Good Morning #HackLearning !! Great topic to discuss. Meredith joining from beautiful SW Florida. Colleen Schmit is so impressed with this book she added it to our "Books Recommended by PLN Friends" page of the web site! https://t.co/N5QwtH0G7i
Morning, #hacklearning. I'm Brian. I teach middle-school students English in Colorado. Currently a late learner, I'm looking forward to chatting about earlier parts of the process.
A1: The only think I remember from Kindergarten, besides my wonderful teacher, is that we were allowed to pick out our chunky crayon to use all day. I always chose blue or purple. I don't remember anything I did with it, though! #hacklearning
Good morning #HackLearning. High school SS teacher from Columbus, OH. Excited to be part of the Hack Learning family and learn more about early ed for my 2 young sons
Good morning #HackLearning. The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful morning in South Carolina. I’ve got a fresh cup of coffee in hand and I am ready to learn with all of you. I’m Latoya, ed leader and author.
Good morning #HackLearning. Kinder teacher from NC halfway through @JessicaCabeen’s book. Wish I could stay, but I’m headed to school to prep for the week :( Yes, on a Sunday.
A1.3 If only kids of all ages had more opportunities for pretend play in real life, indoors and out, making up their own characters and storylines and rules, using natural or handmade props, not for performative purposes but just for fun. #HackLearning
A1- mostly recess but the skills of communication, self advocacy and “working it out” were all apparent - all skills we need to keep teaching #HackLearning
A1: I can remember lots of playground time, organized games as well as free play, I remember going outside most days, as long as it was dry! 😊 #HackLearning
A1 I remember have jobs in kindergarten that I loved - like line leader and attendance taker ... talking recess the other day ... we called it playtime (not recess) & it was just a part of learning time #HackLearning
I don't remember any play. Of course, it was about 100 years ago, and #teachers didn't believe in play. They are hardcore about curriculum. #HackLearning
A1. I attended half-day kindergarten and pre-k via the Head Start program. My favorite centers were the art center and the blocks. Wasn’t a fan of the kitchen then either! #HackLearning
A1 Among memories of play in early grades: Big Wheels on neighborhood sidewalks near home; countless games of tag or four square on school playground; in class, story imagining and telling as play. #hacklearning
A1- mostly recess but the skills of communication, self advocacy and “working it out” were all apparent - all skills we need to keep teaching #HackLearning
A1) I remember a riding toy in preschool that I wanted to play with every day. I don't even remember other things being there. I just wanted to ride on that one toy at any opportunity! In Kindergarten, I was quite fond of the mini kitchen. #HackLearning
A1: I vividly remember playing when I was younger. In K we used to have playtime and it really helped me socialize which was important as I was a VERY shy kid. Also helped spark creativity #HackLearning
A1) Sorry to say, at 59, childhood memories are so long ago. I do remember a lot of outdoor play growing up in northern Michigan. Lots of playing in the woods and in the water. #HackLearning
A1: Oh gosh I loved playing with friends when I was in elementary school, and I don’t think that has really changed for me lol. I love being with people, learning, and PLAYING! #hacklearning
A1. 3 recesses a day. Lots of times we made up games and rules. There were in class games like review tic-tax-toe, or regular board games. Learning math games like Math Blaster, Number Munchers, and a grammar game I can’t remember (all on Apple II GS). #HackLearning
Super helpful so far. I’m excited to share it with my young principal. I bought it on Kindle. Will buy him a hard copy. #HackLearning#HackingEarlyLearning
A1. To be honest, I don't have many memories. I remember many tactile play experiences in the Arts as early as kindergarten. I can remember playing recess through all the years, but not much in the classroom. #HackLearning
A1. My kindergarten memories include a classroom full of blocks, dramatic play, manipulatives, toys, a sensory table, etc. Play was at the core of the half-day program. #HackLearning
A1. I remember that play allowed me to be creative and also offered a way for me to be involved - or excluded. There was lots of social learning afforded by play. I also remember it being somewhat unstructured but supervised so kids weren’t left out. #HackLearning
A) I went to Montessori school, so I remember a lot of play in the early years. Voice and choice in the classroom- creating art, building, cooking, collaborative play. #hacklearning
A1: I remember being amazed at all of the possibilities for play on my 1st day of K and being confused about why the other kids were crying! #HackLearning
So enjoy the memories of play we are sharing this am #hacklearning lets not forget that play is important for all ages, sparks learning, and engages us in deep collaboration and conversations with others-even as adults!
