Learning Stories in Early Childhood with Te Whariki

Have you ever watched your child play and wondered what's going on in their little head? Meet Sarah, a preschool teacher in Wellington. She has been observing her class of 3-year-olds build a tower with blocks. She notices one child, Timmy, who is particularly engrossed in building the tallest tower he can. Sarah decides to capture this moment in a learning story.

What are Learning Stories?

Learning stories are narrative descriptions of children's actions during play. They are an essential tool in the early childhood education (ECE) sector in New Zealand. They provide a rich, informative, and engaging way to document a child's learning journey.

How Learning Stories Align with Te Whariki?

Te Whariki is the national early childhood curriculum in New Zealand. It emphasises the learning partnership between teachers, parents, and children. But how do learning stories fit into this approach?

• Holistic Development: Learning stories highlight a child's development in a holistic way. They aren't just about what a child has learned, but how they have learned it, showing their problem-solving skills, creativity, and persistence.

• Family and Community: Learning stories also establish a strong connection between the learning happening in the ECE setting and the child's life at home and in their community.

• Empowerment: By focusing on a child's strengths and interests, learning stories empower children in their learning journey.

Why are Learning Stories Important in Childcare?

You might be thinking, "Why can't we just stick to traditional assessments?" Here's why learning stories are a game-changer:

• Child-Centric: They focus on the child's perspective, capturing their thoughts, feelings, and motivations in real-time.

• Engaging for Parents: They provide meaningful insights to parents about their child's learning.

• Reflective Practice: For teachers, writing learning stories encourages reflection and deepens their understanding of each child's learning process.

Curious about how Sarah turned Timmy's play into a learning story? Let's dive into some examples of learning stories.

Examples of Learning Stories

Sarah's story about Timmy's tower building begins with an engaging title, "Timmy the Tower Builder". She starts by describing the scenario, the materials Timmy used, and how he stacked the blocks. She notes his determination, his problem-solving when the tower toppled, and his delight in his achievement.

But she doesn't stop there. Sarah then relates Timmy's tower building to the goals of Te Whariki. She highlights how Timmy showed persistence, a goal under the 'Belonging' strand of Te Whariki. She links his problem-solving to the 'Exploration' strand. She also mentions how he demonstrated communication skills, aligning with the 'Communication' strand.

In her story, Sarah also includes her interactions with Timmy. She recalls how she asked him about his tower, fostering his thinking and communication skills. She ends the story by reflecting on Timmy's learning and planning potential follow-up activities.

How to Create Learning Stories?

Creating learning stories doesn't have to be daunting. Here are a few steps to get you started:

1. Observation: Watch the child play. Notice what catches their interest.

2. Documentation: Write a narrative of the child's play. Include what the child did, what they said, and how they felt.

3. Interpretation: Link the child's actions to the learning outcomes of Te Whariki.

4. Planning for the Future: Suggest future activities that can extend the child's learning.

5. Sharing: Share the story with the child and their parents.

Learning stories are more than just a tale of a child's day in childcare. They are a powerful tool that captures a child's learning journey, aligning it with Te Whariki, and sharing it with parents. They empower children in their learning, engage parents, and provide a platform for teachers' reflection. So next time you watch your child play, why not try capturing the moment in a learning story? You'll be amazed at the insights you'll gain.