My classroom is always interactive, so I am quite interactive in my approach to teaching and learning. Often I share samples of observations and analyses, projects I completed as an educator. Sometimes we watch videos and make running records or jottings.

Here are some ways you can support your co-educators who are less experienced and support their learning, especially if you are an educational leader.

1. Observation Scavenger Hunt: Provide educators with a list of specific behaviours, interactions, or developmental milestones to observe in the classroom. I love to use the Developmental Milestones book for that. They can use this list during their regular classroom activities or on placement to identify and document these observations.
2. Video Analysis: Share video clips of children engaged in different activities and interactions. Ask educators to watch the videos and write down their observations, including both verbal and non-verbal cues. My favourite videos are from ECA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYv-6X6nxwo
3. Reflective Journaling: Encourage educators to keep a reflective journal where they write about their experiences, challenges, and successes in making observations. This will help them gain insights into their own observation practices. My favourite journal is Butler Creative journal or any notebook where I can write my thoughts.
4. Case Study Analysis: Present educators with fictional or real case studies involving children of various ages and developmental stages. Ask them to write observations based on the provided information and discuss how these observations could inform teaching and planning. Case studies are easy to find on this website https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/kindergarten/planning-assessing-documenting/documenting/academic-perspectives
5. Group Discussions: Organise group discussions or workshops where educators can share their observation experiences, exchange tips, and provide feedback to each other. Peer learning is the best type of learning!
6. Role-Playing: Conduct role-playing exercises where educators take turns playing the role of an observer and a child. This can help them practice active listening and note-taking skills.
7. Picture Books: Create picture books or photo albums showcasing different scenarios of children’s learning and play. Ask educators to write descriptive observations based on the images.
8. Interviewing Children: Facilitate opportunities for educators to interact with children and ask open-ended questions to learn more about their interests, preferences, and motivations. Educators can then use this information to write comprehensive observations.
9. Comparative Observations: Provide multiple observations of the same child over time, showing their progress and growth. Ask educators to compare and analyze the observations, noting any changes or patterns.
10. Guided Writing Prompts: Offer writing prompts or sentence starters to help educators structure their observations effectively. Gradually reduce the level of guidance as they become more confident. I am working on creating guided writing prompts to support educators even more.
11. Peer Feedback: Encourage educators to exchange observation notes with a colleague and provide constructive feedback. This fosters a supportive learning environment and helps them refine their observation skills.
12. Parent Involvement: Collaborate with parents or caregivers to share their observations of their own children. Educators can compare these with their own observations, gaining different perspectives on the child’s development.