(this photographic belongs to my personal archive)

Satomi Izumi-Taylor, University of Memphis
Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson, Göteborg University
Cosby Steele Rogers, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Introduction

“Research regarding play is complex, and culture is a key factor in determining how people in different nations view play. People with different cultural backgrounds tend to pay attention to different characteristics of the same phenomena (Azuma, 1986); because teachers’ perspectives on play are influenced by their own cultures, these perspectives vary widely. Teachers’ perceptions of play affect children’s experiences in their classrooms. Thus, we felt, as scholars doing research in Japan, Sweden, and the United States, that comparing teachers’ perceptions of play in those countries could provide insights that might expand the discourse about play in those countries and internationally. We also felt that our findings could prove useful to those who wish to design effective early childhood education programs.

We anticipate that our research on perspectives on play expressed by American, Japanese, and Swedish early childhood educators can provide a basis for reflection and understanding among the educators in these nations who, in spite of cultural differences, all recognize play as essential in children’s development and learning (Izumi-Taylor, Rogers, & Pramling Samuelsson, 2007).”

…continue reading this article titled Perspectives of Play in Three Nations: A Comparative Study in Japan, the United States, and Sweden via the Early Childhood Research and Practice website

Currently: Santa Monica, CA

Introduction: “The theses represented in this exhibition have been guiding principles in a coherent and tranformational history of experien- ce which, already at the time of the first showing of The Hundred Languages of Children exhibition in 1981, characterised experience in Reggio infant-toddler centres and preschools.

These theses are mindful of the many events causing vast transformations in culture and society, in economics and politics, in Reggio Emilia, in Italy, in the world. These theses are sensitive to guidelines in national curriculum. Above all else however, they are capable of guiding our choices for humanity, for liberty, for democracy.”

The exhibition The Wonder of Learning “presents a narrative and communicative structure designed to reflect the contemporaneity, the complexity, and the plurality of points of view that have always characterized the work carried out in the infant-toddler centres and preschools of Reggio Emilia“

Building, Designing, Exploring, Imagining, Teaching, Thinking

“A cheerleader of possibility, Public Workshop is dedicated to helping individuals, schools and communities achieve great things through design. We create projects, tools and events that help people positively change the places they live, work and play.”

“Leah Dieterich’s mother always told her to write thank you notes. So she does. To everything. thxthxthx is her daily exercise in gratitude.”

via seven25

…original stories for kids, read by kids. 50 added every month. Submit yours!

Do you ever video tape your children during a storytelling session? After watching a handful of Smories, I am inspired to make the recording of storytelling (and dramatic play) common practice for Urban Preschool – to enhance story development, prop making, play writing, puppet shows and full on books!

via e-glue