I am very proud to teach in British Columbia. The Ministry of Education has come up with a set of "I can" statements for students that give space for play and self-directed learning. Not only is the student going to be able to show these statements through self-assessment, but I, as the teacher, can make space for this learning in the classroom any way I, and they, want. Great freedom and great responsibility all at the same time. For my class the statements are things like "I understand and share basic information about topics that are important to me," and "I can get new ideas in which I have an interest and build my skills to make them work." On this day it was Stuffy Day. One day a month the kids can bring up to two stuffies to school and the whole day revolves around sharing your day with your stuffy. Seven students decided to set up a Pet Center. "In familiar situations, with direct support, I communicate with peers and adults. I understand and share basic information about topics that are important to me. I talk and listen to people I know. I plan and complete activities with peers and adults. I can answer simple direct questions about my activities and experiences." They wanted to make a space in the classroom where they could look after the stuffies while kids were working. A bit like a doggy day care. This then evolved into an internet clothing factory. They decided to measure the animals and make hats and collars for them. The orders came in. The students had to decide who was going to go around the class with an imaginary ipad and get the orders, what the hats and collars were going to look like, and who was going to make the orders. "I can get new ideas, build on other’s ideas and add new ideas of my own, or combine other people’s ideas in new ways to create new things or solve straightforward problems. My ideas are fun, entertaining, or useful for me and my peers, and I have a sense of accomplishment. I can usually make my ideas work within the constraints of a given form, problem, or materials if I keep playing." The factory begins..... "I can ask questions, make predictions, and use my senses to gather information. I can explore with a purpose in mind and use what I learn. I can tell or show something about my thinking. I can contribute to and use simple criteria. I can find some evidence and make judgments." After all that hard work the Pet Care Hats and Collars Store was closed for the day. In all of this all I had done was observe and be astounded at what was going on.
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Do you ever feel so passionate about something that you just don't have the words or the voice to explain what it is all about? That is how I feel about the role of play in everyone's education - not just the Grade 1/2 class. When it works well it appears effortless and inconsequential. What are students learning? They are just playing.... To quote Sir Ken Robinson “Play in its many forms has fundamental roles in all phases of life and especially in the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of children.” When you play you have some much needed control. When you play you learn how to work with others. You learn how to build on the ideas of others. You learn that you have creative ideas. When you play you have fun and your self-worth is built up by none other than you! Here are some examples of play in the grade 1/2 classroom. Tomorrow I will write about the Pet Care Centre that all came together during play and got students self-assessing the BC Core Competencies. The whole thing was stunning!
I start most days with "Choice Time." In a usual Grade 1 classroom most free time happens in the afternoon after the academics have been completed. In my Grade 1/2 class I have found that it is easier to get kids in through the doorway when they start school with something they have chosen to do. The rules are you can do anything sensible and use anything you see in the room. By doing this I can see how and what students are thinking. On occasion, the creativity and play that occurs can set the whole day in motion and create a theme for the day. Playing with Lego. Making a puppet. Making a structure with boxes. It is amazing what stories you can create with Littlest Pet Shop.
So, I had this idea that every week I would post the latest and greatest concerning the Grade 1/2 class. I had great plans! Perfectionism got in the way and nothing got accomplished! Now it is New Year's Day and I am ready to look back at the past three months and reminisce before I prepare for the New Year. This is a reminder of how neat my room can look. This year I have the use of two rooms. The second room is for meeting times and a reading space. Everything may look as if it is in its place. However, I am a strong believer that the kids need to own these spaces too and they have given me other ideas as to how the classrooms can be set up and used. Looking forward to going in tomorrow and seeing if it works.
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AuthorWife, mom, teacher, trying to inspire..... Archives
May 2021
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