tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post2769470774164926520..comments2024-03-02T05:09:48.055-05:00Comments on RainbowsWithinReach: The Role of PLAY in Kindergarten Today!RainbowsWithinReachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-30456550553363766372013-11-27T11:57:42.617-05:002013-11-27T11:57:42.617-05:00It kills me when people write that they always giv...It kills me when people write that they always give their Kinders 15 minutes to play as if that is enough. 35-50% of their day should be spent in play. This is not screaming and running around like lunatics, this is where teacher purposefully put out tools, equipment, and materials to help kids explore and learn to interact with their peers. This is what we expect of our citizenry. I teach 1st and play is frowned upon at my school, but I find ways to fit between 45-60 minutes a day of free play into EVERY day plus recess. When children (and adults for that matter) play in between work, they can organize their world and their minds better.<br /><br />Kimberley<br /><a href="http://1stinmaine.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">First in Maine</a>Kimberley Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944774091932084680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-58502573409703132832013-08-31T12:06:42.603-04:002013-08-31T12:06:42.603-04:00Jackie, Jackie, Jackie.
What a heart-rending sit...Jackie, Jackie, Jackie. <br /><br />What a heart-rending situation -- unfolding right in your home, in real time at this very minute. A child who is already 'successful' (i.e. reading) brought to tears over the thought of 'going-to-school' is the heartbreak of all time. <br /><br />I know that you have keen insight from your vantage point: straddling the divide as reading specialist and mom-to-K-kiddo. What to do? What to do? What to do? <br /><br />Speak up. I hear your genuine concerns that this may have very little to do with actual teacher. Certainly your gen-u-ine, fill the bubble test taking curriculum was not chosen by your son's teacher. Ninth day, indeed! <br /><br />Keep me posted. I'm cheering for you as you navigate the journey ahead. <br /><br />Debbie RainbowsWithinReachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-88094871334975418172013-08-31T12:01:19.962-04:002013-08-31T12:01:19.962-04:00Your blog's title is the perfect one to contin...Your blog's title is the perfect one to continue this conversation, isn't it! I'm so grateful to hear how your team 'works' to incorporate the fun in the learning process. Here's to less scrutiny, Caitlin so that you can reach every benchmark in the most child-friendly and appropriate manner! We shouldn't have to apologize for PLAY in the day. Play can be all about progress towards goals. <br /><br />Debbie RainbowsWithinReachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-55279024796689837162013-08-31T11:58:33.748-04:002013-08-31T11:58:33.748-04:00Lori, thanks so much for reaching out. I hope that...Lori, thanks so much for reaching out. I hope that many will be directed to your work. I'm ALL FOR MAGIC! Bring on the magic. <br /><br />Debbie RainbowsWithinReachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-13272521598749400242013-08-31T11:57:27.593-04:002013-08-31T11:57:27.593-04:00Terri you bring up so many great points! How do we...Terri you bring up so many great points! How do we as educators help parents understand the VALUE of PLAY for our children? Yes. We must do all that we can to help bridge that gap. Certainly focus on 'academic' work is important for all children, but that can be addressed through a playful approach. <br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to add to the conversation. <br /><br />Debbie RainbowsWithinReachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-73110361968405676122013-08-31T11:55:04.830-04:002013-08-31T11:55:04.830-04:00Thanks for taking the time to share both your insi...Thanks for taking the time to share both your insight and your experience, Chelsey. It is amazing how things can be so different from district to district. I'm so grateful for your dedication to this important topic -- through your blog! <br /><br />Debbie RainbowsWithinReachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-13252740948415170412013-08-31T11:53:06.034-04:002013-08-31T11:53:06.034-04:00Carolyn, Your Prezi presentation is a delight and ...Carolyn, Your Prezi presentation is a delight and simply brilliant. I have added the link into the article itself -- in the hopes of more people 'discovering' it! <br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing. <br /><br />Debbie RainbowsWithinReachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-81945072708841015142013-08-30T21:46:17.139-04:002013-08-30T21:46:17.139-04:00This is a wonderful discussion. I love the views o...This is a wonderful discussion. I love the views of the teachers who feel "trapped" in this standards based craze and yet are still using their