. As a DRDP assessment vendor, Educa strives to create customized snapshots for every state in North America, allowing teachers to visualize how closely they’ve covered the framework measures. With Educa’s offering, teachers will be able to export customized reports for different frameworks or format them to be printed later.

Characteristics of Authentic Assessment

Early childhood educators have long been using authentic assessment to track children’s progress and development. However, the term “authentic assessment” has only recently become popular in educational circles. Here are some of its essential characteristics:

Observation

The principal characteristic of authentic assessment is that it is observation-based. It means that educators observe the child’s behavior and performance in order to make inferences about their development. This is in contrast to standardized tests, which rely on the child’s ability to answer questions correctly. With authentic assessment, there is no right or wrong answer – instead, the focus is on the child’s process of learning.

Parent Involvement

In authentic assessment, caregivers or parents are also involved in the process. This is because they can provide valuable insights into the child’s development, which the educators may not be able to observe directly. In addition, parent involvement helps to ensure that the assessment is genuinely authentic and accurately reflects the child’s abilities and development.

Identification

Both the educators and the caregivers identify particular activity-specific and routine-specific behaviors of the child to assess. The focus is on the child’s daily activities and routines rather than on one-time events or tasks. As a result, it helps to provide a more accurate picture of the child’s development over time. There’s a keen focus on the child’s behavior, such as interests, strengths, and preferences. For instance, educators will observe how a child interacts with other students. Meanwhile, parents will report the child’s behavior at home.

Interpretation

After the behaviors have been identified, they are then interpreted in terms of the child’s development. This interpretation is based on the educator’s professional knowledge and experience. It helps provide an accurate understanding of the child’s abilities and development. Authentic assessment is systematic, which means there is a structured process for observing and documenting the child’s progress. It helps ensure that the assessment is reliable and valid.

Outcomes of Authentic Assessments

Authentic assessments in early childhood are meant to provide educators with a more thorough understanding of children’s abilities, interests, and learning styles. Unlike standardized tests, which often focus on one specific skill or content area, authentic assessments consider the whole child.
Furthermore, because authentic assessments are designed to assess how well children can apply what they have learned to real-world situations, they are often seen as being more valuable than traditional assessments. Moreover, educators can use different types of authentic assessment to understand the following.

• Behavioral Interactions: With an authentic assessment, educators can observe children’s behavior and interactions with others. This type of assessment can provide valuable information about a child’s social skills, communication abilities, and overall dispositions. While some may say it’s not as helpful in an educational setting, it can definitely provide useful information to a child’s clinician.
• Cognitive Processes: Another way to assess children’s learning is to focus on their cognitive processes. Some ideal tasks include having children explain their thinking, solve problems, or make predictions.
• Content Knowledge: In addition to assessing children’s behavior and cognitive processes, educators can also use authentic assessments to measure content knowledge. It might involve tasks such as asking children to identify pictures of different emotions or explain the function of various objects.
• Physical Development: Authentic assessments can also monitor children’s physical development. For instance, the child can be asked to stand on one foot or walk heel-to-toe in a straight line.
• Creative Expressions: Teachers may also assess children’s learning through their creative expressions. They could ask children to draw a picture of their family.

Advantages of Authentic Assessment Over Traditional Assessment Types in Early Childhood

Authentic assessment has several advantages over traditional forms of assessment. First, it allows children to demonstrate their accurate level of understanding and ability. Educators can then provide targeted instruction that meets the child’s needs with this information.

Second, an authentic assessment provides a more well-rounded picture of the child. It can prove to be very helpful in identifying the child’s cognitive approach, level of expression, and interaction with surrounding people and objects.

Third, authentic assessments are often more valuable than traditional assessments because they assess how well children can apply what they have learned to real-world situations. It is imperative in early childhood when children begin to learn how to transfer their knowledge and skills to new situations.

Finally, authentic assessments tend to be more engaging for both the child and the educator. They often involve active tasks that allow the child to explore and experiment. Such assessments can foster a love of learning in the child and help build a strong foundation for future academic success.

Authentic Assessment Examples

There are several different ways in which educators can go about conducting authentic assessments. One standard method is to have children complete tasks or projects related to the material they have been learning in class.

For example, if a child has been studying animals, they may be asked to create a diorama depicting the natural habitat of one animal. Another example would be if a child has been learning about different types of rocks, they could be asked to create a rock collection.

