Written by One of my mentors and now good friends is Dr. Dale Mann, Professor Emeritus at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Mann got me interested in ed. tech. and I was recently reminded of an incredible article he wrote 12 (twelve!) years ago called Serious Play.
I returned to the article because my wife and I are currently involved in trying to figure out an appropriate preschool program for our son. We found a school that espouses and very clearly practices according to the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Like the Montessori or Waldorf approaches, play is an important aspect of the experience. However, at the core of the Reggio Emilia orientation (and explicitly mentioned by the Director of this school) is the idea of learning through play in relations with others and the environment. In Mann’s language, the emphasis is on the last two developmental stages of play: associative and cooperative play. That’s what I want my son to be doing and how I want him to be learning in preschool.
This preschool is in the process of merging with an existing K-8 independent school and they say they will be implementing/integrating the Reggio Emilia philosophy in those grades over time. I don’t know that we’ll enroll our son in the school beyond preschool (who can afford private school anymore?), but it will be interesting to see how the school develops. The question Dr. Mann asks in the article is: “Play is a serious activity with wonderful developmental benefits. 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.
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.
Guilty? Really? Why guilty?
“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?
Absolutely, Emily. For whatever reason(s), people seem to think “work” and learning have to be something less than fun.
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.
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.
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.