Such a great point. We have taken so much spontaneous play away from kids due to accountability standards in schools. Many kids only play in organized ways now...”play dates” or organizes sports. #HackLearning
A1: I remember sneaking into the coat room to play with a friends' toy they brought for show and tell. The teacher busted me a few minutes later #HackLearning
A1: Lots of fun recess memories. I would bring toys (usually horses of some sort if it was grades 1-3) and play with them in a quiet area of the grass away from the playground with a few friends. #hacklearning
Welcome.
I taught 7-12 for 25 years, but I've learned so much from @JessicaCabeen and her new #HackingEarlyLearning book that I wish I would have known when I was in the classroom.
#HackLearning
A1: I spent countless hours playing with my Barbies; and contrary to some opinions about the doll, I believe it was empowering play. My Barbie could be and do whatever she dreamed up. I am the little girl in this Barbie commercial: https://t.co/2ychUMWOPS#HackLearning
A1: As a child of the 70s I have vivid memories of outdoor play. We played flashlight tag, manhunt, Spud, red light-green light, multiple versions of tag, mother, my I, the list is endless...
#HackLearning
oh goodness-tell me you played at home. This is a picture of my grandfather giving me a desk so I could play school at home.....must have impacted me as I am still in schools today! #HackLearning#HackingEarlyLearning
A friend of mine had a note on her desk that read “Let the pigeons play.” It was a reminder that one of her honors math students (grade 7) gave her. She would randomly take them outside for 5 minutes to get their crazies out. It’s advice I should follow. #HackLearning
A1- Early memories of play at school included lots of dodge ball (now barred), tag (barred now), kickball (waiting to be barred. Ugh!), and monkey bars! Aaaahhh! The good old days. Competition was everything! #HackLearning
So enjoy the memories of play we are sharing this am #hacklearning lets not forget that play is important for all ages, sparks learning, and engages us in deep collaboration and conversations with others-even as adults!
A1. I wish I had photos of the HUGE sliding hill the custodial staff created in NW Wisconsin from all of the snow that fell onto the playground area. Students took turns sliding down the hill - careful adult supervision, of course! #HackLearning
A1 Play at two recesses 30 min in am and 20 in pm in my elem was mostly group play - red rover, merry go round swings monkey bars, ball games, marbles, tag etc Ts gave no direction - 1 rule no physical fighting #HackLearning#galaxyfarfaraway
A2: At the higher levels, we see so many students who have lost all joy in school. They love games and socializing, but we don't provide a productive outlet for that. Is it possible that more play might actually lead to more learning?#HackLearning
A2: Kids need to move, explore, get their hands on their learning, create and venture-play is the vehicle that drives discovery & learning! #HackLearning
A1. In 1st and 2nd grade I remember 2 recesses a day, plus "extra recess" sometimes at the end of the day. Playing Red Rover was a favorite. #HackLearning
A2. Play teaches you as much about yourself as it does others. As a kid, I hated to lose and was ultra competitive! That same drive has helped me professionally. #HackLearning
A2. Play is an incredible way to intentional assess student learning and inform instruction to ensure we are reaching all students at high levels. #hacklearning
A2 school is too formal & academic for our littles; they need time to socialize, develop relationships, explore, create...develop at humans #HackLearning
A2: Play helps with soft-skills such as teamwork, communication, collaboration, social etiquette... It helps kids tap into creativity, imagination and critical thinking and problem solving. One of my fave parts of play is how it helps with language development. 👌 #HackLearning
I had a toy box with a chalkboard top. And I played school for hours. Oh my poor little brothers and sisters- they had to be the students. #HackLearning
A2 play is truest form of inquiry based learning that inspires creativity and enhances social and self-management skills, play allows us to safely take risks that we otherwise wouldn't dare to do #hacklearning
You're so right, Rachel. We at #HackLearning worry the about the same thing. Whose fault is this?
