For Your Binder

We need to re-affirm our commitment to children's play.  Failing to act on these recommendations will allow this generation to become the most sedentary in our nation's history, consequently possibly having a shorter life expectancy than that of their parents. #play #pushdown #movement #recess #risk #outside 

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

The findings consistently show that the foundation is what supports the house!  Want a huge academic mansion? Then make the foundation rock solid!  This is the handout that goes with the workshop that goes with the book of the same title! #play #DAP #pushdown #teaching #handouts

Missed the workshop? Want to watch it again? Got a DVD player? Lisa has DVDs of all her workshops! #oldschool  

"This is not a child-care program. It's an educational program."  It's a dated article but I still roll my eyes at the comment.  #pushdown #DAP #teaching #learning 

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

Play and learning are deeply intertwined. Like yin and yang, play and learning are not only complementary, they are additive, the sum is always greater than their parts. #play #pushdown #DAP #learning 

When we shortchange children's playtime in favor of "academics" we might actually be inhibiting their development. #play #pushdown #teaching #DAP #learning

Here's the backstory: The author, John Taylor, is a retired superintendent of schools in Lancaster, S.C., he offered this history about the essay he wrote while leading that district:  

The parody was originally titled "Absolutely the Best Dentists."  It was written and sent to every newspaper and legislator in South Carolina a number of years ago in an attempt to point out the absurdities inherent in South Carolina's then new accountability act which was focused on absolute performance and threatened retention for every child who couldn't meet very challenging grade level standards. (Not to mention severe penalties for "poorly performing" schools, teachers and administrators.) Since then it has traveled widely to the point that I have not been able to keep up with the uses; but I know it has appeared in teacher association publications in at least three Canadian Provinces and in Australia, as well as dozens in the USA. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) seems to have given the story a new life.  Thus: No Dentist Left Behind.

#pushdown #DAP #play #teaching #learning

Tension without intention. #teaching #learning #play #technology #resilience #pushdown

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

Sooner is NOT better and who decided that "early birds" like worms anyway???

#play #pushdown #learning #teaching

This handout will teach YOU how to do The Apple Demo with a group! Why is it important? It is a very very strong visual exercise that reinforces the importance of the real in early childhood environments - NOT dittos NOT worksh*ts NOT flashcards! Memorize the steps and then take your audience through the different ways children might experience an apple. This is a great activity to do with parents at back to school night!  #handouts #DAP #teaching #learning #play #pushdown #parenting

Missed seeing Lisa demo this one? Maybe want to watch it again? Got a DVD player? Lisa has DVDs of all her workshops! #oldschool