This document contains a learning journal for a student that summarizes their development over two semesters in several key areas: collaboration, research/questioning, communication, thinking, self-management, and health/physical skills. For each area, there are two entries that provide examples of skills demonstrated by the student during specific activities and lessons. The document also explains that learning journals make children's learning visible, support play-based learning, and help teachers understand how children learn.

2. Collaboration Semester 2 Student 1 demonstrates collaboration as she helps student 2 to tidy up the balls after PE.

3. Collaboration Semester 1 Student 1 : Let’s put it up the hill. (riding the tandem bike up to the small hill) Student 2 : I’m riding beside. Student 1 : You have to stand up. Student 2 stays seated. Student 1 : (pushing student 2’s body) Miss Catharine : I think you need to use your words. What would you like to say? Student 1 : It can’t do it with you on. We have to use our teamwork. You have to get off and help. Student 2 : Okay, I will push with you. (Getting off and pushing together) Student 1 : We push it and go down like a roller coaster. They push the bike to the top of the hill and get back on and ride down. Student 1: We did it! Student 1 demonstrates his collaboration skills as he solves a problem with the help of his friend.

4. Research/Questioning Semester 1 Student demonstrates his understanding of the natural world as he takes care of his “plant” by giving it some water in the sandbox.

5. Research/Questioning Semester Two Student investigates natural habitats as he takes care of the class garden. Student : Teacher, what are those black things? Miss Catharine: They’re aphids. Student : What are they doing on our plants? Miss Catharine: What do you think they’re doing? Student : They’re eating our plants. Oh no! We have to stop them from eating our plants. What can we do? Miss Catharine: I’m not sure, how can we find out? Student : I know we can check the computer! Miss Catharine: It sounds like you have a plan. After checking the computer Student found that a solution of water and soap would kill aphids. After making the solution the children have been using it to keep the garden free of aphids.

6. Communication Semester 1 Student demonstrates her communication skills as she talks through, reflects on and modifies her actions. Student: “I need these (keys) to do this. First I put four red keys on and then this one needed two…wait (she counts three and takes one off) there should only be two on this one because the number is two. Then I did six orange keys on this one and seven blue keys here. And now I am doing the last one….ten green keys”.

7. Communication Semester 1 Student responds with relevant comments as he answers questions while narrating his illustration. Student: I like lions! Ms. Ann: Why did you think of lions? Student: I saw one time on TV that the man is after the lion! Ms. Ann: Wow! What did he want to do with the lion? Student: He’s gonna die the lion!! Ms. Ann: Did you mean that he’s gonna kill the lion? Student: Yes Ms. Ann: Why do you think he did that? Student: He’s gonna eat the lion. He even ate the bones.

8. Thinking Semester 1 Student demonstrates her thinking skills as she uses the soft toy cat to help her draw a cat in her journal. Student: Miss Anissa, I want to draw a cat but I can’t. Miss Anissa: Why don’t you look at the shape of your princess kitty cat? Student: Ok,then I can copy it right? Miss Anissa: That’s a great idea!

9. Thinking Semester 1 Student demonstrates her thinking skills as she makes a sign for our garden. She drew a picture of mongo seeds, wrote the word mongo and her name on her sign. She then independently found all the resources she needed to prepare the sign to be placed in our garden bed.

10. Thinking Semester 1 2009 Student demonstrates her thinking skills as she works to build a block structure. Student made several attempts to build a tower, but it kept falling. With persistence, Student was able to make a tower that was stable. Student: “You have to make it flat or it will fall down.”

11. Self Management Semester 2 2010 Student demonstrates self management skills as she independently puts her shoes and socks on after PE.

12. Self Management Semester 2 2010 Student demonstrates her self management skills as she selects and uses resources/activities independently and displays a high level of involvement.

13. Self Management Semester 2 2010 The bridge will open and the crocodile will go under. (Talking about Sea World) Student demonstrates self management skills as she sits and listens on the carpet and when ready to contribute to the conversation she raises her hand.

14. Physical/Health Skills Semester 1 Student uses co-ordination to throw the scarves in the air. Student uses strength to hold onto the swinging rope. Student uses co-ordination and balance as she jumps off the tall mat with both feet. Student demonstrates gross motor skills in a variety of ways during P.E.

15. Health and Physical Semester 2 Fine Motor Skills Student demonstrates fine motor skills in numerous ways. When constructing a building with small blocks, as she controls scissors, and when gripping a pencil whilst drawing.

17. The following photos were taken from Flikr under the Creative Commons license: Slide 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pepperedjane/250917879/ Slide 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeandsarah/470830759/ Slide 4: h ttp:// www.flickr.com/photos/hansandcarolyn/3038124929/ Slide 5: http ://www.flickr.com/photos/paulhollingworth/463751874 Slide 6: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hansandcarolyn/3059771155 / Slide 7: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anyhoo/2611050001/ Slide 8: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jalb/2069099613/