For Your Binder

Spoiler alert - nature based preschool is a positive thing! What we need now are researchers who can test this hypothesis in ways that look beyond test scores! #play #outside #teaching #learning #forestschools #nature

A good overview of the benefits of The Mix, but the reason it's here is for the modified image of Vygotsky's ZPD, which I really liked! #teaching #learning #theorists #mixedages #DAP  

This article is adapted from Paul Tough's 2016 book, Helping Children Succeed: What works and why  #teaching #learning #DAP #resilience #play

This is the one that started it all! This handout is not only full of art, science & sensory recipes and activity ideas, it's got the words to tell the wolves for you too!  You know, the folks who barge in and want to know what everyone is learning and what standard you are meeting!! #handouts #play #sensory #science #DAP #art #teaching

Need more ideas? Lisa has 3 other activity focused books! 

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

Too small of a sample? Racially biased? Data too old?  #parenting #learning #teaching #DAP

Many of you know that Lisa is a vigilante mixed age grouper!  Whatever ages can legally be together in one room (it varies from place to place) is what she is going to do! This is a list of the resources Lisa tapped into as she wrote the Mixed Ages paper that she presents during the workshop of the same title.  You will find most of these individual articles here in the resources section of the website if you want to explore the topic further! #handouts #mixedages #teaching #DAP 

The uneven distribution of high-quality early education classrooms in the United States reflects several factors. The author lists four of them for you!  #teaching #learning #DAP

This was one of the articles that emerged after the 2015 release of the preliminary results of the (now) oft quoted Vanderbilt Study. #teaching #learning #play #DAP #Tennessee #Vanderbilt

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

While I have moved beyond creating prop boxes, this article, while a little dated, provides a nice reminder as to the importance of dramatic play and, should the children instigate an exploration of some of the themes that are presented, might serve as a starting spot for some additional materials that might add to the exploration and play. #play #teaching #learning #DAP

This is one of the most bittersweet pieces I've ever read.  It will break your heart and yet show you how to repair it all at the same time. Read: the pure power of PLAY.  #play #playwork #teaching #learning

The Phi Delta Kappan takes a look back and considers the importance of caring about caring; including an article previously shared here.  #relationships #caring #learning #teaching