The start of the year always brings into strong focus for me the true power of play. The reason for this is simple, I remember what was, and reflect on what is. Looking back I remember myself and the expectations I had for children and their learning. I remember the structure I put in place, thinking I was doing the right thing. I remember the inappropriate way I expected children to engage with learning, how developmentally inappropriate it was of me to expect them to embark on the 'traditional' learning that I so strongly valued. Reflecting on this, I regret the stress and anxiety I caused children by doing what I was told to do as a new entrant teacher, what I was trained to do, what I was programmed to value. I remember the struggles I had managing 'behaviour' enforcing routine and settling children into school. I remember the deficit thinking I applied to children entering school that I didn't think were ready, to their oral language, their readiness ...
I am passionate about play and structured explicit learning, finding the best of both worlds.