Teaching v Play...
Does all the research into effective Early Years pedagogy leave you a bit confused? Some of the new ideas coming out are great - but what about the old way of doing things? The educational establishment seems unable to agree on what's best for the child - Teaching or play? Control or laissez-faire? Phonics or fantasy? If you're feeling a little confused by the whole thing, you're probably not alone!
Never fear, help is at hand! We're delighted to present 'Whose side are you on?' an article by leading teaching expert and consultant, Ruth Merttens, to help you get to grips with some the issues. Ruth is the brains behind our brilliant new resource Abacus Evolve Foundation|for the Early Years,out at the end of June. View sample pages |online.
Whose Side Are you On?
Ruth Merttens
Early Years education, more than any other sector, is, to misquote Larkin, riven by doubt and duality. 'Teaching' versus 'play', 'control' or 'laissez-faire', 'phonics' or 'fantasy' – these are the emblems and flags of the different camps in our polarised and divided educational establishment.
Small wonder, then, that many teachers are confused and bemused. 'Whose side are you on? - Stand-up-and-be-counted' bellow those in authority, from either side of the debate. But suppose we at the chalk face are on both sides? Suppose we want to teach children to count after playtime and to fantasize with them about dinosaurs in a swamp first thing in the morning. Or to chant nursery rhymes before lunch and to create a stickle-brick goblin castle after lunch. Does this indicate a schizophrenic teacher or simply a muddled pedagogy?
Download a PDF of the full article||...