experience and knowledge of early learning to create environments that nurture the whole child. BRAVO Kindergarten teachers! <br />My son is about the same age as the wonder twins. He has a May birthday and just started Kindergarten. I am all about rigor. I am all about great teachers. I am all about teachers having "accountability" (just not being accountable to test scores). I'm not saying this to brag but my new kindergartner is already reading and it's not because I bombarded him with paper/ pencil tasks or drilled him with flash cards. We just read a ton of books. We created restaurants and wrote menus. We read packages in the grocery store, etc. <br />He enjoyed preschool but now that he is in Kindergarten he is crying every single night about having to go to school. I know a large part of that is that he is exhausted. But I think a portion of the problem is that he sits in a desk and colors and does worksheets at school. He says school is "boring". He brings home math papers with CCSS coded in the top. On his NINTH day of kindergarten, he brought home a paper that said, "test prep" with bubbles to be filled in. Some have told me to request a new teacher, but I'm really not feeling like it is the teacher's choice. The test prep is a math "curriculum" that was purchased by the district. I hear so many teachers voicing that this is not their choice but is being pushed on them from someone higher up the ladder. The thing that concerns me is that the decision makers aren't listening to the voices of those who have education and experience in educating early learners. <br />My son is in a very tiny classroom. There are no puppet theaters, kitchens, etc. I haven't even seen any centers! He says they can sometimes do blocks or puzzles but only if they finish all of their worksheets. I feel a little trapped as a parent. I think that some parents may think this is "best". I've heard parents bragging that their child was doing algebra or geometry in K. They don't realize that building 3 dimensional shapes in a block corner IS geometry. <br />What steps would you take if your child was in a situation like this? I don't want to "complain" because it will look like I'm complaining about the teacher and it may not even be her choice?? Jackie Higginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536816014343140102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-55656917733063165252013-08-30T21:09:51.604-04:002013-08-30T21:09:51.604-04:00I can't tell you how much this blog post tugge...I can't tell you how much this blog post tugged at my little kindergarten heart. My kinder team often jokes that we actually teach first grade, but when you think about it, it's sad. Testing has overtaken our school lives, and no one realizes that you have to spend time teaching these kiddos how to go to school before you can even get into the nitty gritty of the curriculum. But at the same time, when you have benchmark tests and scores looming ahead, you can't give them the extra time they deserve without getting a ton of scrutiny laid upon you. My team puts in as much fun, craftivities, and movement as we can WHILE still teaching the common core... our kinder babies need it!<br /><br />--Caitlin<br />thekindergarden.blogspot.comThe Kinder Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299251361580074748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-32685074045828504602013-08-27T12:21:57.570-04:002013-08-27T12:21:57.570-04:00Amazing article! Nice to know so many teachers out...Amazing article! Nice to know so many teachers out there are doing the right thing! I just wrote a book about all the changes in education & how to put the magic back in teaching! Find out more at www.iwillnotresign.tateauthor.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772082347898176412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-41666519052956291592013-08-26T11:07:52.511-04:002013-08-26T11:07:52.511-04:00Laura, I am not the least surprised that we are th...Laura, I am not the least surprised that we are thinking on the same line of thought here. I'm especially appreciative of your referencing the term "WHOLE CHILD" in your response. Your insight that the teachers who responded have both rigor and fun is well spoken. It can be done. Blogs allow us to look over the shoulders of our peers and we can see 'examples' of best practice from around the world. <br /><br />Thanks for entering into the conversation with your heart-felt insight and experience. <br /><br />Debbie RainbowsWithinReachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-79413008872741503602013-08-26T11:04:25.629-04:002013-08-26T11:04:25.629-04:00Here's a comment that was left on my personal ...Here's a comment that was left on my personal FB wall. These are the thoughts of Alta Profitt, veteran of DECADES of experience in the early childhood realm. <br /><br />"Children can learn almost everything they need to know by playing with blocks, through art and music. Every skill