In both of these cases, the child must use what they have learned to complete the assessment. In addition, teachers can use inferences from these activities to create learning stories for their students.

Suppose you ask your students to create the natural habitat of an animal they learned about last week. Here’s how you may write a learning story about a child (let’s call her Jane).

Jane or Tarzan?

Jane, I must say you did a fantastic job with your diorama on birds’ natural habitat! The level of detail you put into it was awe-inspiring.

I could tell that you had put a lot of thought into every aspect of it, from how the trees were arranged to how the animals were interacting with each other. It was clear that you really understood what you were doing.

My favorite bit had to be the part where you had the bird eating the worm. It was so realistic! I could almost hear the bird chirping.

Well done, Jane. I’m very impressed with your work.

Such a story will be a delight to read not only for Jane but for her parents too. In the end, you can add a comment section and speak to the parents directly.

Jane did an amazing job on her project about bird habitats. She showed a clear understanding of the material and was able to apply it in a creative way. Great work, Jane!

Observations for a Learning Story

Let’s continue with the same example and explore which observations allowed you to write such a great learning story for Jane. Here are some of the things you might have observed:

• Level of Detail: It shows that Jane was able to understand and apply the material she learned about birds and their habitats.
• Inference: Jane was very engaged in the task and put a lot of thought into it.
• Creativity: The way Jane arranged the animals and the trees in her diorama showed creativity and imagination.
• Realism: Jane’s representation of the predator-prey relationship between the bird and the worm was very realistic.

When writing a learning story, it is crucial to focus on the child’s strengths. In this case, you might want to focus on how well Jane understood the material and was able to apply it creatively.

By virtue of the authentic assessment definition, the resulting learning story should be valued by the child’s parents/caregivers, clinicians, and even the teacher who’ll teach them next year. Simply put, it should provide an insight into the child’s capabilities.

Channel Authentic Assessments Through Learning Stories

Regardless of the types of authentic assessment, you can use learning stories to report on the child’s progress. The Educa Platform allows you to make the assessment personal, observational, and child-centered. Plus, you can use customizable templates and built-in frameworks to create stories that become keepsakes for the children and their parents.

The post Authentic Assessment – What, Why, and Examples appeared first on Educa.

The mechanics of writing Learning Stories is easy enough in platforms like Educa.  And you know families love them, including grandparents who often can’t get enough. Plus children will constantly revisit their stories, retelling them to other kids, their parents and their extended family.

However, sometimes parents just aren’t as engaged with Learning Stories as you’d like. And that’s an issue. Developing true partnerships with families needs two-way communication, two-way engagement.  Your parents need to read your stories!

There is good news though.  There are tricks of the trade here, writing and creative devices that make all the difference. With just a few tweaks you can make good stories “amazing” and families will respond with comments and feedback.

Buckle up for 7 top writing tips to get your stories from now to WOW!

1. Use Strong Titles

Grab their attention. Draw parents in. You want them to read the story. Make them want to read on. A strong title is often short and concise. So put your creative hat on.

Examples like: “Gardener Jack”, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”, “Julie Block Builder”, “My First day Adventures!”, “Mud Kitchen” work well.

For more ideas have a look at Tom Drummond’s website for examples of Learning Stories. His titles include “Joy with the Marble Run” and “Jolene Brushes Paint.” 

Remember, when writing learning stories you don’t have to write the title first. Put the pictures and text together and the title might leap off the page at you. Really stuck? Try a book title generator (search “children’s stories”) for some creative sparks.

2. Make Learning Stories Personal

The best learning stories are ones that make parents feel you connect with their child.

If you can’t make the learning story personal, about the child, or that family, it makes it hard to write an engaging story. Having regular conversations with parents are helpful to discover what’s happening at home, interests which will weave themselves into your observations and stories. Jack has a huge collection of Thomas the Tank Engine toys at home…there’s an interest right there…

Another way to make a story personal is to add context:

• What lead to this story moment?
• What teaching or planning went into the moment?
• How do you feel about the environment around where the event occurred?

All of these things let families into the tent, helping them to see what you see.

But how do you make the writing personal? Be specific. It’s no secret that every child is different. Every child shows interest in different things at different stages. Closely observing the child’s learning is key, and for educators, many forms of observation provide opportunities for stories.

