tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post5368127105831284653..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: The Work EthicTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-62478416560065454362016-12-16T09:10:36.716-08:002016-12-16T09:10:36.716-08:00The value of play is beyond quesiton - except for ...The value of play is beyond quesiton - except for the kind of people who DON'T respect play. We at least need to prepare young people to work with, and for, old school teachers, bosses and authorities. <br /><br />Try to see beyond the practicalities and take esprit de corps into account. We DO need certain organizations - such as the military - whose culture is toxic on some level, but that members must fully buy into. pwlsaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15301642133484044429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-64191804881597183202012-02-25T05:42:27.711-08:002012-02-25T05:42:27.711-08:00Yes Michelle it is all play--pure and simple. I wa...Yes Michelle it is all play--pure and simple. I was referring more to what Jessica said. It's not so much fun as deep engagement that children are often experiencing in play--the "flow." They really work hard during play.Judi Packnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-15054444216363360642012-02-21T22:55:49.434-08:002012-02-21T22:55:49.434-08:00I agree with you when you say
"I assure you...I agree with you when you say <br /><br />"I assure you that without the hard work, without the challenge, if this were to somehow become turnkey or rote, I would be miserable, even if my "superiors" offered me higher pay, even if they threatened to punish me."<br /><br />I had one of those preschool teaching jobs, and it was terrible. The children were fantastic, but my co-teacher (although a very nice woman) was all rote. It was very difficult and even though it was before I became an educated educator I knew I could not stay there. I made had higher wages to start in that program than I will ever make in my current position even if I stay for 40 years. It was NOT worth it. I get to play every day at work. And it is hard work. I am tired every day when I come home, but I am inspired every day to go back, and continue to learn with the children and adults around me. Thanks for the hard work, Teacher Tom!Chantelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01526174637310382715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-38667586801038928272012-02-21T09:47:58.928-08:002012-02-21T09:47:58.928-08:00Maybe there is some intrinsic value in doing chore...Maybe there is some intrinsic value in doing chores. I've found that organization and rhythm in the home relates to organization and rhythm in my mind. I learned that the Free School (Democratic School) in Portland once went a couple weeks without cleaning (the students all voted, as they do with all aspects of their education). After a few days, a few children found it difficult to concentrate. After a couple weeks they had all found that they couldn't locate tools and materials, that they didn't feel comfortable, that they felt scattered in the mind. They ended up taking a VERY long time to clean the school. That is how they figured out that it is better to take 30 minutes a day or less, for many reasons.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13440810033834225227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-8397766412344968742012-02-21T08:44:35.913-08:002012-02-21T08:44:35.913-08:00Fabulous! "If all I'd had to do at school...Fabulous! "If all I'd had to do at school was play, I would have loved school." This should be your new slogan!<br />My 2 1/2 does not know her letters but she plays memory and candy land every day with a passion. When she discovers letters to be a game, she will learn them in a span of 24 hours.Montanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14153925670108458742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-90942828751318277052012-02-20T11:58:18.520-08:002012-02-20T11:58:18.520-08:00Good stuff. As someone who teaches at the college ...Good stuff. As someone who teaches at the college level and has a child in a wonderful pre-school, I've been thinking about how I can better make my own teaching based on play. Keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-16374171686349317112012-02-20T08:33:21.280-08:002012-02-20T08:33:21.280-08:00Im so glad i read this!!!! I completely whole hear...Im so glad i read this!!!! I completely whole heartedly agree¡!!!!!¡!angienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-83231349931119829242012-02-20T08:12:49.173-08:002012-02-20T08:12:49.173-08:00Thank you for that Aunt Annie . . . Folding laundr...Thank you for that Aunt Annie . . . Folding laundry, like making beds, is a rote chore that, for me, has no intrinsic value beyond tidiness. After a few go rounds, most kids get that and are ready to move on. In my family the laundry tends to remain piled atop the dryer and beds only get made when we have company coming over and we're too "ashamed" to let them see how we really live. =)<br /><br />I've heard some people say that they enjoy rote chores, but I'm not one of them. I only do them myself when absolutely necessary, so I can hardly expect my child to be eager about them. She has the rest of her life to be an adult and be occasionally motivated by shame. In the meantime her room is a stereotypical teenager room, she has friends over all the time and it doesn't seem to bother her at all. Most days I think she's better off than me.Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-4697535988123522672012-02-19T21:00:17.818-08:002012-02-19T21:00:17.818-08:00Can't resist suggesting to Marcy that she chal...Can't resist suggesting to Marcy that she challenge her children to suggest ways to make laundry tasks more fun. She might be surprised with what they come up with, including perhaps some challenges to her assumption that folding the laundry is even necessary or important compared to other things that could be happening...Aunt Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799746597313773030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-56391167457853788112012-02-18T18:19:40.679-08:002012-02-18T18:19:40.679-08:00I would venture that "when it gets challengin...I would venture that "when it gets challenging it's no longer fun" might be about the things that are too far beyond the current skill or developmental level -- there's "challenging enough" and there's "too challenging," and there's scaffolding for helping kids meet a new challenge just beyond their independent grasp.