On Friday we had a student free day to complete 'Play is the Way' training. I was blown away at the presenter - Wilson McCaskill. He was absolutely amazing. He had so much energy and kept the entire room of teaching staff awake all day!
Play is the Way is all about teaching social and emotional learning through co-operative guided games and using appropriate language choices to encourage children to think about the behaviour choices they are making.
Working in a low SES school, I have seen how children have difficulties managing their behaviour and using 'self-calming' techniques. Our school has decided to implement this program next term - and hopefully over the next year we start seeing results in how students deal with different situations - and realise that anger isn't always necessary!
Something Wilson talked to us about was how children are given praise for everything! He encouraged us to stop and think about why we are giving the praise out. I don't know how I feel about this as I am a HUGE believer in providing positive praise and feedback when children (especially my little ones!) do something right. He encouraged us as teachers to use the word "BECAUSE" after giving praise - e.g. it's easy enough to say to a child "WOW that's fantastic!" but to stop and tell them why is the valuable part - "WOW that's fantastic because you wrote those letters all by yourself without help!" I feel I can justify any praise I give though! Hehe "That's amazing because you couldn't do that yesterday!" "You are SO clever because you have learned all your letter sounds this week!" I see how my little loves respond so well, why not give them praise! A lot of them wouldn't get much at home!
More information on Play is the Way is on the website: https://playistheway.com.au/
I am very excited to start this program over the next year, and I hope my class and I get a lot out of it. I love giving kids the best start with their schooling, and if this is one way to do that I'm all for it!
Bye for now!
