Rationale
I teach kids who haven't been successful at their traditional schools. My students' behavior significantly impacts their learning. They exhibit behavior issues do to various mental health issues and/or trauma they have experienced. Part of their daily instruction is group time with our social worker where students learn how to spot and deal with bullying, how to be kind, how to use coping skills when they get angry, etc. We keep track of their behavior throughout the day and they earn free time at the end of the day.The Wrong Way
Here's what it looked like for the first 6 weeks:- Fights about who gets picked to use the three computer stations.
- Students watching others play on the computer.
- A kid wanting to play "doctor" with a stethoscope we had in our room for some reason. No one else wanting to play doctor so then this kid would have a temper tantrum.
- A kid wandering the perimeter of the room stopping at my desk or random shelves to ask what he could do for free time, never satisfied with our answers.
The Better Way
Over our two week fall break I made play choice cards. Things like "coloring", "Play-Doh", "pretend play", "games", and "puzzles" were on the cards. After returning from break, the kids were taught what each card looked like at free time. Now, a student gets to choose one or two cards and those are the two activities the class can do during our (structured-ish) free time.For pretend play I was able to get some hospital supplies- masks, caps, shoe covers, gauze strips, and syringes (no needles), to go along with the stethoscope. The kids were in heaven. Their enjoyment of this activity prompted me to think of other options for pretend play, so we now have a cash register, play money, and empty food containers for a "store".
What I Learned
- Kids talk to each other more now during free time (and it's appropriate most of the time)!
- Kids use more language than we knew they even had! It's fun to listen.
- Kids are creative. They use a puzzle piece as a credit card, they make rockets with Legos, they use chairs for hospital beds.
- Kids are able to work out issues on their own (for the most part). Maybe this is because they are motivated to solve problems in order to keep playing?
Overheard
- "Doctor, I need some hot chocolate. Hurry, these babies are about to stop breathing."
- "I know what's wrong. You are allergic to peanuts. I have to give you a shot."
- "I'm having a barbecue. I can't leave with all these people at my house." (while taking in to a plastic plumbing pipe)
- "No, we both work here at this gas station. This here is my little brother. I'm just here to help him today."
Bottom Line
Kids need unstructured time to play, explore, talk, and create. Brains don't stop growing and making connections just because we (teachers) aren't feeding them math facts and making them practice handwriting. Playing is learning.
This article was my inspiration for starting to write this post:
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/06/for-better-school-results-clear-the-schedule-and-let-kids-play/373144/
