How Play-Based Learning Enhances Access for All Students
How Play-Based Learning Enhances Access for All Students
How Play-Based Learning Enhances Access for All Students
Summary
For too many years play has been removed from the early elementary grades where it's most essential for children's growth and learning.
In her session, Bringing Joy and Access to Our Most Vulnerable Students, CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey talked with teachers about the power of play and how it can enhance access to the curriculum for students with 504 plans and IEPs.
DeLancey opened her session by asking participants to reflect on how they would define the words play and rigor.
"Somewhere along the way, people in charge of education decided that play and rigor were not the same thing," she said.
"Lots of times in elementary classrooms when kids finish their math work they'll read. I said, 'No, we're mathing.'" The math stations started as a free play activity for students and DeLancey added more guidance to their play over time.
"Sometimes we feel pressured because we have so much curriculum to cover, but there are ways to do it through play more organically," DeLancey said.
By giving her students more opportunities to play, DeLancey found that children with IEPs were more successful because they could access learning through play more easily and also felt safer.
Reference
How play-based learning enhances access for all students. (2024). https://cea.org/how-play-based-learning-enhances-access-for-all-students/