Classroom Stories Night and Documentation

"Are they going to a morning meeting? Or a night meeting? What kind of meeting?" - Henri, 3.2 years
It's a night meeting. It's called Classroom Stories Night. 
"Like a book?" - Cully, 3.1 years

We want to start by thanking everyone for a wonderful Fall Classroom Stories Night. It is fun, and important, to share the work of the children. We hope that you enjoyed the evening and gained some insight into our day, the relationships that the children are forming, and the exciting threads that are developing in our classroom (Toad and the Bell Tower). 

"A movie about us?" - Eliza, 2.11 years

​On Friday and Monday, we shared the Classroom Stories presentation with the children. They were so excited to see their photos, symbols, hear their own words, and watch the videos. As they watched, they recalled the experiences and asked questions about the materials. 

​​“That’s us!” - Cully, 3.1 years 
“Why two photos?” - Gracie, 2.11 years

 
​“Is that Cully?” - Gracie [as she pointed to screen and then to Cully sitting to her left]

"That's for a snow plow." - Cully [recalling what he told us about his symbol]

​“School! School!” - Cully [responding to the photo of the bell tower construction]
“Where did Toad go? He’s still missing.” - George 
“Toad is at the pumpking patch!” - Henri 
Is the real Toad in that photo?
[many children said no]

​“Do you think these pictures are the real Toad?” - Will
“I think Toad is in the Bell Tower.” - George

Viewing the presentation with the children gave all of us another chance to revisit the work together.  As we mentioned on Thursday night: Throughout our day, we are constantly documenting - through photos, videos, audio recordings, hand written notes, etc.  Documentation, in any form, is a tool for critical reflection and revisiting. It assists all of us (both children and teachers) as we push the work forward. It is used to make the depth of the children's learning and strategies visible to them, us, and all of you.

Documentation in the classroom

​The videos and powerpoint for Classroom Stories are just one way that we share. We have documentation in many forms throughout our school: the blog, panels, photographs, quotes from the children, transcribed conversations, books, drawings, portfolio drawers, artifacts of their work, etc. 

As you can see in the photos, and you saw in the videos last Thursday, the children are reading the documentation and referencing it as they work. It’s informing their choices and ideas.

As you’ve seen here in the blog and on the wall in our classroom, we have written projections - both monthly and weekly- that we use for planning purposes. This year, thanks to a wonderful conversation that the Tucker Room teachers had with Amelia Gambetti, an educator and our collaborator from Reggio Emilia, we have created a visual form of our projections. It offers transparency to the children, as they have a right to know the direction things are going and insight into our thinking. It contributes to the construction of their memories as we use it to reflect on the work we’ve done, talk about the actions of the present, and look to the future work. The children are using it regularly and excited to see the photographs and discuss the projection of the work.

the 

“The walls of our preschools speak and document. The walls are used as spaces for temporary and permanent exhibits of what the children and adults make come to life.” -  Loris Malaguzzi

We invite you, each and every day, to take a look at the walls of our classroom.  The documentation is meant to be alive and active. Some areas may reflect the current work, while others will showcase past experiences and projects. Please take time to walk around with your child during drop-off so that they can read the documentation with you. 
 
While you are always free to chat with us about what you see, we also invite you to use our sticky notes (near the window) to leave any questions (for children or teachers), comments, or ideas! 

​During the excitement of watching the Classroom Stories videos, Georgia began to notice the photos and documentation on the wall.  Here you can see that she is looking around for photos of herself in the various "displays" in the Brown Room.