Lesson planning in a child-led program looks a lot different than it does in a teacher-led program. It can be an intimidating and confusing change to make. Join me as I walk you through 4 key elements that have helped make my lesson planning a simple and reflective process.  Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

This week's episode is a follow-up to episode 4, Get Outside, where we learned the benefits of outdoor play. In Episode 6, Kristy DeGraaf is going to teach us the basics of designing our outdoor spaces in order to help us maximize those benefits. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

In today's episode I talk with Simon Airey about neurodivergence and how it might affect play in an early childhood classroom. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast

Join me as I chat with Christi Warr of Dirt Learning about the importance of getting children outside. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

When parents have high expectations for academic learning in preschool, some of the blame falls on us as educators. If they believe that academic skills taught in a traditional "school way" are what is most important, it's because we have failed to communicate otherwise. Our job is not simply to teach children, it is to educate parents on what effective, developmentally appropriate learning looks like during the preschool years. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/

Play and academics are perfect companions! In this episode we’ll discuss some of the friction between play advocates and play skeptics and how they can come together to ensure that children are receiving academic instruction in developmentally appropriate ways.  I explain the concept of “back door learning” and why it is such an effective way for children to learn new skills without resorting to the drills that have become so common in preschool programs. Show Notes https://playbeforepencils.com/episode-2-what-about-academics/

In the inaugural episode of the Play Before Pencils podcast we will take a bird’s eye view of play and why it is so critical during the early childhood years. We will explore 3 ways that early childhood educators can increase their understanding of play and advocate for it with parents and fellow professionals.  Show Notes

Welcome to Play Before Pencils, where we shift the focus from preparing for kindergarten to mastering preschool!