Comments on: Serious Play and School Improvement http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/ “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:57:43 +0000 hourly 1 By: J.M. Holland http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-17 J.M. Holland Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:14:25 +0000 http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/#comment-17 I am a doctoral student in educatonal leadership and a preschool teacher. While I could comment on the particular merits of the school you might choose for your child I won't. The truth is that 3 years is very young for organized instruction of any type, especially for boys. I have taught 3's and 4's. I also looped with a group of 3s up to 4 years old. While your child may be well equipped to handle "school" other children may not be. I teach in the inner-city and many of my students have serious social/emotional issues. What I learned from teaching these students and my own expereince with my children is that I would not recommend preschool for every 3 year old. I would likely recommend preschool for every 4 year old but I could definitly see where a child's parent may want them to stay at home until Kindergarten. Finally, what are the effects of children going to even a play based school before they are ready, both on themselves and others? I wanted to direct you to some discussions of play on my presonal blog and let you know I will put you on my blog roll. You have it right that play is important. It is also important why we choose play as a means of learning. Here are a couple links to mine and other blogs. Feel free to contact me "off line" through email. <a href="http://circle-time.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> <a> <a> <a> <a> <a> I am a doctoral student in educatonal leadership and a preschool teacher. While I could comment on the particular merits of the school you might choose for your child I won’t. The truth is that 3 years is very young for organized instruction of any type, especially for boys. I have taught 3′s and 4′s. I also looped with a group of 3s up to 4 years old. While your child may be well equipped to handle “school” other children may not be. I teach in the inner-city and many of my students have serious social/emotional issues. What I learned from teaching these students and my own expereince with my children is that I would not recommend preschool for every 3 year old. I would likely recommend preschool for every 4 year old but I could definitly see where a child’s parent may want them to stay at home until Kindergarten. Finally, what are the effects of children going to even a play based school before they are ready, both on themselves and others?
I wanted to direct you to some discussions of play on my presonal blog and let you know I will put you on my blog roll. You have it right that play is important. It is also important why we choose play as a means of learning. Here are a couple links to mine and other blogs. Feel free to contact me “off line” through email.





]]> By: J.M. Holland http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-16 J.M. Holland Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:11:09 +0000 http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/#comment-16 I am a doctoral student in educatonal leadership and a preschool teacher. While I could comment on the particular merits of the school you might choose for your child I won't. The truth is that 3 years is very young for organized instruction of any type, especially for boys. I have taught 3's and 4's. I also looped with a group of 3s up to 4 years old. While your child may be well equipped to handle "school" other children may not be. I teach in the inner-city and many of my students have serious social/emotional issues. What I learned from teaching these students and my own expereince with my children is that I would not recommend preschool for every 3 year old. I would likely recommend preschool for every 4 year old but I could definitly see where a child's parent may want them to stay at home until Kindergarten. Finally, what are the effects of children going to even a play based school before they are ready, both on themselves and others? I wanted to direct you to some discussions of play on my presonal blog and let you know I will put you on my blog roll. You have it right that play is important. It is also important why we choose play as a means of learning. Here are a couple links to mine and other blogs. Feel free to contact me "off line" through email. <a> <a> <a> <a> <a> <a> I am a doctoral student in educatonal leadership and a preschool teacher. While I could comment on the particular merits of the school you might choose for your child I won’t. The truth is that 3 years is very young for organized instruction of any type, especially for boys. I have taught 3′s and 4′s. I also looped with a group of 3s up to 4 years old. While your child may be well equipped to handle “school” other children may not be. I teach in the inner-city and many of my students have serious social/emotional issues. What I learned from teaching these students and my own expereince with my children is that I would not recommend preschool for every 3 year old. I would likely recommend preschool for every 4 year old but I could definitly see where a child’s parent may want them to stay at home until Kindergarten. Finally, what are the effects of children going to even a play based school before they are ready, both on themselves and others?
I wanted to direct you to some discussions of play on my presonal blog and let you know I will put you on my blog roll. You have it right that play is important. It is also important why we choose play as a means of learning. Here are a couple links to mine and other blogs. Feel free to contact me “off line” through email.





