Your child’s journal…
…is a unique memory of their time at Blaxland Preschool. It is not a full developmental record – rather, a living document that captures the essence of your child, their interests, their explorations, their relationships with others and their learning. It contains their drawings, thoughts, paintings, photos, learning stories and contributions from family members and educators too. It is a rich document that provides many different voices, and each child’s will look very different from the next. The journals are always available in the classroom for your child to add to or look at, and at the end of your child’s time at preschool, it is theirs to keep.
Your child’s voice…
Your child’s journal is most importantly, theirs. They are given full ownership over it, and are encouraged to record their learning, interests, investigations and special moments in it. It is a snapshot of what they deem to be important, and an impression of their time at preschool. Your child’s journal promotes a sense of belonging, and is a way of reflecting on and sharing growth and learning.
Your family’s voice…
Your child is always welcome to take their journal home and share or add to it at home. We also encourage family members to add insights, learning stories or special memories that are happening at home. Some families choose to journal with their child, others add photos and stories of family holidays, and others add “Class Stories” as a keepsake of what the class has been learning about. Please let an educator know when you are taking home your journal so we know where it is.
The educators’ voice…
The educators also contribute learning stories to your child’s journal, which describe moments of learning, relationships and significant moments during your child’s time at preschool. These learning stories are linked to the Early Years Learning Framework Outcomes or developmental domains. Because your child is part of a community, we often have group learning stories or photos of special events that have happened at preschool. At the end of each term, the educators reflect on your child’s progress and write about ‘their journey so far’. Goals are then planned to guide learning for the following term. This document is placed in your child’s journal, and we invite parents to share their hopes and goals for the coming term too.
