For Your Binder

Human Nature of Teaching II: How hunter-gatherers taught without coercion.
2011

This is Part II in a series by Peter Gray.  In Part I Gray defined teaching  - here in Part II he examines teaching as it occurs, or occurred, in hunter-gatherer bands. #play #teaching #learning #DAP

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Cut Out the Pre-Cuts: The trouble with themes in early childhood education
2022

It's time to draw the line in the sand!  #DAP #play #themes #art #creativity #learning #teaching 

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Assessing and Scaffolding Make Believe Play
2012

For your consideration, I offer a counter-comment to this article: How about instead of applying another adult-directed ACrYNoM we put back into early childhood programs the things the adults stole in the first place?  I'll offer time, choice, play and mixed ages to get the conversation started...  #mixedages #play #DAP #teaching #learning 

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Classic kids games like kickball deemed unsafe by state in effort to increase summer camp regulation
2011

Get the bubblewrap!!!!  This list will make your head pop off - but wait, that's probably not safe either.  #play #outside #recess #risk #movement 

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No Dentist Left Behind
2002

Here's the backstory: The author, John Taylor, is a retired superintendent of schools in Lancaster, S.C., he offered this history about the essay he wrote while leading that district:  

The parody was originally titled "Absolutely the Best Dentists."  It was written and sent to every newspaper and legislator in South Carolina a number of years ago in an attempt to point out the absurdities inherent in South Carolina's then new accountability act which was focused on absolute performance and threatened retention for every child who couldn't meet very challenging grade level standards. (Not to mention severe penalties for "poorly performing" schools, teachers and administrators.) Since then it has traveled widely to the point that I have not been able to keep up with the uses; but I know it has appeared in teacher association publications in at least three Canadian Provinces and in Australia, as well as dozens in the USA. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) seems to have given the story a new life.  Thus: No Dentist Left Behind.

#pushdown #DAP #play #teaching #learning

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Reading Instruction in Kindergarten: Little to gain and much to lose
2005

There is no evidence that teaching children to read in PreK will help them be better readers in the long-run.  So how and when did we start thinking that it would? #play #pushdown #DAP #teaching #learning #reading

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The Power of Play: A research summary on play and learning
2012

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

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When the risk is worth it: The inclusion of children with disabilities in free risky play
2017

We know the many benefits of risky play for young children - but are all children being afforded opportunities to engage in this kind of play? Disabled children tend to be over-protected and have their abilities underestimated. Additionally, "accessibility" is not in itself sufficient to ensure the quality of the play experience.  #inclusion #equity #outside #movement #recess

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Lisa Murphy On... Being Child Centered

Contrary to what your poopy face co-worker might believe, being child centered does NOT mean kids are running around naked with paint flying through the air!  This is the handout that goes with the workshop that goes with the book of the same title! #handouts #play #DAP #teaching 

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

In The News: It All Takes Time! Developing Essential Lifelong Skills Through Play
2021

In 2021 Rhonda Johnson from Community Playthings published highlights from my Being Child Centered Book in their email newsletter, Community Playthings Connect. Needless to say, I was beyond surprised and very honored! #play #teaching #learning #inthenews

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The Importance of Play
1987

From the Atlantic Monthly, March, 1987

The way a child wants to play is often very different from the way their parents want them to, the child however, knows best! #play #DAP #learning #teaching

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The most important thing you can do with your kids? Play with them! says Dr. Bruce Perry
2021

A timely reminder!!! #play #teaching #learning #parenting

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