Play Conversations

A Conversation with Rae Pica

Join Dr. Sarah Aiono for the final episode of Season 2 as she chats with US author, education consultant and defender of childhood, Rae Pica. Co-founder of the Bam Radio Network, the world's largest online education radio network, Rae asks #whatif of those in education in her mission to ensure child development guides all our practices with children.

A Conversation with LEGO Professor of Play Paul Ramchandani

Paul Ramchandani is LEGO Professor of Play in Education, Development and Learning at Cambridge University, UK. He is Director of the PEDAL Research Centre and a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in the UK National Health Service. In this conversation, Sarah and Paul discuss some of the latest research about the benefits of play for children and their development, and the growing research base that supports play as a powerful way in which children make sense of their worlds.

A Conversation with Carolyn Dodd

Carolyn Dodd is a junior teacher at Russell Street School in Palmerston North. She is a passionate play advocate and is part of a team of teachers in her school dedicated to ensuring children get the best possible learning through play opportunities. This episode shares her journey, the ups and downs and the 'bare bones' of teaching through play.

A Conversation with Heather McQuillan

Join Dr. Sarah Aiono as she chats with Heather McQuillan, author, teacher and the Director of Write On School for Young Writers. This conversation dives into the intersection between play and children's writing development, and challenges some of the myths that surround how children should be taught to write.
 

A Conversation with Amber Donaldson

In this episode, Sarah chats with junior school teacher Amber Donaldson, a teacher at Oxford Crescent School in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Amber shares her experience in implementing play in her classroom, and reflects on the celebrations and challenges in using play as a pedagogical tool in a busy junior classroom.

A Conversation with Ready4Learning

Andrea Ford (Ande) and Carolynn Mason are the founding creators of the Ready4Learning Framework, a tool to support teachers identify foundational developmental skills needed by students to successfully transition to school and competently access the New Zealand Curriculum. In this conversation with Sarah, they discuss developmental readiness, the importance play has in developing these foundational skills, transition to school, setting up for formalised learning and much more.
 

A Conversation with Amanda King

In this episode, Sarah is joined by recent MEd graduate Amanda King to share her research findings related to her investigation into learning stories and assessment in primary school (Grade/Elementary School) contexts.
To access this research visit: Waikato University

A Conversation with Julia Bevin

Julia Bevin is the Principal of Paekākāriki School, a small village school, catering for children aged 5 - 12, on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand. In this conversation, Julia shares the journey she and her team have undertaken to ensure their school supports children in developmentally responsive and holistic ways, honoring childhood and slowing the pace as much as possible for students while they enjoy their primary school years.
 

A Conversation with Keri Benefield

As we head into the Easter Holiday break, Sarah chats with Play Therapist, Keri Benefield about the connection between play, self regulation, and emotional resiliency, in light of the challenges our kids are navigating currently. Keri shares her journey from classroom teacher to play therapist, as well as some practical tips for supporting children's wellbeing through play in the school context. A really relevant conversation for many as we consider how to support children returning to 'normal' in a post-pandemic era.
Keri Benefield - playcenz@gmail.com 

A Conversation with Barbara Brann

In our second episode this year, Sarah chats with Australian-based teacher, researcher, presenter, PD provider and author of numerous literacy resources, including The Magic Caterpillar, Barbara Brann. Barbara and Sarah discuss why the child should be at the heart of literacy learning - not the curriculum, or the teaching of literacy, and why play is fundamental to developmentally appropriate literacy progress. A challenging and thought- provoking second episode for 2022.