Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/making-connections-between-imaginary-play-and-deep-learning-using-teacher-research-in-our-practice/5026930/
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Bridging Research and Practice features varied aspects of research related to early childhood education with a reference to previously published research. Each article contains practical strategies for putting the research into action for teachers, administrators, and teacher educators.
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As educators, our craft challenges us to design dynamic and enduring learning experiences, and environments that heighten children’s curiosities and spark shared memories. Really great teachers have this talent. One such teacher is Susanne Kenworthy. A pre-K teacher for many years at Pinnacle, Kenworthy first introduced the idea of “Notty the Elf” within her pre-K classroom. She explained, “We want to create environments that encourage writing—where writing is made meaningful and purposeful.”
She added, “We were not sure the children would believe, that it would go anywhere. We risked looking foolish.” But as they so often do, the children surprised the adults.
“Children are always talking about him and making things for him. Year after year, regardless of the composition of personalities in the classroom, children connect to the elf.”
Today, Notty has become a school-wide phenomenon. After all, we could not contain the magic to ...