Play Conversations

A Conversation with Pennie Brownlee

Welcome back to Season 2 of Play Conversations. In this episode, Sarah chats with author, play advocate, founder of the Dance with Me in the Heart Facebook group, and big kid Pennie Brownlee. Pennie and Sarah discuss the nature of the child and the role play has in enabling the strengths and intelligence inherent in children to unfold. Play for older kids, the importance of 'making', play environments and challenges for teachers are all covered in this exciting first episode back for 2022. Find Pennie here

A Conversation with Linda Cheer

Linda Cheer is a teacher, facilitator, in-school coach and co-director of Longworth Education. In this final episode of Season 1, Linda reflects the path she took from classroom teacher to Deputy Principal through to establishing Longworth Forest School, and founding Longworth Education. Sarah and Linda discuss the state of play in New Zealand, and the need for bravery and creativity in the education workforce.

A Conversation with Annette Pram

Annette Pram is a teacher and team leader at Western Heights School in Auckland, New Zealand. Her year 0/1 team teaches from a play-based approach and in this episode Annette shares hers and her teams' incredible journey that has been exciting, challenging, and rewarding for both children and teachers. Visit Western Heights School here.  

A Conversation with Annette McIndoe and Jan Fretwell

In this episode, Sarah is joined by two school leaders within the Whakatāne Kāhui Ako (CoL) who share their experience both in implementing play in their school settings, as well as their experience of a CoL-wide PLD initiative with Longworth Education. Annette, a teacher and ASL at Apanui School, and Jan, the Deputy Principal of St Josephs' School talk about the impact play has had on their teaching, their students and how the PLD they have been involved with over 2 1/2 years supported their implementation of play across their Kāhui. 

A Conversation with Anne Rush

A Conversation with Ann Langis

Sarah has a conversation with Ann Langis, founder of Junky Monkeys and facilitator/in-school coach with Longworth Education. In this episode, Ann shares her wisdom about the power of loose parts, junk, outdoor and risky play - and the nature of sustainable resourcing for play environments. Visit Junky Monkeys here.  

A Conversation with Karli Adams

Join Sarah as she has a conversation with Karli Adams, a teacher from Mangere Bridge school in Auckland, Aotearoa. Karli shares her reflections on her journey into implementing play and in particular the way in which she is using learning stories to capture the wide range of learning observed as a result of her students playing all day, every day. 

A Conversation with Dr. Sarah Aiono

Usually the host of this podcast series, in this episode, Sarah becomes the guest with Kate Webber from Longworth Education facilitating a discussion related to her recent research and findings about play and professional development practice in New Zealand. To learn more about her research visit Massey University.  

A Conversation with Tammy Nepata Gibbs

This week we celebrate te wiki o Te Reo Māori in Aotearoa, New Zealand. In this kōrero, Sarah chats with Tammy Nepata Gibbs, a Kaiako (teacher) and thought leader at Te Kura ā Iwi O Whakatupuranga Rua Mano in Ōtaki. The conversation discusses why play and Te Ao Māori are not in opposition within the school setting - but work together to support the mana of tauira, and uplift the use of te reo me ngā tikanga within the education setting. Kia kaha Te Reo Māori.

A Conversation with Stacey Mabey

Sarah has a conversation with the highly creative and talented Stacey Mabey, Longworth Education's Senior Facilitator, In-School Coach, teacher, play advocate, and all-around magical person. This conversation is about the need for creativity within the teaching profession, and how teaching requires creativity and magic. Join Sarah and Stacey as they unpack why it is important to bring magic into your play setting, and how and where to start.