The Right to Play

YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEARN THROUGH PLAY

Children learn through play. Through their play, children develop sensory motor control, eyehand
co-ordination and problem solving skills.  Physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development are all enhanced through play.

CAYC believes that it is important for children to play.  Children have a natural mechanism that enables them to make sense of their world — that mechanism is play. For over 100 years, researchers have studied play and have found that play:

* enhances a child’s language development  (Garvey 1974)
* encourages creativity and problem-solving  (Dansky 1980)
* provides a context through which the child develops representational thought, an essential foundation for reading, mathematics and science (Vygotsky, in. J.S.Bruner, A. Jolly, & K. Sylva [Eds.])
* develops higher motivation to learn and develops higher self-esteem (Weininger 1994)

Play is an integral part of a child’s being. It is the business of childhood, and it has a unique and
vital role in the whole educational process  (Weininger 1994).

— Canadian Association for Young Children (1996), p. 8

Printed in the B.C. Ministry of Education Primary Program Foundation Document.

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/primary_program/primary_prog.pdf    page 33



 

Planting

This morning we had the pleasure of working with two parent garden volunteers to do some indoor planting.  They came with these really interesting "pucks" (that's what we named them) made from coconut husks.  After pouring water on them, they expanded which then allowed the kids to plant a seed in.  Everyone planted one tomato and one flower seed.  I placed them in the library window in order to catch the sun.  In about one month from now, they will be re-planted in our new garden bed (the first one at the east end of the garden).  Thanks to ALL of those who help in the garden.  It looks beautiful out there.  I can't wait for some warmer days so that we can head out for some garden sketching (a tradition in Division 1)!

 

Persuasive Writing

Today the kids had a go at lobbying for something that is important to them (or that they want).  I provided choices (i.e., Why my teacher should let us do Big Choosing for an entire day.) and also the ability to make up their own topic.  We began with a group-write and the children practised with the following letter to me:


Dear Jacquie,

Division 1 would like you to give us permission to go into the staffroom whenever we want.  We have three reasons why we should be allowed.
     1.  So we can have a snack anytime we want.
     2.  So we can have our class meetings there.
     3.  So we can nap.
Please can we go in?

From,
Division 1


Ask your child what they decided to write about.

Involving Parents

Below is a link to a blog by Chris Kennedy, the Superintendent of Schools / CEO with the West Vancouver School District.  He has so many fabulous posts.  A recent one outlines his ideas of how to involve parents in education.  Check it out.  It's a worthwhile read.

http://cultureofyes.ca/2013/04/08/involving-parents/ 

Raven Meets the Monkey King

On Friday, the school had the pleasure of hosting Axis Theatre to perform their play, Raven Meets the Monkey King.  This was a blend of two tales from different cultures.  In preparation for the performance, we read the First Nations story titled Raven Steals the Light and the Chinese tale of The Monkey King.   We were the 76th performance by the group and were complimented due to our fabulous audience behaviour, as well as the high level of questions the students asked!  See the link below for more information on the show.

http://www.axistheatre.com/shows/raven/about.php

Giving it a try

What else is there to do on a Saturday morning, but start a blog!  It's all new to me, so join me for the ride!