Inquiring through Playful Literacy (Pre-K to Year 2) by Dr Jo Fahey

Description

Educators, generally, feel the pressure from many sources to get children reading and writing earlier than they used to and in more formal ways. However, we know that one of the fundamental principles in early childhood pedagogy is the importance of play in children’s learning and development.

For children to fully engage, literacy needs to be playful.  When children are young, we as educators can build on their natural curiosity and desire to make marks, symbols and other graphical representations to convey their ideas and feelings.  When we intentionally provide the provocations and the tools, we are often amazed at the depth of thinking and knowledge that children of all ages show us. As educators, we have the power to bringing stories to life in the classroom!

This workshop will build a sense of just some of the ways that young children inquire. Jo will share strategies about how the classroom can be alive with browsing, viewing and reading as well as expressive ways children can show new knowledge and ideas such as play-acting, illustrating, writing, puppetry and drama. Examples will be showcased of children acting out stories they have heard and making up their own play narratives. As part of this workshop, Jo will highlight strategies that tap into children’s natural story-telling and story-acting abilities and foster a love of writing and illustrating, including examples from real classrooms of a book-making approach that supports children’s view of themselves as authors and illustrators.

If we want children to engage in literacy in natural, authentic ways — in their play and inquiry—  we can learn more by sharing our ideas and experiences in this interactive, inspiring workshop.  Please bring along some examples of playful literacy!

Jo will be presenting two workshops for AISWA while in Perth, and educators can elect to attend either one or both of these. This session builds on the ideas presented in Jo’s workshop, Ways to Learn Through Inquiry: Children as Researchers (PK-2), which will be held the previous day. However, attendance at the previous day is not a pre-requisite for participation in ‘Inquiring through Playful Literacy’. Educators who wish to attend both days must register for each workshop separately. 

This workshop makes connections with several chapters of Dr Fahey’s book, ‘Ways to Learn through Inquiry: Guiding Children to Deeper Understanding’. All attendees will receive a copy the book.