For Your Binder

Many of you know that Lisa is a vigilante mixed age grouper!  Whatever ages can legally be together in one room (it varies from place to place) is what she is going to do! This is a list of the resources Lisa tapped into as she wrote the Mixed Ages paper that she presents during the workshop of the same title.  You will find most of these individual articles here in the resources section of the website if you want to explore the topic further! #handouts #mixedages #teaching #DAP 

A wonderful introduction to playwork as well as some key concepts and phrases. It also provides an overview of the play types as identified by Bob Hughes as well as tons of resources & notes at the end.  It might only be 20 some-odd pages, but for a small little book, it packs a punch!  #playwork #DAP #play #teaching #learning

Most of this essay is about defining the characteristics of play, but before listing them, author Peter Gray offers three general points that are worth keeping in mind.  #play #teaching #learning 

Books are sometimes windows to new worlds; real, imagined or strange. Sometimes books are sliding glass doors we walk through so we can join that world in our imagination. Books can also be mirrors; reflections of our own lives and experiences. This classic article reminds readers of the importance of offering books that provide all three.  All of our children suffer when stories only mirror the dominant social group. This article might perhaps a much needed conversation about the contents of your book center! When I first read it I ended up launching myself down a very interesting rabbit hole and spent a fine afternoon reading articles that, albeit very dated, are probably still timely regarding the all white world of children's books. #reading #books #stories #teaching #learning #equity #inclusion #diversity #DAP #language #literacy

This pilot study of the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM) provides a method to record the process of play as outlined by Sturrock and Else (1998) in the aforementioned Colorado Paper.  #play #playwork

Busy busy busy kids don't get the opportunity to wander outside the parental orbit to explore! Will we pay a price? #play #outside #pushdown #dirt #nature

Are we disguising bad teaching with nice clothes??? #teaching

Do boring tasks become more playful when toyified?  #play #toys

Fairplay (formerly Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood) is an independent voice standing up for what kids and families really need. Fairplay is committed to creating a world where kids can be kids, free from the false promises of marketers and the manipulations of Big Tech. There are tons of resources for you here via this link.  #play #DAP #parenting #screens #technology 

Words can make a big difference in how we think and what we do. #play #learning #teaching

Withholding recess for punishment is counterintuitive because the students who have trouble sitting still or being quiet are often the ones who would benefit the most from some free time to move around and regain their focus. #teaching #learning #recess #DAP #play #outside #movement #equity

Sometimes it takes teachers AND parents to bring educational policies in-line with what we know about the importance of recess. #recess #play #teaching #learning #DAP #outside #movement