Documentation

We learned that what makes documentation successful is finding what works best for you! Documentation is important for many, many reasons. The children benefit from a system that shows them what they have accomplished, what they are expected to do, and what is to come. Documentation is a tool that will justify your classroom practices, routines, expectations, and progress to parents and administration.


A simple schedule outside of the classroom gives students, visitors, and administrators an idea of the day ahead.

Electronic student folders can keep pictures of students organized. This way of documenting allows parents to see their child in action during conferences. One teacher who uses this system said the parents appreciate visual documentation more than a paper checklist of standards.



We knew that documentation in early childhood classrooms was important, but Jennifer Liberatos showed us a new way to show visitors and parents how much learning happens in each center.

Writing Center
Fine Motor skills
Increasing Language Development
Eye-hand coordination
Putting thoughts into words
Learning print has meaning

Woodworking Center
Expressing creativity
Learning to plan and organize
Advancing eye-hand coordination
Expanding imagination

Science Center
Learning and testing new concepts
Increasing language development
Learning to plan and discover
Observing, Predicting, and Comparing
Drawing Conclusions
Experiencing sensory activities
Discovering how things work

Puzzle Center
Fine and gross motor skills
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial concepts
Language skills
Enhancing cognitive development

Play-doh Center
Focusing on creativity
Fine motor skills
Using imagination

Painting Center
Fine motor skills
Expanding creativity
Eye-hand coordination
Bringing ideas to life

Music Center
Expressing Creativity
Learning different cultural music styles
Practicing rhythm
Focusing on listening skills
Experiencing new instruments

Manipulative Center
Fine motor skills
Gross motor skills
Hand-Eye coordination
Classifying and sorting
Counting and comparing
Recognizing patterns and shapes

Literacy Center
Pre-reading skills
Sequencing events
Developing language skills
Recognizing letters have meaning
Learning to take care of books
Experiencing quiet moments
Gathering information
Learning to create our own stories

Dramatic Play Center
Cooperation
Develop language skills
Verbalizing ideas and concepts
Understanding emotions
Communication

Creative Arts Center
Expanding creativity
Fine motor skills
Cooperation and sharing
Increasing language development
Bringing ideas to life

Computer Center
Fine motor skills
Hand-Eye coordination
Mouse control
Enhancing pre-writing/pre-reading skills
Learning math and language concepts

Blocks Center
Fine and gross motor skills
Experimenting with balance and form
Classifying by shape, size, and color
Using imagination
Recognizing quantity and number concepts