For Your Binder

A Brief History of Blocks

This used to be part of the supplementary handouts for the Meet the Masters workshop which is being edited to present a more accurate (and diverse) time line of ECE influencers. The info is now embedded in the block play workshop.  Regardless, it is a good stand alone resource if you'd like a quick crash course in the history of the blocks you probably have in your program! #blocks #theorists #play #handouts #teaching

Is play a privilege or a right? And what’s our responsibility? On the role of play for equity in early childhood education
2017

Although the rest of the world has ratified Article 31 of the United Nations Rights of the Child which declares that play is the right of all children, the USA has yet to do so.  This article rejects play as a privilege and instead supports it as a matter of equity.  #play #equity #teaching

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What I’m NOT Saying When I Speak About Developmentally Appropriate Practice
2017

Enough with the false dichotomies already!!!!  Child-centered doesn’t mean the kids run the show and warm & caring early childhood settings are not the opposite of intellectual ones.  #DAP #play #learning #teaching 

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The Crisis in Early Education: A Research-Base Case for More Play and Less Pressure
2011

Policymakers persist in ignoring the huge discrepancy between what we know about how young children learn and what we actually do in preschools and kindergartens. #play #pushdown #teaching #learning #DAP

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The Right to Play
2019

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

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What are schema and why should you care?
2021

Schema are pattens of repeatable behavior often seen in young children!  How are we facilitating them?  #schema #play #movement

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In The News: A book review of Being Child Centered
2020

While the journal ceased publication in 2020, they continue to provide their articles as an archived resource and in the summer of 2020 Louise Parks, then editor of the Texas Child Care Quarterly, shared a review of my book Lisa Murphy on...  Being Child Centered with my editor at Redleaf Press, as well as some humbling words for which I will be forever grateful:

I’m delighted that we were able to include a review of On being Child Centered by Lisa Murphy. I’ll confess to laughing out loud (and shedding not a few tears) as I read Ms. Murphy’s wise and witty words, and longing for my days back in the classroom with eager, curious, and energetic three-year-olds. In a spectacular amalgam of Lilian Katz and Vivian Paley (my ECE heroes) Murphy calls educators to task (Katz) with anecdotes and examples (Paley) that are accessible, meaningful, and empowering of both adults and the children in their care. Can you tell this is one of my all-time favorites?!

#play #teaching #learning #inthenews 

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How Children’s Social Skills Impact Success in Adulthood: Findings from a 20-Year Study on the Outcomes of Children Screened in Kindergarten
2015

Social competence in kindergarten was a significant indicator (in adulthood) of both positive and negative outcomes across all domains: education, employment, criminal justice, substance abuse & mental health.  This link will take you to a summary of the study.  There's a link to the complete study here.     #DAP #teaching #learning #play 

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The Case for Elementary School Recess
2011

Even juries get recess!!!!!  #recess #movement #play #DAP #outside #teaching #learning

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Nursery University: a reaction piece
2022

I watched the film Nursery University back in 2011. It highlights a few NYC families and their stressful attempts to frantically get their children into the “right” preschool/nursery school. Here is a link to the trailer.  My reaction comments are here as well.  #pushdown #parenting #play #teaching #learning

Is War Play Bad For Kids?
2014

We went from advocating safety first, to safety only. Read why what adults might call aggressive is a stepping stone to compassion.  #play #DAP #powerplaying 

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Please, "go outside and play"
2008

Unfortunately, “going out to play” has gone the way of the dodo, the typewriter and the eight-track tape.  #outside #play #parenting #risk #resilience 

Note: depending on how often you access the LA Times, you might need to sign up for this one

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