In the field setting I am observing in, there are three teachers and two aides for twenty-one students who range from 2 1/2 years old to 4 years old. The class is designed for three years old turning four years old during the time school runs, which is September through May. The program is a play-based program and is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., depending on how old the student is and where they are developmentally. Students are broken down into a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday class called the butterfly's, which are 4 year olds turning 5 years old with a slightly older class called Pre-K, and a Tuesday and Thursday class called the ladybug's, which are the ones described in the beginning of this blog. I interacted with the teachers, the aides, the director, and the students during the observations.
I do not know where to begin in describing what I observed. First, the place was huge with an amazing amount of rooms to do a variety of activities as well as just changing environments to help those students who need to be redirected. Second, the routine and the activities seemed to flow smoothly and play was intentional. I have not thought about play being intentional while the students are engaged in the activities. The activities were theme based and the added materials were also theme based. For example, there were farmers hats in the dramatic play area and the block area, they had toy farms with the animals to go with it in the middle of the main room, farm puzzles, farm animal puppets, farm cutters for the play dough, farm stamps, stuffed farm animals all around, and several books available. The directed activity was making a handprint chick, holding real baby chicks, and looking for farm animal manipulatives in a tub of beans. When I asked the teachers about the set-up and the materials available around the room, they shared a few clever insights. One teacher told me "Play is how young children learn because they are involved in doing something and they also engage in what interests them. When they are interested they will be able to remember and grab hold of concepts that is intentionally being introduced through the materials around the room." This was an ah-ha moment for me because I thought to myself are they really playing or are they doing activities to learn. Both is happening and both happens simultaneously. You can't have one without the other, even adults do this.
Can this be a topic for my research paper on play in young children? That is the topic of intentional play instead of play and the development of young children? What do you think?
I like the idea of intentional play. I currently do this with my three year olds at the center I am employed at. We have things in each area that never change like the stove and refrigerator in the housekeeping area. Each theme, we add or take away things. For a restaurant theme, we would add a cash register, pizza boxes, aprons, as well as many other items. When we change themes, we change materials. It is a continuous process that keeps the children busy and interested. I would definitley read a paper on intentional play. Play does help a child develop, but intentional play is a different and unique idea. Perhaps, compare the two and the benefits of each.
ReplyDeleteI love the topic of intentional play. What are your three narrowed topics going to be? Children learn best when they are doing activities that interest them directly. Play helps the children develop all akills needed when they begin kindergarten and beyond. You could take intwntional play and compare and contrast the topic with other forms of play and how they directly tie to other curriculums. Which curriculum will you discuss with play or will you just focus on play? Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWow! This sounds like a very interesting program. I really like the topic of intentional play. What types of subtopics would be a part of your paper? I think we should all be intentional when we are giving our children materials and free choice time. Very interesting post thanks for sharing your insights. I look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteHello, I read your post and I thought that it was very interesting. When you talked about the teacher could of just changed the environment instead of what she had set up. I picture that center and I could only imagine the classroom management and the transitioning that goes on daily. I feel that with your knowlegde of Appropriate practice you could really be some help to that center. Some times teachers know and what is appropriate and whats not we might get a little lazy and laid back and forget that it is not about us its about the children. Also when you said that they focus on themes, you should tell them to try studies because they can extend longer then a theme, because a theme is so limited but a study can go on for ever. I really have to say I like international play but it have to be a lot of classroom management when implementing this. Yes Yes I feel that free choice is great teachers should use this daily in their classroom. I really love your lost and I look forward to reading many more.
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