Nurturing Creativity, A Learning Story Example

Writing a good learning story can sometimes feel like trying to prepare a pavlova. You know, that quintessential Kiwi dessert that we all love, but can be a little tricky to get just right. You gather all your ingredients, carefully separating the egg whites, and then patiently beat them until they form stiff peaks. You carefully fold in the sugar, cornflour, and vinegar, taking care not to deflate the egg whites. Finally, you spoon the mixture onto a baking tray, cross your fingers, and put it in the oven, hoping for the best.

Much like baking a pavlova, the ingredients for a good learning story are simple: observations, interpretations, and goals for future learning. The process, however, requires patience, care, and a bit of creativity. The final result can be a wonderfully enriching documentation of a child’s learning journey. Without further ado, let’s dive into an example of a learning story.

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Learning Story: The Magic of Drawing

Date: 20th July

Child: Amelia, 4 years old

Setting: Local kindergarten

Amelia was sitting at the art table, quietly absorbed in her drawing. She had a set of coloured pencils spread out before her, and she was carefully selecting different colours and adding them to her picture. The image on the paper was a colourful mix of shapes and lines.

I approached Amelia and asked her about her drawing. She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and said, "I'm drawing a magic garden." She then pointed to different parts of her picture, explaining, "This is a rainbow tree, and these are flowers that glow in the dark, and this is a butterfly that can talk."

Amelia's drawing and her explanation showed that she was using her creativity and imagination to create a magical world. Her use of different colours and shapes demonstrated her developing fine motor skills and her understanding of various artistic elements.

Learning and development:

Amelia's drawing activity showed her creativity and imagination. It also showed her developing fine motor skills as she manipulated the coloured pencils. Her understanding of different colours and shapes, as well as her ability to explain her drawing, demonstrated her communication skills and her developing understanding of the world around her.

Next steps:

To support Amelia's interest in drawing and her creativity, we can provide her with a variety of art materials to explore. We can also introduce her to different art techniques and styles. Encouraging her to talk about her drawings and the stories behind them can further enhance her communication skills and imagination.

Teacher: Mrs. Parker

In this learning story, the observation was Amelia's drawing activity. I noted her selection of colours, her careful drawing, and her explanation of her picture.

The interpretation involved identifying the learning and development that were taking place. In Amelia's case, these were creativity, imagination, fine motor skills, communication skills, and understanding of the world.

Finally, the goal for future learning or the next steps were based on Amelia's interests and skills. Providing her with more opportunities to draw and explore different art materials and techniques can further support her learning and development. Encouraging her to talk about her drawings can also enhance her communication skills and imagination.

Just like a well-made pavlova, a good learning story is a delight to create and share. It captures the magic of a child's learning journey and provides valuable insights for further supporting their development. So, gather your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and start crafting your learning stories. And remember, it's not just about the final product; it's also about the joy and learning that happens along the way.