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PRE-K UPDATE
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
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Here's the latest news from The Long Island Pre-K Initiative, your source for
expert training and useful resources:
www.nassauboces.org/pre-k
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The American Academy of Pediatrics has a new prescription for optimizing children's development--"The Power of Play"
"Play is fundamentally important." This is just one of the messages in a new report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in mid-August. The organization, with 67,000 member doctors, had issued a report in 2007 on the importance of play, but notes that things have changed since then. For one thing, evidence on the critical role of play has grown. For another: "An increasing societal focus on academic
readiness ...has led to a focus on structured activities that are designed to promote academic results as early as preschool, with a corresponding decrease in playful learning."
The report's primary focus is on examining the role of play in learning, but it also includes a recommendation for AAP members: "P
ediatricians can advocate for the importance of all forms of play as well as for the role of play in the development of executive functioning, emotional intelligence and social skills." Read more.
New York Times health writer (and pediatrician) Dr. Perri Klass put a more practical spin on the AAP report in an August 28 column. She quotes a Cambridge, MA doctor: "It's not about fancy toys...It's about common household items that kids can discover and explore."
However, Klass asks, "But can we successfully 'prescribe' reading, playing, going outside and the other essential pieces of a healthy, busy childhood?" The answer is still to be determined.
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"All work and no play doesn't help child development"--support for play in the classroom from an influential magazine
District Administration is a publication for school superintendents and other leaders that boasts more than 200,000 subscribers. And those decision-makers recently saw this headline: "The play's the thing for elementary ed."
The article was written by a principal from Long Island's Patchogue-Medford School District, and it makes the case for giving students a chance to run and play--and more. "We must offer elementary students ample time for recess--the CDC recommends at least 60 minutes--and brain breaks of five to 15 minutes between sustained instruction. These breaks will optimize attention to learning and, as a result, students will be better able to perform their academic tasks."
According to Tremont Elementary Principal Lori Koerner, attendance at her school is up and behavioral referrals are down since implementing 50 minutes for recess every day (in addition to time for lunch), and other approaches.
Read more.
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From NAEYC: a treasure trove of articles and books about play
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a stalwart supporter of the importance of play in children's learning and development. So it's no surprise to find a wealth of free play-related articles and books on its website. A collection on
how play connects to learning is especially geared to teachers--with an understanding they might want to share articles with parents. Topics range from "The Case For Brain Science and Guided Play" to the more fun-oriented "Rocking and Rolling--It's Never 'Just Play.'"
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"Saving Play"
-- Play and standards can go together
In 2017-18, The Long Island Pre-K Initiative ran a year-long program on
developmentally appropriate assessment, led by experts from NYU/Steinhardt. When it came time to wind-up the series of workshops with an administrator de-brief, our NYU partners decided to give everyone a free book--
Saving Play by Gaye Gronlund and Thomas Rendon. The subtitle says it all: Addressing Standards through Play-Based Learning in Preschool and Kindergarten.
The authors cover such topics as the value of child-directed play experiences and the importance of teacher involvement, but the bulk of the text is a detailed guide to how to meet standards through play in all the curriculum areas--math, literacy, science, etc. Of particular interest is the book's appendix. "Policies That Seem to Interfere with Play" is presented as a rubric, listing each policy (e.g., scripted curriculums, and quality rating systems) and how to respond if you perceive an issue.
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You're invited to a free screening of "Intelligent Lives"
On Thursday, September 20, the Early Childhood Directions Center at LIU is presenting a free screening of a new documentary--
Intelligent Lives--which tells the
story of three American young adults with intellectual disabilities. Their experiences challenge perceptions of intelligence. The event includes a conversation with filmmaker Dan Habib, who has won awards for many of his earlier documentaries.
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2018
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: LIU Post Lecture Hall, Hillwood Commons
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Don't miss out on "early bird" pricing for our full-day conference on Tuesday, November 6
With school starting this week, things are getting busy in Long Island Pre-K and kindergarten classrooms--don't get swept up and forget to register for "Best Practices for Teaching Pre-K & K." The "early bird" registration fee expires at 4 p.m. on Friday, September 28--that's less than four weeks away.
Click here for details and list of workshops. And did you know we're offering a group discount for the first time? For more about rates and registration information send an e-mail to:
prekconference@nasboces.org.
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About Us
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is a grant-funded project that seeks to strengthen partnerships between school districts and community-based organizations and to share information about research, policy and best practices for early learning. Administered by Nassau BOCES, it is supported with expertise from The Early Years Institute and funds from the Rauch and Hagedorn Foundations. Our partners: Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Western Suffolk BOCES, and the Child Care Councils of Nassau and Suffolk.
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NASSAU BOCES DEPARTMENT OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
71 Clinton Road, Garden City, NY 11530-9195
Phone: (516) 396-2220 Fax: (516)-396-2355
www.nassauboces.org
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