3. Three Photos Tell A Story

Online portfolios, like Educa, allow you to pair a learning story or quick update with pictures that “speak 1000 words.” From our experience, 3 is the optimal number of photos to include in your learning stories. It’s not too few and it’s not overwhelming. In general, if you choose carefully, 3 photos without any words can highlight an entire story.

Busy parents look at photos first. It is important to choose good photos. Make sure your photos are not blurred. Most of all make sure the child in the learning story is the child in the pictures! There is nothing more disheartening for a parent seeing a photo, and their child is not clearly visible in it.

Remember, not every story needs detailed observations. Educators tell us that the number of stories per child increases when they use Educa, because they are easier to write. So, write a brief day journal story with 3 photos and it will complement your more detailed learning stories and observations. Family feedback often comes with short stories, sometimes because they are more immediate.

4. Find Your “Voice” In Your Learning Stories

Every story you write will be different (because every child is different) – but the consistent thing is you writing them. It’s your voice, your passion for education and your enthusiasm and pride in the child’s learning growth being described that makes the story come alive for parents.

They love that you love seeing progress, so wear it proudly.

Make your language positive and engaging. Learning stories are about what a child is trying to do – It’s the “learning” in the learning story that provides the key.

It’s always worth reflecting on which stories parents comment on. Which ones get the most feedback? Ask yourself why – then use that knowledge.

Also ask yourself which stories are you most proud of?  Revisit your old stories and ask your peers what they think works for them. Building up your own portfolio of stories helps you see strategies that are working for you –  and helps you find your “voice” in the stories.

Parents will react to positivity, so be positive. We have put together 100+ positive adjectives and adverbs as a resource to inspire your writing of Learning Stories.

5. Amazing Stories Don’t Have To Be Perfect

Not every learning story you write will be a masterpiece. But, will also not be the last one you ever write. Lack of time is always a consideration for busy early childhood educators. Sending the story to a family who loves seeing how their child spends their days – means they want to like it.

Seeing something “now” has impact. Rewriting it a hundred times won’t always make it better. Of course, if there’s time, get one of your peers (or your mentor) to have a quick read (in Educa stories there is an option to require approval). A second reader can offer suggestions for improving your story. Or they can reassure you that your story is amazing! One piece of advice though – and Educa has it right there for you – spellcheck!

6. Ask Parents Questions

If you ask experienced teachers for their top trick to get parent feedback they will all tell you: ask questions at the end of the story. A question as simple as “How does Paula use/do/play with that at home?” e.g., “How does Jack play with Thomas (the tank engine) at home?”

Asking questions prompts parents for an answer. The questions make parents think about their child’s interests and feel motivated to answer. Asking a question also gives parents the ok to contribute. It’s a huge encouragement for them to give you feedback.

7. Send That Story – Now!

Before Educa it was common for many parents of preschool children to receive a hard copy portfolio “book” of their child’s learning stories, photos and artwork at the end of a term/year. It was a great read, but much of the learning happened 3 months ago or longer. Three months is a long time in a short life.

Parents who wanted to contribute felt too much time had passed and often the child had moved on to other interests. But if you get the learning stories to the parents while the child’s learning is still current, parents will give feedback more readily. Most parents want to play an active role in their children’s learning, trust us!

Finally, stories are made to be read – read it aloud – to yourself, to each other, to the child who the story is about, to their friends…everyone loves a good story.

Taking Learning Stories to the Next Level

These writing tips really haven’t even scratched the surface of learning story content. But now that you’ve made sure parents want to read them…we can point you in the direction of some experts who can help with your learning stories…

If you’ve read Margaret Carr and Wendy Lee’s seminal book, “Learning Stories”, you will know that learning stories often consist of three key elements.

1. Observation of a child which describes the learning activity.
2. Uncover what is beneath the surface of the learning activity. Usually called “What learning do I think is taking place?” or “What’s happening here?”
3. Plan for the future which will extend or continuously support the child’s interest. Commonly called “Opportunities and Possibilities” or “What next?”

Ask yourself

Before you start writing a learning story, stop for a minute and ask yourself:

• What are the emotions you are observing the child displaying? How do you know that – is it the body language that is going on, or the conversations that are happening during the activity?
• What are the solving strategies that the child is using?
• Is the focus of your story the “doing” or the “learning”?

Answer these questions honestly based on your relationship with the child.

Other Resources

For more reflective questions around writing learning stories, see Documentation – what’s the point?

