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So glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for engaging! #EduSkyChat

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That’s amazing! Keep doing the good work. Cheering you on! 🎉🎉🎉 #EduSkyChat

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But…will they think it’s too elementary? Or is it just a switch in mindset? The benefits of play are huge and just might be worth a little discomfort and struggle. #EduSkyChat

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It does look different for older learners. The way they engage with tools, strategies, or each other shifts as they grow. Many aren’t used to being invited to play in typical learning environments, so it can take time to feel safe enough to lean in. #EduSkyChat

Thank you for joining #EduSkyChat. ❤️ Be sure to follow everyone in the chat and join us next week!

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Reconnecting Adults With Playful Learning

A3: Play lives in our team chats: dropping GIFs, celebrating tiny wins, or just LOL-ing. It keeps things light when the work feels heavy. Those moments remind me that delight has a place in serious work, too. One last resource from Edutopia! www.edutopia.org/blog/changem... #EduSkyChat

edutopia.org

Creativity and self-expression are the keys to helping adults understand how playful learning can enrich the experience of the children in their world.

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A2: Yes...so much of this! Unstructured doesn’t mean unintentional. But when we’re used to controlling outcomes, it can feel unsettling to loosen the grip. Play asks us to trust the process, and that can be hard when stakes feel high. #EduSkyChat

Heather Turner @techielibgrl.com · 23/04/2025

Q3: Where does play live in your learning life these days? What would it take to invite it back in? Don’t forget the #EduSkyChat hashtag!

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Reposted by Mel Ching

#EduSkyChat - A1: Play is key. If we are playing we do not even realize we are learning. It just seems to come more easily. It is like learning and engagement come together in a beautiful harmony. When play is involved there are so many opportunities to grow in ways we do not even realize.

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The Creativity Post | Play Matters: Six Play-Full Practices For…

A2: Play feels risky because we’ve been taught that real learning should look serious and measurable. But joy, creativity, and vigor can and do live in playful spaces. Here's an article in The Creative Post on integrating play in higher ed! www.creativitypost.com/article/beca... #EduSkyChat

creativitypost.com

Some topics get a lot of airtime in education. The value of play for children’s well-being and intellectual development is one such topic that has many educators talking. There is ample research to…

Q2: Why does play feel risky in older learning spaces? What stories or pressures are getting in the way? Don’t forget the #EduSkyChat hashtag!

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Yes! When play is an integral part of the learning, so many pathways open up! #EduSkyChat

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cms.learningthroughplay.com

A1: Play is a way of moving through the world. It shows up when we feel safe to follow our curiosity, ask wild questions, or try without knowing the outcome. It's magic! Here's a white paper by the LEGO Foundation on Learning Through Play. cms.learningthroughplay.com/media/wmtlmb... #EduSkyChat

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Q1: How might play be welcomed not as a tool, but as a way of being for learners to explore, question, and stay open to possibilities? Don’t forget the #EduSkyChat hashtag!

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Hello #EduSkyChat, friends! My name is Mel, & I'm the Global Knowledge Curator at @WhatSchoolCouldBe. Although I'm not in an elementary school setting anymore, my ❤️ is still with the littles, where I worked for over 20 years. Play was a HUGE part of learning there (as it should be in all spaces!).

How to participate in #EduSkyChat: ✅ Use the #EduSkyChat hashtag in all posts & replies 🚫 Do not use OTHER hashtags when in the chat ✅ Look for the Q1, Q2, Q3 from the moderator ✅ Start a new post and respond with A1, A2, A3

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Welcome to #EduSkyChat! 👋 Tonight’s topic is "The Importance of Play for All Learners" 🛝 with ME as your moderator. Please introduce yourself by sharing your name, role in education, & why you're here tonight. Be sure to include the hashtag #EduSkyChat!

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GET READY!!!  #EduSkyChat starts in 15 minutes.  I'll be chatting with you all about The Importance of Play for All Learners.

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⌛ 30 minutes until #EduSkyChat  The topic is The Importance of Play for All Learners, with me, Mel Ching!

Mel Ching @melching5.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

🚨 Join us later this evening for #EduSkyChat  I’m moderating 💬, and the topic is The Importance of #Play for All Learners! 🛝 I'm excited to connect with more of you in the #EduSky community. This will be fun!

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Mel Ching @melching5.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Such an honor to do this with you, Barbara!

Mel Ching @melching5.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Excited for the #slowchat @techielibgrl.com! What a great solution for when the tech doesn't tech! #EduSkyChat

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Me, too. It's one step forward, two steps back, but as long as there is forward motion, it is all good! #EduSkyChat

A3 I heard something about community recently that stood out to me. In addition to all things we usually think about community providing, a true community also "refuses to support our harmful internal patterns." I love that and wish I had the source to cite! #EduSkyChat

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Say it louder for the people in the back! 👏 #EduSkyChat

A2 Administrators can be intentional about taking one thing off the proverbial plate when adding something new on. Name it, put it in a box, and don't take it out until/unless something else comes off. #EduSkyChat

I am working to do this, but I keep backsliding. For sure one of my goals this year! #EduSkyChat

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A1 One simple thing educators can do to prioritize their own well-being is to be very clear about personal boundaries. Everyone is different in terms of bandwidth & time & responsibilities, so it won't look the same for each person. Communicate them to others firmly and clearly. #EduSkyChat

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Hi #EduSkyChat! I'm Mel with What School Could Be signing in from Hawai'i. Excited to learn from all of you!

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Thank you for always holding space for us here! #EduSkyChat

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I think there are always exceptions, but I agree. This would help a lot of those "big" behaviors. #EduSkyChat

I was thinking of giving up some faculty meeting time. Maybe being more flexible on professional learning days would help, too. Not a perfect solution, but a start! #EduSkyChat

A2 This almost feels like a "safe answer," so Iʻm truly looking forward to hearing everyone elseʻs! Having clear, consistent routines is important. Predictability lowers anxiety and provides structure. When routines are clear, there’s less room for power struggles. #EduSkyChat

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A1: Easier said than done, but when gen ed & SPED teachers can actually sit down together, even briefly, they can anticipate challenges, differentiate more intentionally, and build stronger support systems. Admin has to find the time for them to do that! #EduSkyChat

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