Longworth Education: Play in the Classroom
Hot Tips & Ideas E-NewsletterWelcome along to our Play in the Classroom E-Newsletter. You are receiving this newsletter as a subscriber to our website or because you have attended one of our Play in the Classroom Workshops. We hope this newsletter will continue to provide you with inspiration and ideas to assist you along your journey towards an authentic play-based learning environment. LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE: TERM ONE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING While the majority of our workshops are now full until June, we do have some limited spaces available at the following locations for our Play in the Classroom Foundation Workshop: Dunedin 26 January Taupo 11 February Masterton 21 February Christchurch 3 April Whitianga 26 April To register for any of these events or to view other workshops provided visit our Longworth Education Website Beginning the New School Year: Teaching and Learning Through Play There are a number of areas to cover when planning for the new school year through the lens of Play-Based Learning. The list below is not exhaustive, as anyone can attest on this journey, there is never a nice and easy 'package' to teaching through play! This list might, however, guide you as you begin to turn your attention to Term 1 of 2017. Resourcing: Become A 'Loose Parts' Collector!
Consider starting as you mean to go on. Begin with play. Gather specific literacy and numeracy data. Have a variety of resources available for students to begin to interact with from day one. Observe children in play as part of your assessment process. Your teaching and learning points will be as follows:
Play-Based Learning DOES have Rules and Routines.....BUT..... Establishing a play-based learning environment from Day One should have the same focus as a traditional classroom - the establishment of a shared understanding of rules, expectations, routines and values within the environment. These rules should be (where appropriate) negotiated with the learners themselves, and be subject to review and modification as required. Routines, should look slightly different from a traditional classroom. These routines should reflect the underpinning pedagogical evidence that children do not learn in a timetabled manner. Your routines, rather than in 'learning blocks', should be focused on the 'non-negotiables', such as assembly, library time, computers, swimming, singing, sports and so on. Remember, the classroom timetable should be in YOUR head as your management tool - not as the daily life of the learner. And Finally........ Play Based Learning is Developmentally Appropriate Practice. For your learning environment to reflect this evidence-based approach, you as the teacher need to view your students through the lens of their Developmental Stages, rather than where they fit against a Chronological Benchmark. If you are unfamiliar with these Developmental Stages follow the link below for a quick summary to get you thinking..... Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Stages Good Luck for the beginning of the 2017 School Year! As always, feel free to email Longworth Education for any support, advice or guidance as you head down the rabbit hole of Play-Based Learning. We would love to hear how you are going. Longworth Education Ltd Poraiti, Napier, New Zealand www.longwortheducation.co.nz
Programme by Peace Foundation
The Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme is a whole school programme for Primary and Intermediate Schools that teaches essential life skills for peaceful conflict resolution. It is suitable for all members of the school community; students, teachers and parents. The skills taught empower individuals to build positive, caring relationships with others especially when conflict arises over differences. (Funded by the Ministry of Health)
Brainstorm of RSS's strengths
As school we need to share our conflict resolution with the community so they can use it at home.
How can the programme help?
Conflict is often seen as a negative thing. Conflict is neither good nor bad. Conflict is actually a normal part of everyday life. Without conflict things just wouldn't change. Conflict is caused when there is a difference in perspectives and values. Animal Analogies
Different ways of responding ...
Turtle - Denial, avoid, withdrawal, lose/lose situation, stop talking "I'll deal with it tomorrow"
Teddy Bear - Suppression, accomodating, lose/win situation, "It would be my pleasure", stays cheerful but refuses to talk about the problem Shark - Assertive, in control, "win/lose situation, "my way or the highway" Fox - Compromising, negotiating, winsome/lose some, "let's make a deal" Owl - Collaborative, co-operative, "two heads are better than one" win/win situation, non-threatening communication
Mediator needs to be neutral - language & body language
Mediator needs to get the disputants to come up with their won solutions for a win/win outcome. This creates a learning opportunity (rather than a solution given). Paraphrasing the facts of what happened. Effective Communication is... 50% Body Language 40% Tone 10% Words |
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