Over emphasis on grades and testing isn't something students naturally focus on.
A2: Play allows us to observe our Ss for assessment of their social skills, the depth of their problem-solving, a window into their thought process. #HackLearning
A2b this is part of why I have allowed play to transpire in my PE class for the second half of class; they don't get it in the other 8 hours of their school day; esp when Ts take away recess #HackLearning
A2: Play stimulates imagination, allows for the development of social skills, fair play, conflict resolution techniques, and allows students an outlet for excess energy that can be distracting to the learning process. Not to mention the mental health benefits! #HackLearning
A2 Children learn through play. I love to use simulations in the classroom - they engage the imagination as Ss learn - all the way through secondary #HackLearning
A2. In NW Wisconsin it would take almost ten minutes for kindergartners to get on all of their winter wear to go outside - so worth the effort! Fresh air and exercise were key aspects of the day. #HackLearning
A2: Play provides opportunities for all of the soft skills so often neglected in schools. Games offer students the chance to communicate, collaborate, be creative, and use critical thinking. Isn't that the goal? #HackLearning
A2: Playing = learning. Physical, social, emotional. Some of the most important learning kids experience happens in unstructured time. Important to just move too. Even our MS kids go out for 15 min during lunch on nice days. #hacklearning
A2 Children need play to develop an imagination (needed for visualizing texts later in life) and creative thinking (needed for critical thinking & problem solving) ... if with others, to develop social skills (negotiating & empathy) ... plus more! #HackLearning
A2- The social aspect is huge! Broadening those social circles helps children develop the essence of who they are and who they want to be. #HackLearning
A2.) play allows time for choice, self-regulation, negotiation, relationship building & JOY!We want our students to be engaged. Play allows Ss to think creatively to problem solve. Play gives kids a chance to practice the skills that will help them change the world. #HackLearning
A2) For so long, we lost the creativity and imagination in schools. The pendulum is swinging back IMO and we are again embracing the importance of tinkering, play, and messy learning. #HackLearning
A2. Learning social skills like how to get along, rule development (and logically thinking that goes with it), helps reduce the fidget factor, and how to deal with not winning. #HackLearning
They were/are fine with it. In fact, any sort of movement has been encouraged. You can sell it as a brain break. She would take them out for 5-10 minutes and then back to work. It was like a refresher. #HackLearning
Play ultimately is how humans learn - stories, imitation, Community collab, movement, - we humans are wired to play to learn- SEL, physical and cognitive integrated into neural network to amplify learning potential #HackLearning
Always had these in my AP office but not so much now at the HS. I do have coloring books and often Ss like that when they are stressed/anxious. #HackLearning
A2: Those are all the special moments I remember from school. Until we change academic "moments" to be as awesome as prom (thanks Heath Bros) the play moments are really the only ones I remember #HackLearning
a2) I feel like playtime was where a lot of social, emotional and moral development occurred. It was also where I got to start to develop a sense of my own personal interests and preferences. #HackLearning
A2: First off, kids need downtime. Play fosters socialization, creativity, and can be a mental escape from the rigors of classroom learning. But in itself, play is important learning #HackLearning
A2 During any kind of play, the child is exploring, experimenting, taking risks, making decisions, creating new ideas, building skills, and building relationships. That is, LEARNING. #HackLearning
A2: There are many developmental aspects to play. Kids need to be, explore and experiment just like with the rest of the curriculum. Play is an important piece to a well rounded student. #HackLearning
A1: Memories of play I have from my earliest days of school definitely include recess and music classes. Most play was after school until dark with the friends who live in my neighborhood. Play was something that occurred organically at home, more often than school. #HackLearning
A2 My favorite benefit of play in school is S to S language development. One misunderstanding is that it is all social language. I have heard highly academic language while Ss play. ❤️ #HackLearning