What may seem the most obvious recount of events may not be the “essence” of the learning that happened. It sometimes helps if you’ve made notes – save your draft story in Educa and return to it. It’s amazing how often returning to something with fresh eyes makes all the difference.

Online resources can be useful but remember everyone has their own style. “How To Guides” like the one from Aussie Childcare Network provide sample templates. Tom Drummond is another educator who provides examples of learning stories. Other examples of stories like these from QCAA in Australia and these New Zealand exemplars are useful to compare. But all of these are only aids to help you to develop your own writing style as an educator.

One thing you can be sure of though. Educa gives you the best kind of blank canvas – to help you create stories that parents and children can ready instantly and then access over and over and over again. Priceless.

PS. If you need any help with writing Learning Stories, check out Educa Academy for professional development options and Learning Story training.

The post A Writer’s Guide to Amazing Learning Stories That Will Engage Families appeared first on Educa.

Like any good book, a learning story has a plot and a hero

In a learning story, the hero is always the child. And instead of an epic battle in an enchanted forest, a learning story takes place in reality. It uses pictures and words to tell the tale of a child’s personal growth and development.

If you use a digital tool like Educa learning story software to write learning stories, then there’ll probably be photos or videos too.

It all helps bring the learning to life.

The Magic of Learning Stories

Learning stories use a storytelling format written about the child or written to the child. The narrative style allows the story-teller to capture the learning without the confinement of a list. And because they are simple and written from the story-teller’s perspective, they are entertaining and compelling reading for the parent.

Instead of “child is curious” on a report card, a learning story might read: “I saw you in the playground today, following a butterfly. You had a working theory that it might fly away if you got too close and so you were very quiet. I was so proud of how ….”

Learning stories are very different from the traditional checklist assessment that use fragmented evidence. They are a form of assessment for learning — teachers and families interpret the event in the story, reflect and collaborate on next steps for the a child.

What are Learning Stories?

Margaret Carr and Wendy Lee from New Zealand launched Learning Stories in 2001.

The vision was to use a personal narrative assessment format to compile a portfolio of stories that document a child’s unique learning journey and describe the child as a learner. And for this to be an assessment that is not isolated from the day-to-day life of the early childhood setting.

A Learning Story is a record of what a teacher or family has seen a child or group of children doing. In a Learning Story, the child is the hero. It’s not about instruction or learning related to instruction, but rather about strengths, interests and/or growth or success in a child’s exploration and play – in circumstances sometimes set up by teachers, sometimes not. 

Typically, a Learning Story has three parts – laid out in Educa’s learning story software as the default template:

1. An event, activity or moment(s) – generally with images and/or video
2. An analysis of the learning
3. A response, reflections that inform practice, next steps for the child

It becomes a ‘learning’ story when the writer adds his/her analysis and interpretation of the child’s learning and development. The writer draws on careful observations, prior understanding of a child and knowledge of the curriculum to reflect, analyze, share ideas and propose next steps.

A Learning Story should be as long (or short) as it needs to be – using text, images or videos in any combination. It is usually focused on a specific moment in time but may also be an accumulation of a child’s experiences over an extended period.

Learning stories are often also linked to learning frameworks and/or outcome goals, and to plans. They are used as an assessment tool and as a reporting method.

Stories are often documented in paper books, or digitally using an ePortfolio tool like Educa. Families, children and educators save them, to remember special moments, reflect on and learn from.

Share and Interpret

Learning stories are made for sharing. That includes the parents and the child. There are three forms of magic that happen in learning stories:

• The passion a teacher feels for a child’s learning progress comes through in the words
• The stories connect and engage parents, often eliciting a response, and
• For the child, it helps them connect the dots and see the consequences of their actions

Being able to write about the learning success of a child, for teachers, is what gets them up in the morning. It’s near to their heart. What parent can resist a story written about a child or better yet, a letter written to their child about something good that the teacher observed the child doing at school, something that reflects learning progress.

This is the magic of learning stories.

How Learning Stories Impact Learning

Here are eight powerful ways learning stories positively impact early learning.

1. Sense of identity

Learning stories are key methods in the development of a child’s sense of identity. By knowing what it is they are doing and understanding how they learn, children can develop their own interests as well as an all-important sense of self-worth. This will encourage more interest in learning by their own volition.

Community and belonging are important contributors to a child’s identity. Cultural norms can be transferred to the child through the use of learning stories. They help children learn what it is to be part of a community.

