Literacy Playshop Approach

The Literacy Playshop Approach, according the Karen Wohlwend, is "based on teacher's expertise and teacher's responsive mediation: the Literacy Playshop focuses on filmmaking and transmedia." (Wolhwend, P. 6)

Literacy playshop should focus on diversity and development, which will then in turn integrates children's rich cultural "repertoires" along with technology and family literacies according to Wolhwend.

My thoughts on Literacy Playshop, is that I believe this a very interesting and cool idea for children. I feel that this makes learning fun, and allows the children to express themselves in a way they may not have had before. The idea of a child creating a story, is rich and full of possibilities. Children have such great imaginations, and will only allow the child to further develop those skills. Having the focus around children's pop culture ideologies and what they find interesting, is also something I think that can really make this experience for both the teacher and student worthwhile. Having the child's interest is the main focus, because if not, the child may not want to take part in the playshop. I am looking forward to completing my playshop in the field, and am interested to see what pop culture ideas the children are interested in and what story they will come up with.

Poem!

For this blog, we are asked to write a poem centered around the topic of having a classroom without tables and chairs! How fun!

Here is mine:

Ring around the Rosie

Children sing and dance

They play and run around

and laugh whenever they get the chance

Tables and chairs,

They make so much clutter!

A pocket full of posies

Making childrens' hearts flutter

Ashes, ashes, they all fall down!



For this poem I incorporated Ring Around the Rosie song, because I envisioned children having plenty of room to run around and play. I feel like it is important to have a room designed that allows children to have plenty of space and to feel comfortable. This poem was a free flow of my thoughts.

I would imagine that the message in a classroom without tables in chairs, would be an environment that is physically free for the children to move around and play. The children can always sit on pillows, but the emphasis in the classroom would be more centered around arts than academics. I believe a classroom like this would not have as many worksheets, but more arts, music, and approaches that allow children to move freely in the classroom.

- Katie