Education and Early Childhood Development
October 10, 2017
Provincial Government is Providing Opportunities for Play-Based Learning in Primary Grades
The Provincial Government, the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District and the Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador are collaborating to provide professional learning opportunities on play-based learning for grade one teachers province-wide.
Grade one classes will receive play-based learning resources to support greater play-focused education in the classroom. Teachers will be provided with professional resources: ‘Primarily Play’ and ‘Common Understandings for Play-Based Learning’.
During the 2017-18 school year, more than 440 teachers and administrators will receive professional learning including:
- Approximately 80 new Full Day Kindergarten teachers; two days for a total of 160 days, and
- Approximately 360 grade one teachers; two days for a total of 720 days.
During the 2016-17 school year, The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development provided $700,000 for online professional learning modules designed for all grade one teachers, including combined grades and multi-grade settings.
Quotes
“Play-based learning is about recognizing and capitalizing on children’s natural curiosity for learning in order to help them acquire knowledge and skills. It is through play that children develop self-control and better inter-personal skills, learn to problem-solve, negotiate conflicts, and think more independently. Play-based learning has a direct impact on the primary grades as the first group of full-day kindergarten children enter grade one. We want to ensure that all children are engaged, motivated, and eager to learn.”
Honourable Dale Kirby
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
“The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District is pleased to collaborate with our educational partners to offer professional learning in play-based learning for grade one teachers. These sessions will enhance the professional skills of our teachers while providing our students immense benefits as they experience play-based learning in their primary education.”
Tony Stack
CEO/Director of Education (Interim)
Newfoundland and Labrador English School District
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Learn More
Play-based learning: www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/earlychildhood/power.html
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Media contacts
Debbie Marnell
Education and Early Childhood Development
709-729-1906, 699-9048
debbiemarnell@gov.nl.ca
Ken Morrissey
Newfoundland and Labrador English School District
709-758-2371, 730-0798
kenmorrissey@nlesd.ca
2017 10 10 12:30 p.m.