I have learned a ton from @DeweySchara he has a makerspace, science specialist and one of his students just received a Gold Award at the Regional Science fair-there are ways to connect play and learning-and making in meaningful and possibly globally relevant today #HackLearning
When kids are getting back their tests, they’re always interested in asking their friends what they got on the assessment. I tell them that isn’t a natural thing. It’s so sickening! It’s not a contest... 😑😵😵 #HackLearning
A2.2 When a child plays, there’s NO extrinsic assessment but LOTS of self-assessment & self-adjustment. In a historical moment when (mostly white) adults decide how to assess, rank, and sort children, incorporating play is an act of resistance. Play is liberation. #HackLearning
A2. In middle & high school I played on the basketball team. I learned so much about leadership, work ethic, & persistence as a member of a sports team-things we know all students need but have to “squeeze in” in the classroom because the pendulum is one sided. #HackLearning
A2.2 Hadn't though about it 'til now, but play seems like key route to agency for young learners. Valuable experiences to be had there in how they can impact their worlds for relative good or ill. #hacklearning
A2: Play unleashes the imagination and from there creativity takes flight. Give a young child play time, and you give her access to explore, wonder, dream, build, BE! #HackLearning
A2: Kids need to move, explore, get their hands on their learning, create and venture-play is the vehicle that drives discovery & learning! #HackLearning
It's important to incorporate play because this gives students opportunity for social skill acquisition and problem solving. Young students learn through play. #hacklearning
A2 soft skills & social interactions will ultimately be better predictors of future success; if we don't give them time to develop these how are we TRULY setting our Ss up for success? #HackLearning
A2.2 Hadn't though about it 'til now, but play seems like key route to agency for young learners. Valuable experiences to be had there in how they can impact their worlds for relative good or ill. #hacklearning
Since the #Founding of America, a #usurper is dismissed and abandoned. #WeThePeople ordain the supreme law of the land. Our law is not subject to interpretation by those sworn to support it. A decision by the sovereign is unimpeachable.
#sundaymorning#hacklearning#renewAmerica
Yep. We constantly say students should have voice and choice in the classroom, but students can have this when they play...we just need to provide the time! #HackLearning
A3: Plan time for intentional purposeful movement in lessons and learning! Brain & movement breaks improve engagement, communication & SEL! #HackLearning
Our recesses were also multiage - older kids brought younger kids into games and were nice to us - even if we weren’t good and we watched older sibs play games and learned from that #hacklearning
A3 I think there are lots of wasted space & time in the school day; we seem to like to analyze "data", why not analyze the time spent during the day & use 'wasted'/unproductive time to allow for play? #HackLearning
A3: Looking forward to these answers.... As a teacher, I wasn't great at it, I know. The "end-of-class, end-of-day and end-of-week" models for play (at any age) aren't enough. #HackLearning
I’ve also done “Walk and Talks” with Ss in the hallway. They are still working and moving. In my co-teach class (only 1 block) I actually would walk with small groups of kids and brainstorm. It’s not “play” but it is movement. #HackLearning
A3 If there’s no time for free play, we can make academic work playful. Students can write on paper plates or sidewalks, paint or sculpt ideas, respond to deliberately weird prompts, use toys or stickers to demonstrate their knowledge, or make study guides in song. #HackLearning
For many school is there first time socializing outside of their family unit. Play helps teach social skills as well as engaging their creativity.#HackLearning
It's important to incorporate play because this gives students opportunity for social skill acquisition and problem solving. Young students learn through play. #hacklearning
Which was the best, or when the street light came on! Differenent times, different world. We have to do our best to make sure our Ss, get the play at school becasue it doesnt always happen at home. #HackLearning
A2 - It is important to incorporate play in the School day as it builds interest and excitement.
