For Your Binder

For very young children, art and early writing skills are one and the same. But this changes over time! This article provides an easy to read overview of the early stages of writing and scribbling.  It also provides user friendly trips on how to encourage creativity while at the same time assisting children in learning that words are powerful and have meaning! #reading #writing #DAP #scribbling #creativity #teaching #learning

Present company excluded, it is often a surprise that characteristics such as persistence, self control and curiosity are more important than sheer brainpower when it comes to being "successful"  #play #resilience #DAP #teaching #learning 

Disclosure, depending on how often you access articles from the NYT, you might need to sign up for a subscription.

What's the "problem with quality" and why can't we get beyond it? #teaching

I still believe it all comes back to either Love or Fear (meaning anything other than "love" has it's origin in "fear") but this might assist as we identify how fear might be manifesting. #DAP #teaching #learning 

This is an impressive overview of the research collected for the Minnesota Children's Museum in 2012. Not surprisingly, White's closing comment implies that while play is under siege, we must not forget that it is play that sets the stage for a strong foundation. #play #teaching #learning #DAP #theorists

Many screen based programing for infants and toddlers is advertised as "educational," yet evidence doesn't support this.  #DAP #screens #technology #parenting #teaching #learning

First. Do. No. Harm.  Stop doing stuff to kids you wouldn't want anyone doing to you!  #teaching #learning #DAP #relationships

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.

The title has changed over the years but the message hasn't - why do we continue to interrupt engaged children to come to a meeting???  #books #stories #play #teaching #handouts

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

Most of this essay is about defining the characteristics of play, but before listing them, author Peter Gray offers three general points that are worth keeping in mind.  #play #teaching #learning 

Sometimes it takes teachers AND parents to bring educational policies in-line with what we know about the importance of recess. #recess #play #teaching #learning #DAP #outside #movement

Short of cocooning our darlings in bubble wrap, nothing’s going to keep them completely safe. #play #outside #risk #movement #parenting #teaching #playgrounds