can be taught through these three outlets. You build, you write about it. What you think can be said. What you say can be written. What you write can be read. I am afraid we will lose a generation of lifelong learners because of all the testing. Why do more learning after 13 years plus of testing? What adult has his/her own career based on one day at work, but children on one test can be labeled forever."RainbowsWithinReachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539319184558859828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-38340257141813242232013-08-26T10:29:10.875-04:002013-08-26T10:29:10.875-04:00Wonderful discussion Debbie! My daughter was in Ki...Wonderful discussion Debbie! My daughter was in Kindergarten last year and I'm very grateful for her wonderful experience. Yes, they did have table time especially when learning their numbers & letters. But, I know her teacher did incorporate play as much as possible. She was in a half-day program and still had time to play at the sand table or in the kitchen center. They took walks and went outside as much as possible. They dissected a pumpkin... etc. And for anyone doubting the rigors of her classroom, I can tell you that she learned A LOT. <br /><br />I'd also like to add that as a parent (and from the perspective of many parents that I know), parents don't typically understand the importance of play. They think that their young child needs rigorous academics in order to keep up with the demands of the world. I think us parents need a bit of education about why play is important and why kids do better learning through play. While I was counting my blessing for the existence of a sand table in my daughter's classroom, I'm sure there were other parents that thought their kids should be back at the tables instead.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05259543831247895775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-46778988050830565712013-08-26T08:58:32.790-04:002013-08-26T08:58:32.790-04:00Such an important topic- Thank you so much for sha...Such an important topic- Thank you so much for sharing this conversation! I feel very fortunate that my daughter's Kinder class has play and learning together. They even still have a dress-up center! I think play is such an important part of a young child's development, just as other opportunities like music and art are. And I agree with others that hands-on is crucial for early learning, but unfortunately in many schools this is disappearing. I taught in a district where even in Kindergarten, it was all rote and worksheet instruction, where little 5 year-olds were expected to sit at a desk all day quietly. It broke my heart. "No time" for concrete, hands-on learning. They were losing such valuable learning opportunities, as well as possibly developing a negative feeling about school and learning in general. We have since moved to a district that supports the many things we believe are important in education. My daughter now has the opportunity to work in the school garden for science 'instruction' and even helps sell produce at the school farmer's market. :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08249785576459234242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-83902522780400023332013-08-26T07:02:15.632-04:002013-08-26T07:02:15.632-04:00Hi Debbie! I made a Prezi about the Importance of...Hi Debbie! I made a Prezi about the Importance of Play. Here it is! http://prezi.com/k-ny0dsoyg89/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy I put together all of my favorite quotes from educators to remind me that I am right in protecting play for my kids! I loved this post! <br /><a href="http://www.ckisloski.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together</a>Carolyn Kisloskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02297646560810079163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460877046697953481.post-42434870459516844482013-08-26T00:21:34.226-04:002013-08-26T00:21:34.226-04:00I love this blog post. It has such a beautiful mes...I love this blog post. It has such a beautiful message in it that all of us teachers should remember. We teach the whole child and when we do it in fun ways - such as through play we are tapping into the hearts of our little ones. We must teach them to love school and then we can build on that foundation with our academics. A lot of our play time starts off academic by exploring math manipulatives. Children in my room naturally start sorting and grouping objects, counting unifix cubes and making long trains. Thank you for taking the time to reflect on one of the most important parts of kindergarten. I hope teachers can all figure out how to make learning so fun that it's almost like play time. I've seen the work from many of the bloggers you've quoted and their lessons are very rigorous AND fun! Always, Laura from "Teacher Laura" <br />http://laura-armstrong-martinez.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com