Last week in New Orleans, I was presenting on the topic of learning through play with my friend and colleague Kathy Clunis. Our group was made up of folks from around the nation and the Netherlands, and included principals as well as teachers (kindergarten and first grade, middle school and Spanish) and a school psychologist. Everyone in the workshop valued play and understood that real learning comes from play. However, many obstacles get in the way. We asked our group to share their answers to the following question:
“What is getting in the way of play for your students?”
- Pressure on teachers to “get it done” (“it” being the curriculum, skills, etc.)
- Pressure from parents for defined academic curriculum for 3 1/2 year-olds in preschool
- Fear of not meeting standards
- Time
- Assessment pressures of district mandated curricula
- Teacher training at community preschool is lacking – no schedule or systems in place for children – and the learning isn’t visible to visitors and parents.
- Student population changes throughout the year, making culture and climate hard to maintain
- Difficulty bringing a culture of play and student choice into middle school when they haven’t had it in elementary school
- Pressure from parents to get rid of play at school
Kathy and I added to the list:
- Students coping with death and dying, and/or violence
- Over-sexualization of children
- Video games and media
How can classroom teachers possibly cope with all of this? Pressure, time and fear came up over and over again. The principals feel it. The teachers feel it. The parents feel it, and the students most definitely feel it.
The energy in the room was still hopeful, however, as we delved into sharing strategies and ideas for empowering students and teachers to get down to the business of learning through play – in the face of all that is working against us. Sharing knowledge – and resources – is power. I came away energized by the hard work of professionals who are fighting to stay true to what is good for kids. Thank you.
For more posts about the Fall Forum in New Orleans, check out these previous posts:
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