For Your Binder

The Tennessee Pre-K Debate: Spinach Vs. Easter Grass
2015

Another great article from when the preliminary Vanderbilt Study data was released (2015). The quote that caught everyone'e eye:  "It's like saying spinach is really good for you," Farran says, "but we can't afford spinach. But here, I've got this Easter grass. Maybe that will be just as good."  

Ouch. #DAP #play #learning #teaching #Vanderbilt #Tennessee

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Early Social-Emotional Functioning and Public Health: The Relationship Between Kindergarten Social Competence and Future Wellness
2015

A 20 year study reinforcing what we've know for years; that being able to get your shovel back is a pretty important skill.  #DAP #play #teaching #learning

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What is Happening to Fine Motor Development?
2016

To put it bluntly, Guddemi says that lacking fine motor skills is not "fine" in Kindergarten! #teaching #learning #DAP #play #pushdown #reading #writing

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The COVID generation: how is the pandemic affecting kids' brains?
2022

Child development researchers are asking whether the COVID pandemic is shaping brains and behavior. #teaching #learning 

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Preschool education: Go big or go home? Tennessee study calls benefit of public preschool into question
2015

This article is in response to the release of some preliminary data for what is now known as the Vanderbilt Study (final results were released in early 2022).  Even then we could see what the results ended up actually indicating... that children need to #play 

#teaching #learning #DAP 

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Community Playthings

Use this link to hop on over to Community Playthings and sign up for their newsletter and/or to do some investigating on your specific topics of interest. #play #teaching #learning #DAP

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Culturally Inclusive and Contextually Appropriate Instructional Practices: Rethinking pedagogical perspectives, practices, policies and experiences in ECE programs
2020

This was the intro piece to a special edition of the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 34:1, 2-5. Questions to ask regarding our own practice: Is it culturally appropriate? Is it contextually appropriate? And, is it child appropriate? This special edition invites educators to consider local cultures and contexts while designing experiences for young children.  What might work in classroom B might NOT work in classroom E! More rationale as to why we must continually reflect on our practice!!!  #teaching #DAP #diversity #learning #equity

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Red Paint in the Hair

An oldie but a goodie about messy play and art! #art #play #DAP #creativity #teaching #learning #parenting

Oh Those Little Ones

If you work with the wee bairns this one is for you!  While the theory applies to all ages, if you are needing a few fresh ideas for the little ones, this handout will assist.  And while there are activities in the handout, please please please remember it's never ever about the activities; it is about the caring, the connecting, the relationships and attachment! If those ingredients are missing, it doesn't matter how pretty the room is or how much stuff you got! #handouts #care #relationships #DAP #teaching #theorists

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

Can the Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control?
2009

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

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School Has Become Too Hostile to Boys: and efforts to re-engineer the young-male imagination are doomed to fail
2013

Growing intolerance for boys' action-narrative-play choices may be undermining language development.  #DAP #gender #teaching #learning #play #powerplaying

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The Playwork Primer
2010

A wonderful introduction to playwork as well as some key concepts and phrases. It also provides an overview of the play types as identified by Bob Hughes as well as tons of resources & notes at the end.  It might only be 20 some-odd pages, but for a small little book, it packs a punch!  #playwork #DAP #play #teaching #learning

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