Child/Tama: Abdulrahman. Teacher/ Kaiako: Naema. Date: 4th, May/ Haratua, 2018.

An-Nur Childcare.

Asalamo Alaikum and Kia Ora Abdurrahman, your last story was about how you have been
feeling more comfortable with individuals and routines at preschool. As teacher Liz
mentioned, you have been trying different things during the process of settling into the
preschool. I also agree with her observations as I have personally observed you myself
after and during the last few weeks you have been gaining the understanding of how things
work at preschool in terms of adapting to the changes. You are
feeling comfortable to explore the preschool environment
both inside and outside. You have been developing the
understanding of what each area of the preschool represents.
You are aware of the area where the toys are located, where
you wash your hands and where you eat. Your sense of Mana
has been developing and giving you the confidence to engage
yourself in playing alongside other children.

Revisit 18th May: During last few weeks we have been

supporting you to further learn An-Nur preschool routines
and encouraging you to put your lunch box and drink bottle where it belongs, on the
kitchen shelf. Washing your hands and reading Dua before kai (food) and sitting at the
table while you eat. You also have been encouraged to tidy-up at the times when required,
just like all the students at the preschool.

Today when I saw you playing in the sand pit, you were trickling sand between your fingers
and then began to lay in the sandpit to feel the texture of sand. This really showed how
relaxed you are in the preschool environment.
To follow your interests, I came and sat beside you
and picked up the spade help you fill the bucket.
You noticed me and immediately, picked up the
red spade and began to fill the bucket up promptly.
You then took the green spade from me, I gave you
a word to say ‘please turn’, and you mimicked my
speech and said with a big smile, “Please turn.” I
rewarded your good manners and gave you the
green spade. You put the red and green spade
together to measure the differences and
similarities between the two spades. This shows
your mind is developing at a great rate where you are comparing things, showing
progression in your observational skills to help you further in life. You took a few scoops of
sand with the green spade and also added it to the sand already in the bucket. You then
returned the green spade to me showing you have good responsibility. I thanked you and
continued to help you in filling the bucket right to the top. Upon completion, we both
exchanged a stare and emptied all the buckets forming sand castles! Sarah came and asked
me what I was doing, I replied to her
‘Making sand castles’. You picked up on
the words very quickly and said,
“Making sand castle!” You generally
spend a large amount of time playing
alongside Sarah very happily. You
show great enjoyment from filling the
buckets and then topping them over in
a repetitive manner. During the
process you also enjoy singing along
with me “I am digging the sand and
making castles”.

What learning is happening?

Observation shows you developing understanding in recognizing your own abilities and
finding strategies in education and recreational activities. You play and include others
willingly during activities as you showed your curiosity related to how things work and
asked for the green spade. You then began accessing the two spades very diligently by
placing them together, looking at them up and down whilst rotating the spades. After you
assessment, you then returned the spade back to me and initiated play promptly to further
your play in a co-operative manner. During your extend play time, it was very evident that
you love to sing in a calming manner during the diffing procedure.

How can we extend this learning?

We will continue supporting you with the learning pathways provided by the centre which
cater to your interests and will scaffold you to gain confidence in manipulating toys. We
will also encourage you to learn and play alongside other children, which is already one of
your developing interests.

Parents Contribution: