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Play attention! : a playful mindset meets academic content
2021
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Summary

A playful mindset is key to finding creative, resourceful ways of doing the things we need to do in life. And yet, in the past 50 years there has been a steep decline of free self-directed play both in and out of school. "In providing more structured activities outside of school, longer school days and more rigorous curricula, we have raised children who are less prepared for a successful adulthood," Stephanie writes. But there is hope!

In Play Attention!you'll learn how play can add value to what you are already doing in your classroom and can even help you do it better. Stephanie offers:

Individual playful experiences and tools to encourage a playful mindset across the day and year A predictable framework for planning for play: invite, play, reflect Ideas to show you how play can be a powerful tool for assessment Questions to guide your observations of different kinds of play Stephanie shows you and your students how to make space for possibilities you hadn't even imagined before. "I think we can all agree more joy in school is a good thing."
Table of Contents
Acknowledgmentsp. x
Chapter 1Why Play?p. 1
Play Is a Basic Needp. 3
The Benefits of Playful Classroom Experiencesp. 5
Self-Regulation
Intrinsically Motivated Learning
Cooperation and Collaboration
Courage and Risk-Taking
Flexibility and Creativity
Abstract Reasoning
Resilience
Joy
Chapter 2A Framework for Play in Schoolp. 21
Invitep. 23
Playp. 26
Observe
Provide Lean Input
Clean Up
Reflectp. 36
Create an Environment That Supports a Playful Mindsetp. 39
Chapter 3Material Playp. 43
What Is Material Play?p. 46
Consider Itp. 47
Establish Management
Explore Potential
Discover Concepts
Imagine Itp. 50
Dry-Erase Surfaces
Bulletin Boards
Highlighters
Art and Craft Supplies
Science Tools and Materials
Globes and Map Projections
Fractions
Plan Itp. 63
Chapter 4Language Playp. 69
What Is Language Play?p. 72
Consider Itp. 74
Extend Vocabulary
Understand Grammar and Structure
Make Sense of and Understand Humor
Imagine Itp. 76
Breaking Words Together
One Part, Many Words
Word Endings
Word Relatives
Shades of Meaning
Expert Words
Word Textures
Word Instructions
Puns and Homophones
Plan Itp. 93
Chapter 5Collaboration Playp. 99
What Is Collaboration Play?p. 103
Consider Itp. 104
Become a Learning Community
Develop the Skills of Collaborative Discourse
Take Ownership of Learning
Imagine Itp. 106
Ideal Learning Environment
Soft Start
Strategic Mini-Unit
Circle of Talkingness
Learning Plan
Plan Itp. 116
Referencesp. 120
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