Play 'n Write

 “Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” 

Joseph Chilton Pearce

With only a few more days of school left, I've been looking for some fun, relaxing writing ideas. My latest brain wave is called "Play 'n Write".  It's so simple that it makes me wonder why I never thought of it before?!?

We've been starting off our mornings with playtime. The kids are allowed to choose any activity they wish (painting, crafts, play-doh, puzzles, building, computer, etc.)  This centre time is very open-ended. I don't assign stations or limit the number of people at an activity. My thinking is they can figure it out for themselves (mostly :).

After playing for about 30 minutes the kids and I gathered on the carpet and talked about what they did. I put some words on the board for them and gave them their journals. Everyone wrote about what they did during centres.

It was fabulous! All the kids were engaged, everyone had something to say, and most of them wrote more than they usually do.

I'm definitely doing this next year ... and I won't be waiting until the end of the year either.