Alfie Kohn on the connections between play and learning

At the Coalition of Essential Schools' Fall Forum last week, Alfie Kohn and Deborah Meier conversed with each other and a room full of educators and students about the value and role of play in education. In "How children's 'play' is being sneakily redefined," Alfie shared his remarks from their session with the Washington Post's Answer Sheet.

The piece is well worth a read for all of us who are concerned about not only recess (a huge concern here in Providence and elsewhere) but also the ways the rigidly defined curriculum and schedules that confront our kids in school aren't necessarily creating the best conditions for teaching, learning, and allowing them to develop into their best selves.

Free Minds Free People today and tomorrow - stop by and say hi

Today and tomorrow, I'll be at Free Minds, Free People representing the Coalition of Essential Schools and generally hanging out and enjoying a concentration of positive education energy that's descended on Providence.

Free Minds, Free People is taking place at Providence Career and Technical Academy at 91 Fricker Street. You can register onsite, and if you can't make it, follow what's happening via FMFP's blog and Twitter stream (follow #FMFP2011). I'll be tweeting as @CESNational (with an occasional comment from my personal Twitter account, @dazzlingbetty).

If you're there, stop by CES's table in the gym to say hi. And while you're there, take a minute to learn about CES and Fall Forum, our fabulous, powerful annual conference which will be happening this year in Providence, November 10-12.

Free Minds Free People conference - July 7-10, right here in Providence!

Providence Schools and Beyond readers should check out the upcoming Free Minds Free People conference, which is happening in Providence, July 7-10. The conference is designed as a highly interactive way to bring together young people, educators, family and community members, and others to share ideas about how to create meaning and value in education.

As a parent, I am really looking forward to learning ways to be involved with my kids' schools and school system in ways that help them and all kids in Providence develop habits of mind and heart, and solid academic skills, that will carry them through all of the learning they'll do in their lives. And I'm bringing them, because the conference offers sessions for kids and childcare (yay!).

I'll also be there representing the Coalition of Essential Schools, making connections between what we're doing, especially our Fall Forum in November (also in Providence!) and the energy of the networks that Free Minds Free People is bringing together. I'm excited.

Early Bird discounts for Free Minds Free People end on June 1 so register today!