In my latest podcast episode, I interview Jed Dearybury. He’s a deep thinker and a creative spirit. As the co-author of The Playful Classroom, Jed advocates for integrating play into every aspect of school; from curriculum and instruction to assessment to the classroom culture to the way we approach behavior. This is one of my favorite educational books that I’ve read. I love the way it expands on the definition of play and how it distinguishes between play as a mindset and play as a behavior. I especially loved the types of play and the test in the book about your playful approach. This book was actually highly relevant to the secondary and higher education levels. I had the opportunity to attend a session that Jed led at a conference a few years back and it was practical and relevant but also hands-on and fun. You can find some of his professional development options here.
Listen to the Podcast
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About Jed Dearybury
Jed Dearybury began his education career in 2001. During his 13 year early childhood classroom tenure, Jed received numerous awards. He was featured in GQ Magazine as Male Leader of the Year, met President Obama as the SC winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and was named as a top 5 finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year because of his passion, love, and success in education. Since 2015, he has become an educational leader by providing quality, hands-on, engaging learning experiences for students and teachers across the country.
Check Out The Playful Classroom
Research studies show that all students―young and old, rich and poor, urban and rural―benefit immensely from classrooms filled with art, creativity, and laughter. Fun, playfulness, creative thinking, and individual expression reinforce positive experiences, which in turn lead to more engaged students, better classroom environments, and successful learning outcomes. Designed for K-12 educators, The Playful Classroom describes how teachers can develop a playful mindset for giving students meaningful, relevant and fun learning experiences. This unique real-world guide provides you with everything you need to incorporate engaging, hands-on lessons and creative activities, regardless of the level and subject you teach.
Building on contemporary and seminal works on learning theory and play pedagogy, the authors explain how to inspire your students by bringing play. into your classroom. This clear, user-friendly guide supplies practical strategies and effective solutions for adding the missing ingredients to your classroom culture. Access to the authors’ companion website provides videos, learning experiences, and downloadable teaching and learning resources. Packed with relatable humor, proven methods, and valuable insights, this book enables you to:
- Provide meaningful experiences that will benefit students both in school and later in life
- Combine the principles of PLAY with traditional curricula to encourage creative learning
- Promote trust, collaboration, and growth in students
- Develop a playful mindset for bringing the arts into every lesson
- Foster critical thinking in any school community
The Playful Classroom: The Power of Play for All Ages is a must-have resource for K-12 educators, higher education professionals, and readers looking for education-based professional development and training resources. You can find it here.