All Work without play?.....................
Help complete that 😊☺ #HackLearning
A2: School today has way higher stakes that Ss can feel from an early age, so the focus stops being on play too soon. Without play, Ss lose the chance to be creative, collaborate, and explore, making learning even more of a challenge, raising stakes even more. #HackLearning
A3 Inspired by #hacklearning chat, I'm pondering how I might shake up more middle schoolers' structured learning stations with less structured play stations in the mix. (I hope Sony's okay with me borrowing that term...)
A3 I know this is important even in HS ... I had sts writing poetry (then entering in a writing contest) ... I need to add music to my classroom & include more word games (learning from my Elem colleagues 👏🏼) #HackLearning
A3). We need to be purposeful about planning for play, & have research to protect that block when others ask. You can also work with a play champion like @DonnaDobsonOMA who is putting a 60 min block of child directed play into our 200+ Kdg rooms. #HackLearning
When play is the norm in my world, I am carving out time for some one on one reading conferences, some small group directed learning and many observations! Opposite to others predicaments! #HackLearning
A3) I teach seniors, but I still schedule a 10-minute break. I put it on the agenda like anything else, and we don't skip it. Even for older kids, task-negative time is important. We also periodically dance or play catch while we talk. #HackLearning
A3: This may be more overarching, but we carve out time when we trust the power of play and not worry about the “lost” instructional time. We have to trust ourselves and our kids to be MORE successful when play time is included. #HackLearning
Agreed-we had a field trip and a student made me an entire meal, without any spoken language-such an enriching experience and an authentic way to assess his learning without a formal test. #HackLearning
A3 Bring theme based realia into class for exploration and play. Saw a PreK room learning about fabric. T had dolls, clothes, interactive language wall. So good! #HackLearning
Absolutely! The social emotional needs of students are just as important if not more important than the academic needs. I have made it a point as my #onesmallthing to go out with our 1st graders 2x's a week, #HackLearning
It's OK to observe students as they're deep in thought/learning. You don't always have to lead it. Give yourself permission to not interrupt with "How is it going?" #HackLearning
#hacklearning I would say to Ss, we have ___ left today. I need 45 solid focus for lesson, when do you want to go out for 10 minutes free play? All needs gto met!
A3: Play can be incorporated into academics to gamify learning, but more and more this time of year, teachers will take kids out for a little bit to play and be kids!#HackLearning
Agree - giving them choice in ways to demonstrate their learning/understanding can lead to some form of ‘play’ as they create and collaborate. #hackLearning
A3 If there’s no time for free play, we can make academic work playful. Students can write on paper plates or sidewalks, paint or sculpt ideas, respond to deliberately weird prompts, use toys or stickers to demonstrate their knowledge, or make study guides in song. #HackLearning
A3. I think we have to begin by closely analyzing how we currently use the time we have and then deciding what can be adjusted, deleted, or reworked. So much of how we spend time in schools is due to tradition, test score mania, and not our purpose or goals. #HackLearning
one of our 1st grade Ts does this in the morning when Ss arrive; she essentially has stations Ss can choose to go to, board games, writing, reading spots, other games. Attendance & punctuality has spiked #HackLearning
A2) Social play with peers is an area that kids today lack. They don't get enough time throughout their day to explore relationships and develop social skills. #HackLearning
A3) Use song and motions for memorization. Create a playful atmosphere. Use accents and silly voices. Laughter should be part of the classroom. #HackLearning
Get ready ... share your learning and attempts this week on #HackLearningDaily ... successes and redo-s ... let’s learn together from our risk-taking 💜. #HackLearning
A3: I try to allow students to have as much choice in assignments and learning opportunities as possible and often ask that they create something over simply DOING something. Try new things, get up and move. Can be low-tech, can be whatever we can make work for us. #HackLearning
A3- carve it out by incorporating the IN to learning with brain breaks cooperation grouping or go outside and make it part of the learning not an add on #HackLearning
A3: Be intentional. Just like I talk with the amazing individuals in my leadership community, educators can be intentional and block off time for it to happen. Write it down. Communicate it to your peers and Ss. Talk about why it's important and it will happen. #HackLearning
One person hides somewhere and the rest of the group tries to find him/her. When someone finds them, they hide with them. As more players find them, they hide with them and get packed in like sardines.
