Children gain confidence and perseverance when they are certain that they know how to learn something. To help children see how and when their learning occurs, adults can call attention to the learning as they observe it. "When you draw a picture of your building, you are learning more." (Learning Together with Young Children: A Curriculum Framework for Reflective Teachers / Curtis and Carter) One strategy for helping children become aware of their learning is to create a book where their learnings are noted. They can dictate their observations, or you can write your observations and read them to your child.

To introduce this idea to your child, read The Gingerbread Girl, because she is "one smart cookie." After the reading, make a home-made book and entitle it the Smart Cookie Book. Use the book to log learning that you observe or to take dictation to questions you ask your child. "How did you get that tower to stay up so high?" "What were you thinking about when you..." "Is there anything more you'd like to learn about...(whatever they were working on)." Dictation helps build knowledge about print.

For some great ideas about making books, check out this website: Making Books with Children