In This Episode...

Ever sat down to write an observation about a quiet child and found your page stays stubbornly blank? You're not alone — and it's not because you're not paying attention. In this episode, Jodie explores why our documentation systems consistently fail quiet learners, introduces the SILENT framework for observing learning you can't hear, and shares four specific AI prompt approaches that help you find the professional language to match what you see. If you have a quiet child in your room right now who you're struggling to document, this one's for you.

🟣 What You'll Find Out:

✅ Why documentation systems are biased toward verbal, active learners

✅ How to use the SILENT framework to observe learning without words

✅ How quiet child under-documentation is an equity issue

✅ Four AI prompt approaches for documenting non-verbal learning

✅ How to describe schema play and non-verbal communication professionally

✅ How to reframe brief observations using strength-based language

✅ Important privacy reminders when using AI for documentation

🟣 Resources Mentioned In This Episode

The Empowered Educator website - Episode 38 resource page

AI Empowered Educators Membership - Smartforms and AI Chat Assistants for documentation

Blog post: "Uncover Children's Schema Play With An AI Assistant"

🌟 If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow educator!

🎧 Subscribe & leave a review so we can reach more educators looking to save time with AI

📲 Follow me HERE on LinkedIn for more AI tips & timesavers and leadership strategies

📍Follow me on HERE on Pinterest for play ideas and environment inspiration

💻 Discover What’s Possible with AI in Early Learning... HERE on the FREE AI Resource Page

🔔 New episodes drop every Friday! See you next time as we continue learning about creative ways to use AI in early childhood education - ethically, practically, and with confidence.

#aiforeducators #earlylearning #aiineducation #aiempowerededucators #edtech

🟢 Documentation was supposed to make children's learning visible. Instead, it's become the thing that steals your evenings, your weekends, and your enthusiasm for the job. In this practical episode, Jodie challenges the documentation expectations that have built up over the years in the early education sector, reveals what the NQS actually requires, and shows you exactly how AI can help you write better observations in less time - without replacing your professional expertise. If you've ever felt guilty about unfinished paperwork, this one's for you.

🟣 What You'll Find Out:

✅ What the NQS actually requires versus what's been added over the years

✅ How to apply the 80/20 rule to simplify your documentation

✅ How to shift observations from just describing activities to capturing learning

✅ How AI can help you express what you already know in professional language

✅ A practical prompt for turning rough notes into professional observations

✅ How to use AI to audit your service's documentation requirements

✅ How leaders can use AI to support mentoring and simplify systems

✅ Why AI writing support is equity - especially for EAL educators

🟣 Resources Mentioned In This Episode

1. The Empowered Educator AI Empowered Educators Membership
2. AI Chat Assistants: Dottie Documentation, Ellie EYLF, Lacey Leadership
3. AI Smartforms: Anecdotal Observation Writer, Learning Story Writer
4. AI Helpers: Nico the Noticer, Leo the Linker
5. The Planning Cycle Reset - Free 3-part video series (launching soon)
6. NQS Element 1.3.1 - Assessment and Planning

🌟 If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow educator!

🎧 Subscribe & leave a review so we can reach more educators looking to save time with AI

📲 Follow me HERE on LinkedIn for more AI tips & timesavers and leadership strategies

📍Follow me on HERE on Pinterest for play ideas and environment inspiration

💻 Discover What’s Possible with AI in Early Learning... HERE on the FREE AI Resource Page

🔔 New episodes drop every Friday! See you next time as we continue learning about creative ways to use AI in early childhood education - ethically, practically, and with confidence.

#aiforeducators #earlylearning #aiineducation #aiempowerededucators #edtech

It's the beginning of a new year and perhaps you're already feeling behind on observations while trying to settle new children in. Before you try to overhaul your entire practice and rooms (again), Jodie introduces the "one small thing" approach that actually works. This episode walks you through practical, tested strategies for making documentation feel less impossible...starting with a 30-second AI introduction tip that changes the repsonses you get back from AI tools and five quick wins you can try today, not just "when you have time."

✨SEE THE INTERACTIVE GUIDE AND PROMPTS TO COPY ON THIS PAGE✨

🟣 What You'll Find Out:

✅ What actually changed in AI tools over 2025 (and what still hasn't)

✅ Why trying to change everything at once guarantees you'll give up by the end of February

✅ The 30-second introduction that makes every AI conversation instantly better

✅ How to pick your "one small thing" for sustainable change

✅ Five ready-to-use quick win solutions for real early childhood challenges

✅ Why AI can't replace you (and never will)

🟣 Five Quick Wins from This Episode

1. Welcome Letters for New Families - Create warm, personalised orientation materials in minutes
2. Getting to Know You Surveys - Design questions that actually inform your planning
3. Visual Routine Charts - Inclusive adaptations for diverse learners
4. Team Meeting Frameworks - Reset documentation expectations without blame
5. Environment Refresh Ideas - Work with what you've got (no catalog required)

🟣 Resources Mentioned In This Episode

1. ChatGPT - Custom instructions feature for saving your educator introduction
2. Google Gemini - Built into Google Docs, Sheets, and Gmail (look for the sparkle icon)
3. Claude (by Anthropic) - Strong at longer writing tasks like learning stories and summaries

✨ AI Empowered Educators Membership - Access to Smartforms and Chat Assistants mentioned throughout the episode

✨ AI Empowered Educators YouTube Channel - Upcoming screen-share tutorials showing exactly how to use these prompts

✨ Free Three-Part Video Series - Coming soon: tackles the complete planning and documentation cycle

🌟 If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow educator!

🎧 Subscribe & leave a review so we can reach more educators looking to save time with AI

📲 Follow me HERE on LinkedIn for more AI tips & timesavers and leadership strategies

📍Follow me on HERE on Pinterest for play ideas and environment inspiration

💻 Discover What’s Possible with AI in Early Learning... HERE on the FREE AI Resource Page

🔔 New episodes drop every Friday! See you next time as we continue learning about creative ways to use AI in early childhood education - ethically, practically, and with confidence.

#aiforeducators #earlylearning #aiineducation #aiempowerededucators #edtech