For Your Binder

New research shows that teaching kids more and more, at ever younger ages, may backfire! #play #teaching #learning #pushdown

This 2015 report provides preliminary findings from the longitudinal Vanderbilt Study, which started in 2009.  This study set out to identify whether or not children who participate in Tennessee PreK programs make greater gains than children who don't. #teaching #learning #DAP #pushdown 

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

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!

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

#play #pushdown #learning #teaching

A push-down curriculum isn’t helping kids to get ahead, it’s simply ignoring the critical role of the foundation. #play #DAP #parenting #pushdown #teaching #learning

There is no evidence that teaching children to read in PreK will help them be better readers in the long-run.  So how and when did we start thinking that it would? #play #pushdown #DAP #teaching #learning #reading

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

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

Despite evidence that play and social interactions are crucial to cognitive development, schools continue to take recess away. #recess #teaching #learning #outside #movement #DAP #pushdown

In spite of the fact that the vital importance of play in young children’s development has been shown in study after study, many people (still) (unfortunately) believe that play is a waste of time in school. #play #DAP #pushdown #teaching #learning