For Your Binder
Re-defining the Play Cycle: An empirical study of playworkers’ understanding of playwork theory
The Play Cycle was initially identified in 1998 in what is oft simply referred to as The Colorado Paper. Since then, a new definition of the Play Cycle as been proposed by the authors of this study. #playwork #play
On Fairy Stories
Here is the full text of the essay Tolkein presented (in an abbreviated form) in 1938 at St. Andrews, Scotland. A couple of my favorite quotes: "If fairy story as a kind is worth reading at all it is worthy to be written for and ready by adults." And, "It may be better for them (children) to read some things, especially fairy stories, that are beyond their measure rather than short of it. Their books like their clothes should allow for growth, and their books at any rate should encourage it." #books #stories #fairytales #reading
Education’s Rotten Apples
The bad stuff has to go away for the good stuff to work. #DAP #teaching #learning
The Science of Early Childhood Development: Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do
I fell down this amazing rabbit hole after hearing Jack Shonkoff, MD speak at a conference many years ago. Read this (albeit dated) report and then, seriously, carve out a few hours and spend some time exploring the rest of this site - super user friendly, wonderfully up to date and filled with a treasure trove of resources. #DAP #teaching #learning #play
16 Outcomes for Early Education
A challenge: Start talking about the 16 Capabilities rather than academic readiness as the desired outcome for ECE programs. Can you imagine every child going to kindergarten having mastered these 16 things?!?! #DAP #play #learning #teaching #pushdown
Also, you are going to want to read more from the author, Tom Drummond and his fantastic work in ECE, so click here to access his full website!
Curiosity, Pleasure and Play: A Neurodevelopmental Perspective
Predictable, consistent, nurturing experiences are required to express the underlying potential of each child. #learning #teaching #DAP #relationships #care
Human Nature of Teaching II: How hunter-gatherers taught without coercion.
This is Part II in a series by Peter Gray. In Part I Gray defined teaching - here in Part II he examines teaching as it occurs, or occurred, in hunter-gatherer bands. #play #teaching #learning #DAP
The Healing Power of Play: Therapeutic Work with Chronically Neglected and Abused Children
This is one of the most bittersweet pieces I've ever read. It will break your heart and yet show you how to repair it all at the same time. Read: the pure power of PLAY. #play #playwork #teaching #learning
Let's Stop Talking About The '30 Million Word Gap'
Here are six things to know about the 30 million word gap. #learning #teaching #parenting #DAP
The Colorado Paper
This was my first exposure to playwork as a "discipline" and seeing the playground as therapeutic space; as healing. #playwork #play
Four new tools for building your child-guidance skills
A little shameless plug here! In the summer of 2020 the Texas Child Care Quarterly published four book reviews and I was honored to see that my book, Lisa Murphy on... Being Child Centered was one of the ones they included! This link will take you to all four - mine is the last one. #teaching #learning #environment #press #play
Thirteen 13 things you don't know about tears
No one is really sure WHY we cry - but there are lots of theories. For me it can be a true feeling of sadness but I think it is often a purge of emotion. A clearing. A cleansing. Bev Bos used to say that "if the eyes are the window to the soul then tears are what keeps the windows clean" #playtherapy
