THE PLAY’S THE THING: TEACHERS’ ROLES IN CHILDREN’S PLAY

BUT WHAT DO I DO WHILE THEY’RE PLAYING?

TEACHER AS OBSERVER
- paying attention
- observing
- recording play by various means

TEACHER AS STAGE MANAGER
- making the play possible
- setting the physical environment
- creating order out of disorder
- providing props
- providing enough time

TEACHER AS MEDIATOR
- teaching conflict-resolution skills
- focusing on the content of the play rather than rule violation
- complicating play
- problem solving to sustain play

TEACHER AS PLAYER
- moving in and out of the play
- taking on various roles
- lending some expertise

TEACHER AS SCRIBE
- writing down their stories
- representing their play using various means
- sharing the representations
- modeling writing and drawing

TEACHER AS ASSESSOR AND COMMUNICATOR
- assessment as part of planning
- communicating to other adults and parents and children
- demonstrating accountability

TEACHER AS PLANNER


Source: B.Jones, & G. Reynolds, Teachers College Press 1992