For Your Binder

Stop Trying to Make Kids “Ready” for Kindergarten
2014

Another opportunity to (re)consider what we mean by readiness.  #DAP #pushdown #play #teaching #learning

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Early Academic Training Produces Long-Term Harm Research reveals potential risks of academic preschools and kindergartens
2015

Louder for the people in the back!  #DAP #play #teaching #learning

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Neuromythologies: Separating science from speculation
2002

Although neuromyths might have some truth to them, careful reading of the original research often demonstrates that the findings have been misinterpreted, simplified or are based exclusively on animal studies with limited implications for humans.  This link will hop you to a chapter from Understanding the Brain: Towards a New Learning Science (2002) which specifically address 3 of the (now identified 6) myths.  #teaching #learning

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The Tennessee Pre-K Debate: Spinach Vs. Easter Grass
2015

Another great article from when the preliminary Vanderbilt Study data was released (2015). The quote that caught everyone'e eye:  "It's like saying spinach is really good for you," Farran says, "but we can't afford spinach. But here, I've got this Easter grass. Maybe that will be just as good."  

Ouch. #DAP #play #learning #teaching #Vanderbilt #Tennessee

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A Plot to Zap the Nap
2004

Childhood naps are neat. Without them, little people grow up to become airhead administrators. #pushdown #play #DAP #teaching #learning

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Less-structured time in children's daily lives predicts self-directed executive functioning
2014

While I would (re)(para)phrase the findings of this report to say: when children have the time to make choices as to how they spend their time, there is evidence of higher levels of executive function skills, I was not on the research team. But that's my non-scientific take-away all the same!  #teaching #learning #DAP #play

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Red Paint in the Hair

An oldie but a goodie about messy play and art! #art #play #DAP #creativity #teaching #learning #parenting

Getting Pre-K Right: The Iceberg Model for Early Developmental Competencies
2022

This article was written by the lead researcher in what is simply referred to now as "The #Vanderbilt Study" - in it she reminds us that greater focus on academics for three and four year olds is not the solution. Her metaphor of an iceberg is a powerful visual; the tip of the iceberg are things we can see (read: measure) like ABCs and 123s, but what is below the surface?  What has actually made these other things visible? Curiosity, persistence, self-control... and when are those skills developed? When children #play !!!!!  #Tennessee #DAP #teaching #learning #environment #pushdown

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Implicit bias: The problem and how to interrupt it. Plus, the beads test
2018

It's not just what is said, it is what is unsaid. Maybe conduct the bead test at your next staff meeting?!?  #implicitbias #teaching 

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Children's Hideouts- Shelters (Dens): A creation archetype
2013

Did you have the hidden power of knowing about a "secret spot"? #dens #forts #outside #play

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Are mixed-grade classes any better or worse for learning?
2015

Age is not always an accurate predictor of a child's actual development.  #DAP #learning #teaching #mixedages

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Analyzing Children's Art
1969

This link provides two excerpts from Rhoda Kellogg's book, Analyzing Children's Art as well as six related resources, also by Kellogg. #art #creativity #scribbling

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