#5thchat Archive
#5thchat is for people interested in chatting about topics in education, especially as they relate to Grade 5. The goal is to connect people who enjoy learning & sharing, plus supporting & creating partnerships worldwide!
Tuesday January 19, 2016
Please join the Global Play Day Team NOW for . All grades welcome! We're talking about PLAY!
Kevin 5th grade teacher from NJ...excited to be part of tonight!
Please Introduce Yourself
Jordan from NJ here as well...not at the supermarket this week!
Nick Baskwill 5th grade teacher in NS Canada, working on and ready to talk play!
Jennifer from NC . Looking forward to this chat!
I'm Paul Solarz, a 5th grade teacher from Arlington Heights, IL - Looking forward to tonight's !!!
Thanks again Paul for letting us talk about this important topic!
Kathy, 5th grade South Florida
A1 no rules, no work, just fun and games!
is happening now! https://t.co/mcDUReRFnf
I'm Paul Solarz, a 5th grade teacher from Arlington Heights, IL - Looking forward to tonight's !!!
A1- playing what they want with who they want for as long as they want
First they would ask what unstructured meant.
A1: A time to be free to use iPads for minecraft and other games, use the LEGO and be able to create their own worlds and rules
do you think they would believe that means no learning?
A1 no rules, play with who and what we want. Unlimited access to fun!
I think they would believe that...but is learning taking place? Every second of unstructured playtime they're learning
What if you said "No Battery powered play?"
A1 - No adults telling us rules or making us play certain games. Getting to do what we want to do.
Does unstructured mean no rules?
A1: Games we want to play - without the adult's making the rules.
I would have a couple that would take a min to get into it. Others would have no problem!
Jessie Erickson, 5th grade from Grand Forks, North Dakota! Experiencing a heat wave at a balmy +8º!
That's awesome! How do you know?
Best way to deal with the cold is to have a sense of humor about it! https://t.co/OwbtMODcNK
Jessie Erickson, 5th grade from Grand Forks, North Dakota! Experiencing a heat wave at a balmy +8º!
A1: They would probably say "Play? What is that? We are preparing for college and standards and stuff."
not necessarily but for kids who feel limited by rules, they would hope for this during unstructured time
Shauna from AZ, just joining in
do you think they would start making their own rules?
from observing during some free time in class, and seeing them at indoor and outdoor recess
Oh, Ss are all about rules! They like to make them and control the play!
Q2 - Quickly approaching!
Yes actually they probably would if we gave them the power to choose themselves
A1: Whether is 90 degrees or 40 degrees my Ss love to play sports on the PE field!
A1: Sorry for error: Whether it's....
A2 - Unstructured play allows for freedom to create, imagine, show empathy and much much more... but it isn't unsupervised
A2: no pencils, no pens, no papers, no computers, no technology, just socialize and see where it takes you (Ss)
A2 adults stepping back and letting kids grow, explore, and learn who they are and what they like on their own without interference
A2: It could be letting Ss know they have time to play however they want, or however they want with a material like LEGO
A2: No rules, no devices!
A2 - Little interference from adults. Letting kids be kids.
A2- Giving Ss choice in how they spend their time-board games, sports, creative play, crafts, Legos. Pretty much anything S driven
A2 Nothing organized by adult, allowing Ss to come up with their own ideas without direction.
. I love this... so much kids' lives are highly structured... Think about even the term "play date"
A2: Creative time to build, move, interact, problem solve and be a KID!
A2: I feel that a definition of unstructured play is somewhat of an oxymoron. If we define it, we are structuring it.
A2: I do think they can use devices for unstructured play - it is just a bit different with options
students create their own structures. Watch, they develop rules & keep each other accountable to those rules.
It seems interesting that many adults are defining play as less valuable then test prep & cancelling even recess
first vision is children running and playing games of their choice outside. A2
I would say it is disappointing - too much emphasis on test prep!
A3-social skills, self confidence,patience, how to create your own happiness
A3: A Growth Mind Set, improving social skills and interacting in a positive way with others.
A3 Collaboration, negotiation
A3 learning how to create social skills as well learning 2 play fairly not only during unstructured play time but in the real world
A3: socializaion, how to intgrate with a group and construct and follow social norms
A3: Relationship building, collaboration, cooperation, negotiation, compromise, and critical thinking.
A3 - empathy, self-direction, collaboration, compassion, empowerment, healthy fear, confidence, critical thinking, creativity...
Remind me I don't want to go to one of those sschools. https://t.co/LTTAaYm39M
It seems interesting that many adults are defining play as less valuable then test prep & cancelling even recess
A3 Leadership, listening, colloboration, negotiation, respect for others ideas, taking chances
A3 - Creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, perseverance, thinking interdependently, making decisions, self-direction.
A3: Communication, collaboration, empathy, perspective, creativity, negotiation, storytelling, persistence, humor, + many more.
feeling of belonging...language at times not a barrier.
Social skills, creativity, independence. Helps them figure out what's interesting to them.
I love the development of personal interest kids and adults can find when we play! https://t.co/7sqV3MWH2X
Social skills, creativity, independence. Helps them figure out what's interesting to them.
interdependent thinking... such an important skill!
