Planning In the Moment
We use Planning in the Moment to support our children's learning.
The cycle of observation, assessment, planning, observation is carried out on a moment by moment basis. We have focused children each week. Activities that occur are recorded once the cycle is complete. These records are in the learning journals for the focused children and in our floor book.
The ‘planning sheets’ are blank at the beginning of the week. They are then filled up gradually throughout the week. All adults contribute to these sheets. When possible photos are printed and added to the records. In addition wow moments are recorded for all children as and when they occur.
We use the observation cycle on a moment by moment basis. The focus children are given extra attention but all the children are busy and learning all the time. It is particularly important that the adult input is recorded. The symbol ‘T’ indicates ‘adult’. Adult input is highlighted yellow. The floor book is a record of activities that have occurred.
We have focus children NOT focused activities. The adult goes to the child. The child is not called to go to the adult. We work this way because high level involvement occurs when in child initiated activity.
We work this way because babies and young children are experiencing and learning in the here and now, not storing up their questions until tomorrow or next week. It is in that moment of curiosity, puzzlement, effort or interest- the teachable moment- that the skillful adult makes a difference. By using this cycle on a moment by moment basis, the adult will always be alert to individual children (observation), always thinking about what it tells us about the child’s thinking (assessment) and always ready to respond by using appropriate strategies at the right moment to support children’s well-being and learning (planning for the next moment)