2. Family engagement, interpretation and contribution

Stories are not only beneficial to the child, but also to the parents. Through the story format a teacher can articulate the educational approach of the early learning service and how that reflects in the child’s learning.  In learning stories, the educator’s passion for the child can shine through and engage the parents in a way that a dry report card or assessment cannot.

This matters.  Parental engagement has a high correlation with achievement. Communication between home and school enhances learning.

By sharing stories with families that contain links to frameworks and interpretation of learning, learning stories allow teachers to include children and parents in the learning process. This is especially powerful when the sharing is in real-time via a digital platform. Parents can provide informed feedback on the learning analysis and/or the next steps in a collaborative way.

Both parties are on the same page, tracking the learning – inside and outside the school.

3. Children’s perspective

Recording events in a narrative form and in a child-friendly format (colors, images, etc.) creates the opportunity for teachers and families to read the story to the child.

This helps children see what they are learning from another perspective.

Some examples in Learning Stories: Constructing Learner Identities in Early Education by Margaret Carr tell of young children that are enthusiastic to show their portfolios to their families – even when the children themselves are not fond of reading. This instills a love for learning that grows with their portfolios. It allows them to recognize their achievements. This, in turn, allows them to achieve success in their educational endeavors.

4. Intensifies teacher noticing skills

The anecdotal, private observation approach more often than not is deficit-oriented. And without the lens of learning growth, any old anecdote will do. A teacher’s skills in recognizing learning growth moments is not really tested.

If a teacher is going to write 6-12 learning success stories in the course of a year, there needs to be a higher level of focus on a child’s learning journey. Story-worthy events  – moments of learning growth or success — come in many different forms, but many will be missed if the teacher is not paying attention.

And if a teacher is paying closer attention to a child true learning trajectory, only good things can happen..

5. Helps children feel they are making a contribution

Even for young children, there is value in making learners accountable. It gives them a sense of control over their education.

Children need to feel that they’re having an impact on the world. If they feel that their actions are meaningful, they are more likely to engage in their learning. Writing learning stories helps with this sense of control, as it allows children to see how their actions are affecting the world around them.

This is one of the main reasons learning stories replaced checklists in New Zealand.  Checklists tend to be deficit-oriented and children are aware of being looked at with a deficit-seeking mindset. Being seen as a collection of needs-to-do-betters is not how you build confidence and character in a child.

By comparison, knowing you are the hero in a sequence of learning stories that articulate success and points in time when you made a difference is a very different biography to prepare you for school life.

6. Permission for teachers to make it personal

There is traditionally a lot of pressure on teachers to be objective, and checklists are objective.  But really, early childhood education is not objective, it’s personal. Learning stories give teachers permission to write exactly how they feel about their young hero’s learning success.  This not only makes these stories easy to write for teachers, it makes for compelling reading – for parents and the child.

7. See the whole child

Learning Stories address the whole child at a point in time.  Each story has elements of social and emotional skills, attitudes to learning, language, physical skills and more – that can be linked to in frameworks.

8. Integrates  teaching, learning and assessment

Learning stories are written to be shared – with peers, families and the child, seeking everyone’s perspective and insights. This sharing,  interpretation, construction and re-interpretation process helps educators better understand the child, providing reflections and assessment that can be  fed back into the teaching and learning process.

For a more in-depth analysis of the benefits of learning stories, we definitely recommend giving this book a read: Learning Stories Constructing Learner Identities in Early Education by Margaret Carr and Wendy Lee SAGE Publications 2012.

A Portfolio For Posterity

Learning stories are added to a child portfolio – often online and printed out.  Educa has a story editor that creates beautiful Learning Stories.

Over the course of a year this collection of stories provide a compelling narrative of a child’s learning journey. The portfolio represents the educator’s assessment of that child for the year. Educa makes this particularly helpful by being able to show links to framework goals and plans met along the way.

Whereas the private observations, often required to support checklist assessments, are not seen by parents and tend to deleted or tossed out at year end, portfolios of learning stories tend to be kept, printed out, read to the child — who wouldn’t want to hear stories about themselves, when they are the hero! – and then saved. Often for years.

Educa has learning story templates and easy linking to plans and framework to make what was being done on paper easier – to create, to link and to share instantly with families.  Teachers use the mobile teacher web app, even in dictation mode, to start a learning story on the go. 

They can then save it and finish it off, add the linking, save to the child’s portfolio and share with parents in one click.

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