Play Before Pencils

You asked, now here it is! The #1 requested topic I've had for the podcast is an episode on the Reggio Emilia approach. I'm pleased to have Abby Bucher, a veteran teacher who has studied and used the Reggio philosophy in her classroom for 20 years, join me to give a crash course on what this popular approach is all about and how you can begin bringing it into your classroom today. Show not...

"Process over product" is likely a familiar term that you've heard over and over again. It's a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of focusing on the journey or method of achieving a goal rather than solely on the end result or outcome. Early childhood classrooms serve as fertile ground for nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. It is within these environme...

We all know that working in the early childhood field can be demanding and draining, and for some, that stress reaches burnout levels. Join me as I talk with Katie Heiser about her recent experience with burnout as an early childhood educator, how she chose to navigate it, and where she is now. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast

While on the surface you might not even distinguish between a schedule and a routine, there is a difference! Join me as I discuss that difference and encourage you to favor one over the other for the benefit of your students. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

Publics schools often have the reputation of being all work and no play, but Amber Unger, The Cream City Teacher, has created a completely different reality in her classroom. Listen as she shares her tips and tricks for incorporating more play into public school classrooms while still targeting the standards and expectations set by the school system. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podca...

How often do we give children long, uninterrupted stretches of play, either at home or at school? Unless you are being very intentional about the playtime in your classroom, they probably aren't getting as much as you think.

The term "kindergarten ready" has infiltrated preschool classrooms and perhaps caused us to focus more on the skills that children need to acquire later rather than the skills that they need now. A shift in focus to "preschool mastery" can make a world of difference in how you approach your teaching! Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

Themes have been a mainstay of preschool programs for decades, but what if they are actually limiting what your students are capable of learning? In this episode we will explore that question and consider how changing your approach to themes has the potential to unlock greater creativity and exploration for the children in your classroom. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

The Share Your Journey series will take us into the worlds of early childhood educators at various stages of their journeys. Be inspired as we hear from Anna Crabb, who knew from the age of 19 that early childhood education and advocacy was her calling in life. Anna has created a beautiful child-led program that you'll want to learn more about! Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast

Lesson planning in a child-led program looks a lot different than it does in a teacher-led program. It can be an intimidating and confusing change to make. Join me as I walk you through 4 key elements that have helped make my lesson planning a simple and reflective process.  Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

This week's episode is a follow-up to episode 4, Get Outside, where we learned the benefits of outdoor play. In Episode 6, Kristy DeGraaf is going to teach us the basics of designing our outdoor spaces in order to help us maximize those benefits. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

In today's episode I talk with Simon Airey about neurodivergence and how it might affect play in an early childhood classroom. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast

Join me as I chat with Christi Warr of Dirt Learning about the importance of getting children outside. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

When parents have high expectations for academic learning in preschool, some of the blame falls on us as educators. If they believe that academic skills taught in a traditional "school way" are what is most important, it's because we have failed to communicate otherwise. Our job is not simply to teach children, it is to educate parents on what effective, developmentally appropriate l...

Play and academics are perfect companions! In this episode we’ll discuss some of the friction between play advocates and play skeptics and how they can come together to ensure that children are receiving academic instruction in developmentally appropriate ways.  I explain the concept of “back door learning” and why it is such an effective way for children to learn new skills without resorting to t...

In the inaugural episode of the Play Before Pencils podcast we will take a bird’s eye view of play and why it is so critical during the early childhood years. We will explore 3 ways that early childhood educators can increase their understanding of play and advocate for it with parents and fellow professionals.  Show Notes

Welcome to Play Before Pencils, where we shift the focus from preparing for kindergarten to mastering preschool!