Purposeful Play (3 Credits) EDCT 5566

Description

Play helps students reach standards and goals in ways that in-seat instruction alone cannot. Play provides a type of environment that allows for rigorous learning, enabling practical ways to carry that mindset into all aspects of the curriculum. In this course, you will learn how the following:

Optimize and balance different types of play to deepen regular classroom learning

Teach into play to foster social-emotional skills and a growth mindset

Bring the impact of play into all your lessons across the day.

The course provides a host of lessons, suggestions for classroom setups, helpful tools and charts, curriculum connections, teaching points, and teaching language. Each fosters mature play and makes every moment in your classroom instructional.

Click here to buy the book Purposeful Play direct from the publisher.

Click Here to preview the course syllabus.

This is, by far, the most engaging textbook I’v ever read. I’ve never had a textbook that “I couldn’t put down”. I actually read this entire book in one sitting. Reflecting on the chapters and concepts in the text helped me clarify topics that I’d like to incorporate into my daily teaching practice. This book provided a new perspective on my teaching and helped me set new goals. Because of this book, I feel inspired to continue to advocate for unstructured, child-initiated play in my classroom and school. I feel energized by what I learned in this book.

LC, New Hampshire

 

I am excited to try some of these new ideas garnered from the book.  Although I always knew that play is extremely important to children’s social/emotional development, I never fully realized how useful it can be in their academic learning as well.  It will be interesting to see the connections I can help them  make between their play, academics, and developing a growth mindset.

H.C., Michigan