Purposeful Play
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To play or not play; that is the question that kindergarten teachers must ask themselves. In the heavy academic infused, test-stressed, sedentary structured and hyper-rigorized environments found in most modern American kindergarten classrooms, "play to learn" has been phased out. Each day, K teachers must decide "whether 'tis nobler in the mind to have our little charges suffer the slings and arrows of rigor and state mandated developmental inappropriate practices, or to take arms against the sea of NCLB and the CCSS?" I have made my choice by teaching in agreement with the sentiments of Robert Fulghum. When the school bell rings signaling the beginning of the learning day, I close my classroom door and teach my students to "Be aware of wonder" and the Biggest word of all is "LOOK!!!" When the school day starts-- I say, "Let's Play!!" For those faint of heart, I listed some researched-based reason why.
Children are active learners that draw on social and physical experiences to construct knowledge (Bredekamp & Copple, 1997).
Phonemic awareness skill has been shown to increase through developmentally appropriate strategies based on play (Regush, Anderson & Lee, 2002).
"Young children learn best when they are actively participating in the learning process and are encouraged to explore, interact, create, and play. Play is an especially effective way of gaining knowledge. As children engage in play activities relevant to their interests, they are building knowledge and are more likely to understand and remember relationships, concepts and strategies. Research into the effects of play has linked play to improving creativity and critical thinking; attention planning skills and attitude; memory and motivation; and language development and literacy skills."
by Michal Rosenberg, Ph.D
by Michal Rosenberg, Ph.D
Rigor, Benchmarks, and Common Core State Standards be D*%&* !!! Sometimes girls (and boys) "just wanna' have fun!" Let's not forget that the average age for a kindergartener to begin school is five years old. So, I think a little fun in their learning programs will work out just fine, don't you? Besides, when did developmental appropriate best practices become bad words?
Whatever Happened to Kindergarten?
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/what-happened-kindergarten
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-moreno-phd/post_3023_b_1285135.html
http://www.ivillage.com/kindergarten-all-rigor-and-no-recess-what-happened-to-play-ivoices/8-a-385164
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-moreno-phd/post_3023_b_1285135.html
http://www.ivillage.com/kindergarten-all-rigor-and-no-recess-what-happened-to-play-ivoices/8-a-385164
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So, call your district warehouse and ask for the return of your housekeeping sets, sand and water tables, blocks, paint easels and Lego tables. After all, it is a scientific fact that young children really do learn from play and isn't learning what our jobs are all about!
Justifications for Meeting Learning Standards Through Traditional Kindergarten Activities
http://jeanmarzollo.com/KINDERGARTEN/kindergarten_index.html
www.earlylearning.nc.gov/Kindergarten2Grade3/pdf/KCenterPosters2010.pdf
http://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/music-math-more/playdough-power
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom-solutions/2012/02/playing-learn-kindergarten
http://hubbardscupboard.org/
www.earlylearning.nc.gov/Kindergarten2Grade3/pdf/KCenterPosters2010.pdf
http://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/music-math-more/playdough-power
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom-solutions/2012/02/playing-learn-kindergarten
http://hubbardscupboard.org/
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"There are few things more pathetic than those who have lost their curiosity and sense of adventure, and who no longer care to learn."
-Gordon B. Hinckley
-Gordon B. Hinckley