Play Conversations

A Conversation with Tennille Murdoch

Tennille Murdoch is an inspirational teacher and courageous play advocate, who bravely stepped away from the classroom to establish The Forest School in Orewa, Auckland. This conversation with Sarah focuses on what brought Tennille to the decision to leave mainstream school life and how The Forest School operates and supports play and learning outdoors. Visit The Forest School to learn more.  

A Conversation with Celia Hogan

This is an important conversation for all play advocates, but especially during a global pandemic. Celia and Sarah discuss the importance of play outside, and nature play, and the tough questions around how to bring nature to children when living further away from natural play spaces. Learn more at Little Kiwis Nature Play.  

A Conversation with Lisa Lyell

Lisa Lyell is a rural new entrant teacher at Palmerston Primary, located in Otago, New Zealand. Sarah has a conversation with Lisa about all aspects of new entrant teaching, and especially how Lisa has, for many years, integrated play-based pedagogy into her daily classroom practices. Visit Palmerston Primary School here

A Conversation with Professor Welby Ings

Sarah has a conversation with Welby Ings, a Professor in Design at Auckland University of Technology. Welby is an award-winning academic, designer, filmmaker, teacher, elected Fellow of the British Royal Society of Arts and a consultant on issues of creativity and learning. He is perhaps most well-known by teachers as the author of Disobedient Teaching: Surviving and Creating Change in Education. Learn more here

A Conversation with Toni Howard

In this episode, Toni Howard, Lead Learning in Play at Matua Ngaru School in Auckland, shares her experience in implementing structured literacy within her play-based classroom. This conversation has Sarah chatting with Toni about how these two approaches can co-exist in a play setting.

A Conversation with Andrew King

Sarah has a conversation with Andrew King, Principal of Oropi School in the Bay of Plenty. A change leader in a school where play based learning has been in place since 2012, Andrew shares how he has supported the evolving ways Oropi School delivers their curriculum and engages in assessment and planning practices. Sarah and Andrew also challenge leaders to question the misunderstood idea of policies and systems that 'have' to be done because of a perception that they are required from a Ministry of Education standpoint.  Learn more via Oropi School's website here.  

A Conversation with Marc Armitage

Marc Armitage, a professional Playworker for over 30 years, is a researcher, writer and consultant in play, playing and playwork. Join Sarah and Marc as they discuss what it means to be a playworker, and the importance of pretend play, rough and tumble play and weapon play in this conversation episode. Find Marc here.  

A Conversation with Bevan Holloway

Sarah has a conversation with Bevan Holloway, founder of SMATA, ex HOD of English at Wellington Girls College, PLD facilitator and Vince Ham E-Fellow of 2018. Bevan and Sarah discuss the concept of play for older kids, getting kids "ready" for highschool, asking better questions about the experiences schools can offer students, and much more. Find Bevan via SMATA

A Conversation with Patty Barbosa

Sarah has a conversation with Patty Barbosa, a Year 1 teacher/researcher at Summerland Primary School in Auckland. Awarded the Vince Ham E-Fellowship with Core Education in 2020, Patty shares her research into marrying play-based learning and assessment processes. For more on her research visit Play Based Learning and Assessment

A Conversation with Leslee Allen

Sarah has a conversation with Leslee Allen, teaching principal of Kaurihohore School (Whangarei), and creator of Number Agents. Leslee is a passionate advocate of developmentally responsive teaching, including the value of both explicit instruction and child-led learning through play. The conversation also discusses some of the misconceptions around school reporting, MoE requirements and systemic responsibilities schools have. Learn more about Number Agents here.