Documentation's important in Reggio Emilia childcare or early learning settings to help adults understand and support children's learning. Here's an example of how records could help, and a common problem how to fix it:

Practice of Documentation

Some preschool teachers used a project to teach children about animals. They recorded the learning process through photos, transcripts of the children talks, samples of work etc.

Problem:

The teachers noticed during the project that some children were more interested than others. Some didn't seem that into the subject and weren't joining animal talks or hands-on stuff.

Solution:

The teachers decided to use the records to think about why and fix the problem and they looked closely at how the children interacted, their body language, and how involved they were. They realized the less interested children preferred sensory stuff and learned more through touch than talking.

The teachers get this new info and change how they teach. Now they got the children doing more hands-on stuff like building little animal houses out of stuff with different textures and junk. They also let them show what they picked up through art and playing with sensory stuff. Let them mess around with projects in ways that jive with how they like to learn.

So, the teachers don't just figure issues out by, filling out paperwork. They also tweak what they're doing to help out all the children they're in charge of. Shows the paperwork with this Reggio whatsit isn't just writing stuff the kids do. It's using their notes to help each little dude or chick learn better.