Last week the unimaginable happened. My class came in from recess, got their supplies out, sat down, and waited for me to be ready to work. And, when I say waited, I mean it. They sat in their seats, just waiting for me to get myself ready. There was no, "1,2,3 eyes on me!" or "Wind that bobbin up" or any other tricks I may have used in order to get their attention. They were ready to go. And, not only that, we zipped through the lesson. They were ready, set, and good to go! I am not a sticker teacher- I do not hand out stickers for very much. If you are supposed to be doing something, you are supposed to be doing it. No need to celebrate. However, this was an important moment that needed more than just my effusive praise. I did pass out stickers, and made sure each student knew exactly what their sticker said, and why I was passing them out. Because, wow! I was impressed.
I was discussing this with my EA's and one hit the nail on the head when she said, "That's because they had such a long, interrupted time to play." She was absolutely correct. My day usually starts out with a quick morning meeting and math workshop, but I try to get to unstructured play time as soon as possible. I hate interrupting them for small group work, but usually that is the only time I can get it done. Also, my daily schedule this year is unpredictable in some ways. Every day is different, and some days that first part of my day is broken up with specialists. But this day- all play, no interruptions. And the direct result- a class that was ready to sit and listen to direct teaching when it was time.
And here's my point: Play matters. It matters more than a "brain break" (which isn't play, btw). It matters more than hockey, or soccer, or dance class (also not play, btw). Play is putting our knowledge into action. Play is where we figure out how to work in a group. Play is how we understand our world. Play is a necessity. And play needs to be viewed beyond the short moments of recess, it needs to be incorporated into our everyday classroom life. When we allow for long, unstructured play time in our kindergartens, we give our students tools that they will need for learning- both intrinsic learning and extrinsic. We give them the tools they need for critical thinking, for creativity, for communication and community building, for collaboration- everything we need for 21st Century Learning. We give them the tools of self-regulation. And when we can self-regulate, we can sit and listen when we need to. We can follow directions. We can be successful.
This was a lesson, not for my kindergarteners, but for me. I need to remember this, and continue to put it into practice. Their learning matters. Their play matters. I know this. I practice this. But I needed this reminder, too.
Let them play, teachers. Free your students to learn, to be the best they can be.
(from: https://www.facebook.com/artofearlychildhood/photos/a.593484284011134/5628794373813408)
YES! Let them play!
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