Community Corner

Learning Story

Abby Andiman Mars, ECC Director

Telling stories is part of our Jewish tradition. As a people, we are connected one-to-the-other by our shared experiences and the telling and re-telling of them. Of course there is interpretation, personal bias, and creative license that takes place when story telling, but this is all part of the art. Just ask Talmudic Rabbinic duo Hillel and Shamai who never understand anything in quite the same way and spent a lifetime argue about it!

There are other traditions that value story telling too. "Te Whariki," a form of story telling rooted in New Zealand's Aboriginal culture, is used to explain how children learn and develop in an early childhood setting. This form of narrative seeks to understand what, how and why children develop as they do. Why is this important? This narrative approach allows teachers to understand their students so they can enhance and extend learning opportunities and better support them in areas where they may require a bit more development. CSU Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Studies Annie White earned a faculty fellowship studying this idea in depth. "You document children's learning experiences with written observations through a storytelling format. This is a way to create conversation and collaboration between teachers and parents."

This is the professional work our ECC staff is engaged in for the year. Collectively we are working on ways to enhance our own practice by sharing weekly "Learning Stories" that document a specific milestone, idea or "aha-ha" moment. Paired with photos, we are thrilled at the impact and insight these Learning Stories have had on our families.

"Every parent wants to be a fly on the wall in their child's class. The Learning Stories give me the opportunity to see and more importantly understand the work my son is doing each and every day. I look forward to the weekly stories every Friday," shared a Pre-K mom.

A new Sprouts teacher is just as excited: "As a teacher, Learning Stories allow me to focus deeply on an idea or child. I'm looking for common threads, questions or challenges. Then I use what I discover to prepare curriculum and classroom experiences that support children best."

Our continued work in this practice will allow us to use these stories in meaningful ways during Parent-Teacher Conferences ​in spring​. Keeping a collection of these stories allow​s​ us to share ​memorable moments and milestones of a classroom's year together and our ​critical ​work as a school. Stop by a​n ECC​ classroom and check​ ​out their "Learning Story" binder if you want to learn more!
 

ECC Staff visits the Skirball Museum's Noah's Ark exhibit for more ideas about story telling.