]]> By: JH http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-15 JH Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:32:11 +0000 http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/#comment-15 2 Things. 1. I went to an alternative "play oriented" primary school and found I had a lot of catching up to do when it came time to join my public school peers in 7th grade. I think play has its place in the classroom, but certainly balance is key. Play is much more appropriate at a younger level for a rapidly developing mind. 2. I hope Sabot School works out better for you than it did for us. In theory it works. They have all the right answers to your many questions as a potential parent of a preschooler there. In reality, the school itself is very unbalanced, in my opinion. And the practices may not necessarily carried out as you might imagine them to be. My advice is, when they tell you not to visit the first few weeks -- ignore them. Visit early and often and make sure this is still the right fit for you and your child...and make sure you intimately know what is happening in the classroom. The truth is, that would be good advice wherever you decide to send him. 2 Things.
1. I went to an alternative “play oriented” primary school and found I had a lot of catching up to do when it came time to join my public school peers in 7th grade. I think play has its place in the classroom, but certainly balance is key. Play is much more appropriate at a younger level for a rapidly developing mind.
2. I hope Sabot School works out better for you than it did for us. In theory it works. They have all the right answers to your many questions as a potential parent of a preschooler there. In reality, the school itself is very unbalanced, in my opinion. And the practices may not necessarily carried out as you might imagine them to be.
My advice is, when they tell you not to visit the first few weeks — ignore them. Visit early and often and make sure this is still the right fit for you and your child…and make sure you intimately know what is happening in the classroom. The truth is, that would be good advice wherever you decide to send him.

]]> By: Jon Becker http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Jon Becker Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:18:30 +0000 http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/#comment-14 Absolutely, Emily. For whatever reason(s), people seem to think "work" and learning have to be something less than fun. Absolutely, Emily. For whatever reason(s), people seem to think “work” and learning have to be something less than fun.

]]> By: Emily_205 http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Emily_205 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:00:58 +0000 http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/#comment-13 "But if play serves so many purpose so well, why is it not deployed more systematically in the attempt to improve education?” It’s a great question." This is a good question. I also agree that when it comes to middle and high school education work and play are not associated together. If preschoolers learn best through associative and cooperative play, than why not try this theory in all ages? Middle school and high school curriculum do not need to be centered on play, but there is definite room to use associative and cooperative play in attempt to better there education. Sometimes, play does not feel like work, however, if children are learning with 'play' than isn't that fulfilling our objective as educators? “But if play serves so many purpose so well, why is it not deployed more systematically in the attempt to improve education?” It’s a great question.”

This is a good question. I also agree that when it comes to middle and high school education work and play are not associated together.

If preschoolers learn best through associative and cooperative play, than why not try this theory in all ages? Middle school and high school curriculum do not need to be centered on play, but there is definite room to use associative and cooperative play in attempt to better there education.

Sometimes, play does not feel like work, however, if children are learning with ‘play’ than isn’t that fulfilling our objective as educators?

]]> By: Jon Becker http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Jon Becker Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:20:51 +0000 http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/#comment-12 Guilty? Really? Why guilty? Guilty? Really? Why guilty?

]]> By: Tracy Rosen http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Tracy Rosen Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:00:06 +0000 http://edinsanity.com/2008/01/23/serious-play-and-school-improvement/#comment-11 But if play serves so many purpose so well, why is it not deployed more systematically in the attempt to improve education?” It’s a great question. You're right, Jon. It is a good question. I think there is a ... guilty feeling surrounding play. If we are playing then we are not working. There is research that shows we do learn through play and we, as educators, have a lot to learn from game theory (here's a collection of links on the idea: http://writerresponsetheory.org/wordpress/projects/games-pedagogy/), yet even though I know this, I feel guilty at times when I bring 'play' into my class. But if play serves so many purpose so well, why is it not deployed more systematically in the attempt to improve education?” It’s a great question.

You’re right, Jon. It is a good question.

I think there is a … guilty feeling surrounding play. If we are playing then we are not working.

There is research that shows we do learn through play and we, as educators, have a lot to learn from game theory (here’s a collection of links on the idea: http://writerresponsetheory.org/wordpress/projects/games-pedagogy/), yet even though I know this, I feel guilty at times when I bring ‘play’ into my class.

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