the amazing brain & learning through play

1. Part 2 the amazing brain &learning through play

2. http://www.ted.com/talks/vs_ramachandran_the_neurons_that_shaped_civilization.htmlhttp://www.ted.com/talks/vs_ramachandran_the_neurons_that_shaped_civilization.html The Neurons that shaped civilizationDR. Ramachandran

3. Children at play “Let the wild rumpus begin”

4. Strengths, interests, needs of the individual child Knowledge of child development for the age range Knowledge of social and cultural context of a child’s life “DaP” always takes into account:

5. Voluntary and intrinsically motivated Symbolic, meaningful, and transformational Actively involves players Pleasurable Rule bound – implicit or explicit Characteristics of Play

6. Play to NON-Play Continuum

7. Types of play • Different types of play have different benefits • Functional play • Constructive play • Symbolic play • Games with rules • Extending play • If you pretend, children will begin to pretend too • Begins as functional becomes more symbolic • Unimaginative play = immature play • Games with rules can be symbolic

8. What is the connection between mirror neurons and play? What do children pay attention to? Role of emotions… Development of feeling/thoughts Mirror neurons and play

9. Rapid growth in pre-frontal cortex where self-regulation occurs Self-regulation predicts academic performance in 1st grade more than cognitive performance A child from at risk family who has self-regulation does better than even middle class child who doesn’t possess these skills No self-regulation…you don’t know if you know something unless the teacher says you do Play and Self-Regulation

10. Marshmallow Experimenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EjjsPyIEOY • Self-regulation involves: • Inhibitory and effortful self-control • Working memory • Cognitive flexibility Self-Regulation

11. Being regulated by another person (to internalize standards). Teacher regulation is not the same as self-regulation and this is apparent when children misbehave out of the view of the teacher. Regulated other people (shows the child is thinking about the rules/standards and applying them). This is often seen in tattling. Self-regulating. This occurs when children voluntarily apply rules to self-not mere obedience. self-regulation Changes the brain

12. INQUIRY INTO ACTION

13. INQUIRY: LISTENING & SEEING • Children’s Interests, Questions, Problems and Theories • PLAY BAGS • Discover six very different aspects of nature. Take a reasonable sample using the tools given you. LOOK CAREFULLY for interesting textures, colors, shapes in the natural world. Place them in the zip lock bags and bring to class next Tuesday.

15. Theory into Practice and Practice Driving Theory Reggio Emilia Approach

16. Historical background • Following WWII • Founder Loris Malaguzzi • Child rich in potential – Citizen with rights • Hundred Languages of Children • Inherent genius of each child • Process of learning – demonstration of learning • Languages – symbols systems to promote understanding • Make learning visible • Not a curriculum • Not a model • The place theory and practice touch like the magic moment when night becomes day

17. The image of the child Children’s relationships and interactions The role of the parent The role of space Principles & Values of Reggio Emilia Approach

18. Atilier - Art Studio

19. Exciting Environments Interactive Areas • Construction - big and small • Dramatic play and movement • Music exploration • Nature explorations • Book area • Mini-atelier: painting, drawing, sculpture, weaving, composition • Message Center Design Elements • Color/ Light/ Transperancy/ Reflection/ Mirrors • Texture/ Nature/ Shapes/ Lines • Continuity between inside and out • Complexity of ideas - Layers/ Different Perspectives • Organization and freedom • Variety of work spaces-heights, levels • Focusd - Nothing by chance • Use of cloth/mobiles to soften

20. Color & Light

21. Construction Areas

22. Teachers and children as partners in learning Curriculum as a process of inviting and sustaining learning The many languages of children Principles & Values

23. City Project Game Board of the City Drawing Explorations Constructing The City of Reggio Emilia Projecting a transperancy of the city on the construction site

24. ExploringComposition Composing Nature Collages on Nature Pictures Steps in a composition Collage with White Things Color compositions with watercolors with inspiration from Kandinsky

25. Art Explorations Paper making center Moving from 2D to 3D

26. Color Explorations

27. The power of documentation • Documentation is listening - listening changes you - courage of doubt • Narrates a learning story • Gives life and value to the learning experience • Reinterpret and re-elaborate on the process • Occurs on many levels • Day-to-day traces: diaries, work, dialogue • Display panels as a memory and history of learning • Valuing process • Uncovers personal meaning, understanding, and learning • Emerge from invisibility • Creates culture Principles and Values

28. The Brain

29. Documentation