<br /><br />What I want to know, though, is whether -- and how -- I should / could rethink chores at home... I really do want A to help me fold the laundry and whatever other chores we've got that are within her ability... and I don't want to go the route of making it an entertainment every time nor do I want to threaten and prod every time... there "should" be some intrinsic value in a chore done well in the company of a loved one, and I'm not quite sure how to get there.Marcyhttp://prochaskas.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-43798549393995648942012-02-18T17:56:57.378-08:002012-02-18T17:56:57.378-08:00I would argue that when the kids are really workin...I would argue that when the kids are really working, or "playing", they are not having fun. They are not <i>not</i> having fun either. They are not aware of how they are feeling about the activity at all because they are so deeply engaged in DOING it. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi would call that being in "flow" and you won't see much of that deep engagement in the factory based model.<br /><br />Thank you for a thorough and strong post!Teacher Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15337579493179702493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-68551042922686983882012-02-18T15:05:49.890-08:002012-02-18T15:05:49.890-08:00Rock on, Tom. Agree whole heartedly. Gotta play it...Rock on, Tom. Agree whole heartedly. Gotta play it forward.Jeanne Zuechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-26873291075858557152012-02-18T13:27:36.482-08:002012-02-18T13:27:36.482-08:00AWESOME Rachel! I didn't know that about the ...AWESOME Rachel! I didn't know that about the Roman word "ludus!" VERY cool.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13440810033834225227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-38821741122346257422012-02-18T13:18:11.479-08:002012-02-18T13:18:11.479-08:00Don't forget that the Roman word for "sch...Don't forget that the Roman word for "school" ("ludus") is also the word for "game" or "play". <br /><br />Teaching students through play is an ancient method--we forget that thanks to the factory model that was introduced thanks to the industrial revolution in America. But the Romans and teachers throughout the centuries understood that great classrooms are not silent and unfun.Rachel Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12738930921358536790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-35510979372611366552012-02-18T13:17:24.039-08:002012-02-18T13:17:24.039-08:00Dude - you're so right on! The kids here learn...Dude - you're so right on! The kids here learning to tie their laces are no strangers to hard work. They persevere, they get help from peers, they try out new methods, they take pride when successful - just like me and my adult friends when we're tackling a project at "work".Kaihttp://www.birdsnestchildcare.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-35809561692391816782012-02-18T13:14:24.997-08:002012-02-18T13:14:24.997-08:00So very true. I spent the last week exploring the ...So very true. I spent the last week exploring the space program and Apollo missions with my physics classes and I think you would appreciate President Kennedy's speech at Rice University, in reference to going to the moon, when he said "We choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard..." Anyway, I think what you're saying applies to all grades, it's just the type of play that changes with age.Abbiehttp://farmersdaughterct.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-79956334240477600942012-02-18T12:40:51.458-08:002012-02-18T12:40:51.458-08:00PS. Judi- it sounds like solving a mystery, or a ...PS. Judi- it sounds like solving a mystery, or a problem, or going on an adventure, or what artists or scientists do... all of it, sounds like play to me! I wonder if it's that we have so many ideas about play as far as what it is and how many different types of play there are ("free" "unstructured" "intentional" "directed" etc.). I'm learning about playful inquiry, and states of relaxed alertness, and terms like these, as being all aspects of play. No wonder there are so many books out there now deconstructing just the one word, "play!"Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13440810033834225227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-1594050937272035232012-02-18T11:54:42.214-08:002012-02-18T11:54:42.214-08:00SO well said. So right on. SO insightful. I can...SO well said. So right on. SO insightful. I can't wait to share it. <br /> I play as well, all day when I can. And playing with others, collaboratively, is a big challenge every day -because all of us have a drive to be better than the sum of our parts. Collaboration and relationships are rewarding and fun and playful. They are also challenging. Often conflicts arise that give us all sorts of opportunities to learn some skills and strategies -and come to solutions and ideas that are far better than what one alone finds. <br /> Not only have these playful days been personally building my own strength and confidence, and giving me energy (tiring as growing pains can be); but have been character building in innumerable other ways, as well as skill building, and inspiring in my own arts and sciences during my less predesigned or premeditated times of the day.<br /> Whoa! Thank you!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13440810033834225227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-24531653439226337752012-02-18T11:41:25.804-08:002012-02-18T11:41:25.804-08:00Love this post, thanks.
Of course children have f...Love this post, thanks. <br />Of course children have fun during play but, in my experience, children are most interested in solving a mystery or a problem and experiencing adventure. Sounds to me like what scientists and artists do!Judi Packnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-38591129869031753002012-02-18T11:25:03.934-08:002012-02-18T11:25:03.934-08:00My thoughts exactly, Teacher Tom - formed over 18 ...My thoughts exactly, Teacher Tom - formed over 18 years of being a teacher, a children's librarian, and a parent. Thanks for a great post.gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15284882490243903536noreply@blogger.com