#HackLearning
In reply to
@SylviaEllison, @mr_middle_2, @carlameyrink
Love this! It captures so many important things children learn from play. I'm always amazed when I hear that schools have removed play and then discover that they are trying to teach these skills through activities form a boxed curriculum... #HackLearning
A3 At HS level cell phones and videogames are the hot commodities. Combining learning with technology is what I do. Use @GetKahoot and @quizlet to practice concepts. Also use board games like Scrabble. #HackLearning
A3: I love giving Ss free choice time in the classroom. I do informative “kid-watching” during that time. It’s a wonderful way to assess Ss social growth, creativity, risk-taking... #HackLearning
Watching MS students play football or soccer during unstructured outside time, I'm struck by how abruptly their physicality crosses lines into harm. In blurry area where safe becomes unsafe, I see place for learning to happen & for me as adult sometimes to intervene #hacklearning
A3 big question for me is how to make play-based learning dominant in schedule as @mlsmeg does - get rid of test prep, worksheets, decontextualized math and reading - add contextual content, centers, choice time - #HackLearning
Know what's weird? I used to find that allowing students to play with Play Doh while we talked about literature really helped to ease the awkwardness and draw out some of my more reluctant students. I had to be clear about my expectations and the purpose of the doh. #HackLearning
go for it-our school has kits that we share with our friends in 1st-6th grade to try with staff or students. Play should not sit on a shelve. #HackLearning
A3: One of my most memorable elementary experiences was designing a board game. My classmates and I worked so hard on it because it was fun and creative, not because it was a grade. #HackLearning
Join #HackLearning chat May 6 at 8:30-9:00am EDT when @Pearse_Margie will be our guest moderator leading chat on the "hacky" topic of Debriefing and how we close a lesson.
Join #HackLearning chat May 6 at 8:30-9:00am EDT when @Pearse_Margie will be guest moderator leading chat on the "hacky" topic of Debriefing and how we close a lesson.
A3: By incorporating playful opportunity in all content areas regularly! Dramatic play based on literacy is great, or creavite retelling! Steam & maker-space type time for math/science. Opened ended challenge opportunities that can really be student driven! #hacklearning
A3 we used to mark in the 80s what we referred to as developmentally appropriate learning - personal, active hands to mind opportunities, kidwatching as assessment tool #HackLearning
#HackLearning friends - for those Ts who also need less work & more time to play, I'd love it if you'd join me on #MADpd May 6 at 11a.m. EST. I'll be talking about flipping feedback - a classroom tweak that changed my life!
A3: Ss need to see US play as well. Playing a game with Ss, taking part in art class, #makewriting with them as they are writing can show Ss that play is not only okay - it's necessary. #HackLearning
Very important to remember that unstructured doesn't mean free reign for Ss to be unsafe. We need to actively supervise and intervene when necessary. That intervention shouldn't be punitive but rather instructive. #HackLearning
Watching MS students play football or soccer during unstructured outside time, I'm struck by how abruptly their physicality crosses lines into harm. In blurry area where safe becomes unsafe, I see place for learning to happen & for me as adult sometimes to intervene #hacklearning
Know what's weird? I used to find that allowing students to play with Play Doh while we talked about literature really helped to ease the awkwardness and draw out some of my more reluctant students. I had to be clear about my expectations and the purpose of the doh. #HackLearning