A4 today I gave my Ss fraction tiles to play with as they were playing they were making observations
skills students need 2 help them dig deep N2 academic learning,we shouldn't B cutting play, need increase https://t.co/Kvr58hHHS4
A3 - Creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, perseverance, thinking interdependently, making decisions, self-direction.
very true. They are so afraid of being wrong that they can not reach their full potential
A4 I use lots of games in my Morning Meeting for various purposes.
Growth mindset, sense of belonging, collaboration, & perseverance. It's all about relationships! https://t.co/PKzWpGdvdW
A4: games, , PE games and other content games. We do videos and recess times
play allows for failure without judgment in a test/assessment heavy world!
A4 ie reviewing academic skills, promoting observation, teamwork, communication
My Ss love playing board games during indoor recess.
A4- a variety of math games/manipulatives, BIG tub of Legos, closet full of games and crafts
Mine too! Sometimes I make them put the devices down and explore a new game!
my Ss were playing connect 4 during indoor recess - hearing them socialize over an old school game was great!
A4 - Global School Play Day!
Gamification, Game-Based Learning, Simulations, Websites that allow practice or discovery, games that require strategy.
A4. I use play and simulation to model real life situations and how you can independently or colloboratively problem solve
A4 I have a variety of card/board games to teach US geog, capitals, etc. Works like magic to learn "boring" facts!
A4 I have a bunch of games that require minimum setup and encourage communication and strategy.
A4: Loads of options on the Math Choice Board for gamification!
A4 Also designed to be started and finished in 30 minutes or less!
A4-My Ss love I have...who has games
Q5 What are the barriers to allowing students more time for unstructured play at home or at school? https://t.co/KRbyW0ZXJJ
I just created a set of wipe-able "I have, who has" cards!
A4: Work as a team to figure it out, you choice - how are you going to learn this, show what you know or teach me?
AWESOME! It will be the best day! Warning... the kids will want it regularly!
A5: At home we have become a society riddled with fear which in turn affects outdoor play!
long are the days where you come home when the street lights come on
Q5 - Barriers I've seen are requirements by some districts & sites that everything done must be tied to a content standard
A5 - Time, safety/Injury-potential (& litigation), space, school rules, requirements for supervision, kids' imaginations sometimes.
A5 Time and getting everyone to see the value in it!
A5 it seems as if every minute out of school of a Ss day is scheduled, that's a pretty big barrier IMO
A5 Last yr I wondered how to justify in my lesson plans, but did it anyway. Turned out amazing! https://t.co/uky40VU2ux
A5-As an alternative to Genius Hour I have thought of giving Ss 1 hour a week to play games.
. Seems so odd that we have to convince people that play is important for kids... but its true
So true, in addition to all the testing.
Q 5 1/2 - How do we overcome these barriers?
A4: At school, it is standards and testing and administrative tasks and benchmarks and end of unit assessments...repeat.
Q7 - What are your HOPES/FEARS in promoting/participating in something like Global School Play Day? https://t.co/q3nZOtTf2Y
A5: High stakes testing, passing tests, curriculum maps/pacing guides, more on our plates - and no Time!
Q6 Quick! Find a picture that represents the importance of play & tweet it out to & one other hashtag. https://t.co/MSjWAJx3eU
A5.5: Look at other countries - comparing apples/apples. Finland for example embraces play for Ss. We educate all - don't track!
A5.5 - Give lots of opportunities for unstructured play so Ss get better at it! Reflection and feedback afterwards can help too!
I think it takes courage on our parts as the adults to say we need a balance for our kids & stand up together against the barriers
Awesome question! Looking forward to suggestions.
Q 5 1/2 We open the discussion. And sometimes we have to be trailblazers!
Oh for heaven's sake- did I miss ?!?!
Totally missed Feeling under the weather and I fell asleep after school. I'll be up all night at least I can check out the chat.
Q7 What are your HOPES/FEARS (if any) in promoting/participating in something like Global School Play Day? https://t.co/9TOntPQYXj
A7 1 fear is that I will be missing out on test prep time which in turn could effect my evaluation
A7 1 hope that I have is that Ss will be able to learn to problem solve in real life situations
A7: Hope is that other classes get on board and try it too, and not just have Ts stand around and talk, but participate
Josie from Arcadia, CA. Love this topic! I teach 4th.
A7: Hope: We let Kids be Kids! Let them play! No high stakes testing, no assessments, no progress monitoring - a day to PLAY!
A7 Fear is that Ss won't buy in...seriously!
Ts can learn so much by having non-school related conversations with their Ss https://t.co/mQaAYeJ8KZ
A7: Hope is that other classes get on board and try it too, and not just have Ts stand around and talk, but participate
A7 - We LOVED it last year! My students gravitated towards games with rules (rather than inventing their own), but still had fun!
A7 hope that ALL Ss will socialize and play.
I like this one too. K is now 1st gr, preK is now K, and we wonder why Ss don't have social skills https://t.co/Lameu9BZHX
A7: Only fear is other teachers planning games in fear of administrative support.
We just finished up this week's chat Josie, but hope you can join in next week for ! All grades are always welcome!
