Playing to Learn...

After refreshing my reading of Debbie Miller, I am reminded of a small moment that occurred in my classroom before the holiday break...but let me set the stage first. :)

Every day the students within my classroom are given multiple choices as to how they will respond to learning, practice new learnings, and record new learning. We use play dough, scrabble letters, sticky notes, index cards, clip boards, wiki sticks, white boards, data notebooks, chart paper, beans, blocks, etc. While this may seem too much for 1st graders, I strongly believe that the choice allows true stretching of the imagination and a deeper understanding of new concepts. With this in mind, reading expert Debbie Miller says "If I want to challenge children's imagination, promote their love of learning and inquiry, and encourage them to become independent learners and thinkers, they need to be the ones deciding where they will go and what they will do." (Reading with Meaning, p.104)

Allowing students to choose their means of learning out of items that may seem like items to "play" with, sets the tone for learning and helps students realize that acquiring knowledge is exciting and enjoyable. "Once children begin to integrate their leaning into their play, the materials are no longer an end unto themselves; they've become another means for creating understanding and constructing meaning. They've become a means for living the learning." (Reading with Meaning, p104)

Now, how does this correspond with the small moment in the classroom? Well, before the holiday break my students and I were lining up for our usual afternoon recess. Before we left , two students asked if they could take their data notebooks and a mini atlas outside with them. I was curious and asked why. This was their response..."Mrs. Hunter, there is so much to discover on the playground, and we want to use our atlas to help. Then we can record it in our data notebooks.!" WOW.....Go for it! :)

We proceeded to the playground and lo and behold two little boys with their atlas and data notebooks were scurrying around the playground searching for items that matched the atlas. The came back to share their learning with me and said, "Mrs. Hunter, that playground equipment looks like Solomon's Temple." "It sure does!" and...."Mrs. Hunter, that tree looks just like the front of this castle!"

I was in awe as they jotted down notes in their notebooks...

Giving students time to play and choices within learning truly impacts life long learning.

Give it a try...You will be amazed! :)

Happy Learning!