“You Look at Things Differently:” The Role of Documentation in the Professional Development of a Campus Child Care Center Staff

Abstract

The practice of documentation was developed by early childhood educators in the municipal child care programs of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Documentation represents children's experiences through photographs, videotape, and/or video prints, accompanied by explanatory notes, samples of children's work, and transcripts of children's comments and conversations. Primarily through the voices of three teachers, this article describes a university affiliated child care center staff's efforts to incorporate documentation into their practice. Themes common to many of the child care staff's reflections on their experiences include: documentation promotes staff development and collaboration, creates a climate of inquiry, communicates to children, parents, and families, invites meaningful dialogue, and advocates for the child. It is also described as both an intellectually and emotionally challenging experience.