It is important to help staff members reflect on the learning experiences they provide. These questions can help you talk to staff members as they plan experiences and activities.

Assessing

1. How do you keep track of each child’s progress?
2. Tell me about your portfolios.
3. How do you figure out what each child needs?
4. How do you use the information from our program’s screening or assessment tools?
5. What types of evidence do you look for of learning in your classroom/program?
6. How do you think (child’s name) is doing? What makes you think that?
7. Do you have any children you’re concerned about?
8. Do you have any children who seem to learn new skills and ideas immediately?
9. Can you walk me through how you assess learning on a typical day?
10. How do you talk to families about assessment?

Planning

1. I noticed your records show this child hasn’t learned (a particular skill). What experiences do you think we can offer him to help?
2. What has worked for (child’s name) in the past?
3. What types of learning experiences have you already tried offering? Were they successful? Why or why not?
4. What resources do you need?
5. What are the children interested in right now?
6. How are you incorporating children’s home culture into your plans?
7. What ideas make you the most excited?
8. How can I help?
9. How will you make sure families and the program are aware of your plans?
10. How do you get input from others about your plans?
11. How does your team work together to plan?

Doing

1. How did the activity or learning experience go?
2. What would you do differently next time?
3. What information were you able to gather about children based on this experience?
4. What do you know now that you didn’t know before you implemented that plan?
5. Which children seemed to “get it”? Which children still seemed to need more help? What can we do with that information?
6. What are your next steps?
7. What will you share with families about what children did today and what they learned?