Purposeful Play: A Teacher’s Guide to Igniting Deep and Joyful Learning Across the Day

by Alison Porcelli, Alison Porcelli, Cheryl Tyler

Play is serious business. Whether it's reenacting a favorite book (comprehension and close reading), negotiating the rules for a game (speaking and listening), or collaborating over building blocks (college and career readiness and STEM), Kristi Mraz, Alison Porcelli, and Cheryl Tyler see every day how play helps students reach standards and goals in ways that in-their-seat instruction alone can't do. And not just during playtimes. "We believe there is play in work and work in play," they write. "It helps to have practical ways to carry that mindset into all aspects of the curriculum." In Purposeful Play , they share ways "We believe that play is one type of environment where children can be rigorous in their learning," Kristi, Alison, and Cheryl write. So they provide a host of lessons, suggestions for classroom setups, helpful tools and charts, curriculum connections, teaching points, and teaching language to help you foster mature play that makes every moment in your classroom instructional. Play doesn't only happen when work is over. Children show us time and time again that play is the way they work. In Purposeful Play, you'll find research-driven methods for making play an engine for rigorous learning in your classroom.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, School, Nonfiction, Adult

184 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2016

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book discusses the research behind why we should add play into our classrooms and HOW you can do that with a few little (and some BIG changes). Play is not only fun, but also is the vehicle for critical thinking in the classroom.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purposeful Play is an excellent resource for anyone working with young children. The chapter on Social and Emotional Skills was incredible, with clear and concrete strategies to teach children self-regulation.

[Jami McGinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad that the education world is recognizing the importance of play again. I've included it in my classroom for years and the engagement, creativity and intrinsic motivation of children amazes me!!

[Rachael Caskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that this book included examples from actual classrooms. However, many of the examples focus on classrooms that have the ability to walk to places to do inquiry studies, complete social justice projects, etc. This is not reality for the school I work in so it would have been helpful to have examples from a rural area. There were so many good sections of information including 6 stages of play, ideas for center play inside and outside, creating charts, setting goals with students, meeting standards with inquiry based learning, and so much more. I do think this book needs to be updated as it has some good resources but many old resources that refer to outdated practices for teaching reading.

[Ellen Riggenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book useful, but I set it aside, because I was not convinced it was relatable to me when I was an upper grades teacher. I recently picked it back up as a prek teacher and learned or relearned that play serves all levels of learning and is essential. It is the heart of inquiry and what I miss about teaching in an inquiry school. This book taught me that play and inquiry are in my hands to include in my teaching. I will now reread parts to think specifically about plans in my current role as a prek teacher.

[Yulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a preschool or kindergarten teacher. This was given to me by our administration as part of reggio implementation at our elementary schools. I teach Art and didn't find it as some other literature on Reggio Ateliers. Some great tidbits in there to try a more playful vibe in any type of setting.

[Selina Festus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book! It really gives you authentic strategies on how to include more play into learning and the school day. It provides lots of research-based ideas and prompts for thinking. I really loved the last two chapters on how to incorporate more inquiry based learning with play into classrooms. Play is not work! Work is play!!!

[Cassie MacPhail · Rating 4 out of 5]

My school’s improvement plan involves implementing purposeful play, and this book really helped me understand how to do so effectively. I especially appreciate the ideas for mini lessons to support the social-emotional competencies we want to help our students develop. It was a very easy read and I came away with a lot of ideas that I can put in place in my classroom immediately.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purposeful Play is a MUST READ for elementary teachers and teacher leaders. Research is presented in easy to read. Practical ideas for implementing play throughout the day. I recommend this for anyone working with children in grades K-3.

[Christin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book on play is a must-read for every teacher. It is an easy read and taught me so much. I learned about the four kinds of play that kids to experience, how to use play to connect with kids, how to set the stage for learning in play, and why play is so important for us all.

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book about how we can incorporate play in all we do in the classroom, even beyond the early years. This is a must read for EY-Grade 1/Grade 2 teachers. How can we focus more on purposeful play and what can we learn about our students in the process. Amazing!

[Kristen Iworsky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Play is absolutely important but I didn’t feel as though I got much out of this book. Then, after seeing shout outs to Marie Clay and Lucy Calkins I had to be generous to give two stars. Please never seek out their methods of “teaching” reading.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to the world of teacher books. Reimagines play in 21st Century classrooms - an element missing for far too long!

[Sally Zeinemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reminder about including play in all parts of learning.

[Victoria Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the best teaching book I've read. This is a must read for all elementary teachers!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valuable information that will help in my transition to extended day kindergarten!

[Jenny Kronk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! As a kindergarten teacher it is a must read! We need more purposeful play classrooms in our classroom!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good ideas presented to integrate play in the classroom.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking as I consider play within my first grade classroom. I really liked the easy to implement side of it.

[Erika Monaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good ideas to put into practice and ideas for different types of play.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars I think the topic is important, but I struggled to finish the book. Maybe I wasn't the audience they had in mind.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of great ideas to get started; good for doing an overhaul mental shift into a play mindset, however I wish there were more specific strategies for implementing play

[Cassandra Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with lots of entry points to discuss the importance of play in classrooms: including theory, practice, and managing play in the classroom.

[Stephanie Borges Folarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

We pride ourselves in this at my school. Excellent book.

[Erin Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, amazing, amazing!!! Everyone who is ever around children (teachers, parents, caregivers, the lady at the park who told her daughter she couldn't climb up the slide, etc.) should read this book!!! Wish it existed twenty years ago.

[Kristin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! All of this!!
I've read it before, but read it this time as part of a book study with other early childhood educators.

[Mandy Robek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snook with with guidance, support, and research for valuing play and student inquiry. The closing paragraph will stay with you a long time and motivate you.

[Laura Schubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors echoed my own beliefs on the value and importance of play and offered many useful strategies and opportunities for increasing student engagement and ownership of learning through play.

[Liz Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring. I hope the concepts in this book will be supported at our school!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best education books I've read lately.