Play to Learn: the “new” approach to early learning
SOLS Webinar - November 5, 2014
Play to Learn: the “new”
Kim
Krueger-Kischak
approach
to early learning
Early Literacy Specialist, Waterloo Region
Email:
[email protected]
November
5, 2014 SOLS Webinar
Website:
ykids.ca (follow Early Years: Resources)
Kim Krueger-Kischak
Twitter: @EarlyLitCKW
Pinterest: kkruegerkischak
Facebook: Kim Krueger-Kischak
Today’s Webinar
Play is being promoted as the best way for children to
learn, but how does that apply to how children
acquire language and literacy skills?
We’ll look at what recent research says about play
and literacy and how that impacts our interactions
with children, families, and the community. We’ll also
discuss resources and program ideas that libraries can
use to support children’s literacy development
through play.
What is Play?
Which word/phrase do you think of when
you hear the word play?
How Do You Learn Best?
http://www.pbs.org/parents/child-development/sensory-play/
• Meaningful
• Choice
• Pace and environment
• Fun!
Is Playing to Learn New?
What is Play-Based Learning?
“A play-based program gives emphasis to
encouraging children to express their own ideas
in play – to represent their world in order to
understand it better…”
- Learning is Child’s Play, www.latrobe.vic.gov.au
The Result of Play…
The result is children learn to think, they are
focused, can follow through with their ideas,
discussions and negotiations. These skills
transfer to working independently and in
groups. Children develop inner motivation
and readily take responsibility for their own
learning, so are equipped for higher learning
and life skills.”
- Learning is Child’s Play, www.latrobe.vic.gov.au
Today’s Play Can Help Us Tomorrow
"The genius of play is
that, in playing, we
create imaginative new
cognitive combinations.
And in creating these
novel combinations, we
find what works.“
(Brown, Stuart (2009).
Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the
Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.
Penguin Group, p. 37)
Play for Tomorrow
Play Expectations
How do your past play experiences
and your current feelings about play
impact your views about children’s learning?
Research Says…
Video Clip from “Think. Feel. Act.”
Children make sense of the world
through play… Their natural curiosity
inspires them to solve problems and
overcome challenges.
Dr. Charles Pascal
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/oelf/principles/principle5/index.html
Video Clip from “Think. Feel. Act.”
Impact of Our View of the Child:
Empty Vessels vs. “Stuff the Duck”
Dr. Jean Clinton
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/positive.html
How Does Learning Happen?
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/HowLearningHappens.pdf
How Does Learning Happen?
Many Languages of Children
How many ways are there for children to express themselves
in your programs?
Every Child Ready to Read 2
Every Child Ready to Read 2
• Play is one of the best ways for
children to learn language and
literacy skills.
• Play helps children think
symbolically: a ruler becomes a
magic wand, today becomes a time
when dinosaurs were alive, a
playmate becomes an astronaut
exploring space. Through play,
children realize that one thing can
stand for another. This also helps
children understand that written
words stand for real objects and
experiences.
Portis, Antoinette (2006),
Not a Box, HarperCollins
Every Child Ready to Read 2
www.imaginationsoup.com
Pretend play helps children think symbolically and develop
oral language skills. As children play store or pretend to
be an animal, they talk about what they’re doing. They
practice putting thoughts into words.
Every Child Ready to Read 2
Dramatic play helps
develop narrative skills as
children make up a story
about what they’re doing.
This helps them
understand that stories
happen in an order: first,
next, last.
10 Reasons Why Play is Important
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
Lays the foundation for literacy
Is learning
Encourages adults to communicate with children
Is spontaneous
Gives children choice
Gives space
Gives adults the chance to learn to play again
Allows adults to learn a child’s body language
Teaches adults patience and understanding
Is fun!
- National Literacy Trust www.literacytrust.org.uk
Impact on Our Work
Impact on Our Work with Children
www.makinglearningvisible.org
Impact on Our Work with Children
What is more meaningful?
Impact on Our Work with Children
http://prekandksharing.blogspot.ca/
Impact on Our Work with Children
Learning vs. Activity
(Art vs. Crafts)
http://www.artistsatthecentre.ca/index.html
Impact on Our Work with Children
www.ykids.ca
Impact on Our Work with Families
What do families expect from our program?
How do we effectively communicate our goals?
http://bfrc.ca
Impact on Our Work with Families
How do we support families to play to learn?
Uncle Goose Chinese Character Blocks
Impact on Our Work with Families
Orillia Public Library
Impact on Our Work with Families
Conversation prompts, visuals, modeling
Impact on Our Work with the Community
www.elawr.org
Resources and Ideas: Choice
Resources
The Third Teacher is the Environment
The learning environment provides the space, time and relationships for language
and literacy to unfold through play. We need to create spaces where children have
many opportunities to talk, listen, read and make their thinking visible.
Resources
Are your resources single-purpose or open-ended?
How does this feel,
sound, taste, move?
Infants
What parts does this
have? What can I
make it do?
Toddlers
How does this go together? What can I make?
Preschoolers
Quality Tools for Expression
“When children are invited to “translate” their idea
from one language to another, it can deepen the
spiral of learning.”
– Karyn Callighan, http://www.artistsatthecentre.ca/index.html
Quality Tools for Expression
Which box of crayons will make the most realistic picture?
- Dr. Karen Burstein, www.switoday.com
Brown
Sand, Tan, Khaki, Copper
Almond, Antique Brass,
Beaver, Cornflower,
Tumbleweed, Chestnut
Resources
http://www.ala.org/alsc/importance_of_play
Resources
http://www.beststart.org/resources/hlthy_chld_dev/pdf/school_readiness_english_fnl.pdf
Resources
Program Ideas
Pop-Up Zones at
The Region of Waterloo Library
Reflective Practitioner
• What are you already
doing to play to learn?
• What can you do to add
more play to learning?
• How will you make that
happen?
Thank you!
Kim Krueger-Kischak
Early Literacy Specialist, Waterloo Region
Email: [email protected]
Website: ykids.ca (follow Early Years:
Resources)
Twitter: @EarlyLitCKW
Pinterest: kkruegerkischak
Facebook: Kim Krueger-Kischak