The vision of the New Brunswick Curriculum Framework states that all children are to grow to their maximum potential. This includes having a sense of self-worth, dignity as well as eagerness for living and learning. (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2008, p 1).

The New Brunswick Curriculum Framework strives to provide the environment along with the resources that are needed to support development in children who:

• are curious and confident with their knowledge and skills

• are secure in their identities

• are respectful of diversity

• contribute to the development of society and care for life on Earth

(Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2008, p 1).

"The image of the child is a concept that been articulated and enacted in the Reggio Emilia early learning and care settings for infants, toddlers, and young children in Northern Italy. Reggio practices are embedded in the learning theories of John Dewey, Erik Erikson, Barbara Biber, Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget." (Government of New Brunswick, 2021 p.8). Theorist Loris Malaguzzi is behind The Reggio Emelia approach.

Malaguzzi’s theory has 3 basic tenants to it, and they’re the foundation of the Reggio Emilia Approach:

• A positive image of the child

• Children learn by being active participants.

• Play is an important part of learning and early develop

This Framework discusses the importance of all aspects of a child's development in their learning principles. They include: Holistic learning, such as a project approach or structured play, engages the child as a person with physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and ethical aspects, simultaneously, in dynamic interplay (New Brunswick Curriculum Framework, 2008, P. 60-61).

The Framework also recognizes that children are unique and learn as well as develop at different rates in different ways (New Brunswick Curriculum Framework, 2008. P. 60-61) This curriculum is shaped around each child's individual needs, interests, abilities, and vulnerabilities. It also capitalizes on the child's strengths (New Brunswick Curriculum Framework, 2008, P. 61)

This early learning framework sees the children as individuals with rights and rich in potential. They acknowledge children as curious and active young citizens who are constantly constructing and re-constructing their understanding of the world. "Children begin learning at birth, and their experiences during the early years have critical consequences both in the present and for their own futures." (Government of New Brunswick, 2021, p.8).

Documentation and Assessments Activities Include:

• Listening to children

• Recording children's conversation

• Displaying children's art work and words

• Creating learning story portfolios or albums of learning events

• Exploring, encouraging and recording children's questions and theories

• Communicating through daily invitational family information boards

• Observing children as they learn individually and in groups

Why Documentation and Assessments are Important:

"The purpose of documentation and assessment is to focus the educators’, children’s, and parents’ attention on what individual children and groups of children are learning within a particular setting." (New Brunswick Curriculum Framework For Early Learning and Child Care, 2008, p. 63).

Narrative Assessment: "Illustrates, describes, and interprets the learning of individual children or groups of children through careful listening, photographs, observations, anecdotal records, and multimodal learning stories" (New Brunswick Curriculum Framework For Early Learning and Child Care, 2008, p. 63).

Normative Assessment: " Typically is an individual assessment that locates an individual’s development in relation to age-group norms, such as developmental milestones" (New Brunswick Curriculum Framework For Early Learning and Child Care, 2008, p. 63).