For Your Binder
Hugs, Not Drugs
This is a bit lengthy and quite dated. Of Note: there is no publication date provided, but it references stats from the 1990s so while I wouldn't advise quoting the numbers, the general overarching premise is timely: the wildest colts make the best horses. Are we medicating to truly assist? Or to increase compliance within a broken system? #teaching #learning #DAP #movement
The Apple Demo
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
Why Children Might Benefit From a “Combination” Classroom
Nine advantages of blended classrooms! #DAP #learning #teaching #mixedages
Building fine motor skills and why it matters
A short article with 10 different ways to build a child's fine and small motor skills! #DAP #play #movement #writing #teaching #learning
Lack of free play among children is causing harm, say experts
In this brief update from Boston College, guest editor Peter Gray gives an overview of the articles appearing in the August 2011 issue of The American Journal of Play in which he had a few pieces. #play #teaching #learning #parenting
Babies and toddlers should learn from play, not screens
Many screen based programing for infants and toddlers is advertised as "educational," yet evidence doesn't support this. #DAP #screens #technology #parenting #teaching #learning
Can the Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control?
This article initially caught my eye because it contains one of my favorite words, but used it in a sentence with a phrase that gave me pause; self control? I used up two pens and a few highlighters keeping track of my reactions and comments to this one. Spoiler alert: verbiage verbiage verbiage! definitions definitions definitions! It's rather dated, so take some of it with a few extra grains of salt. Also, is Eleanor Duckworth on your radar??? #play #DAP #teaching #learning
Implicit bias: The problem and how to interrupt it. Plus, the beads test
It's not just what is said, it is what is unsaid. Maybe conduct the bead test at your next staff meeting?!? #implicitbias #teaching
Getting Pre-K Right: The Iceberg Model for Early Developmental Competencies
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
Kindergarten Cram: Toss out the No. 2 pencils and let them play
This article begs the question, why are we so hellbent on, "bigger! better! faster! sooner! now!" ?? #DAP #play #pushdown #teaching #learning #parenting
Disclosure: if you have been waiting for a "good reason" to subscribe to the NYT to access some of the articles I post, this might just be it.
Behind the findings of the Tennessee pre-K study that found negative effects for graduates
After I read this one I wrote on the top of the page, first do no harm. We KNOW that #play is what needs to be happening. Why do we (not present company "we" but I think you know what I mean!) insist on trying to get different results???? We (the same "we") must stop dismissing data because we don't like the results! #DAP #teaching #learning #Vanderbilt #Tennessee