Play-Based Learning Making a Comeback

Summer Slide: What the Research Says and What You Can Actually Do About It

This episode is about summer slide — what it is, how it shows up differently in math versus reading, and what teachers and parents can realistically do to help kids hold onto what they've learned. We also get into books, games, journals, and why letting kids pick what they read matters more than you might think. Summer learning loss isn't equal across subjects. Math takes a harder hit than reading over the summer, which surprises some people. The research backs this up — kids tend to lose more ground in math because they're simply not doing it. Reading, on the other hand, can happen anywhere if kids have access to books. Summer programs: they work, but only if they last long enough. Three weeks or more makes a measurable difference. Shorter programs don't move the needle much. NWEA Summer Learning Loss Research [https://www.nwea.org/blog/2026/summer-learning-loss-what-we-know-what-were-learning/] Summer break doesn't look the same for every kid. For some students, it's ten weeks of camps, trips, and enrichment activities. For others, it's a lot of TV and not much else. The slide is steeper for kids who don't have access to structured programs, books, or adults with time to sit down with them. Libraries are the obvious answer, but not every family uses them regularly. Some kids don't have transportation. Some parents work all day and don't have time to make it there. A few things that help: * Book swaps — kids bring in books they've outgrown and trade them for something new. Simple, and it costs nothing. * Donations — ask families at the end of the year if they have books to spare. You'll be surprised what people give. * Classroom books going home — if you have a system for this, it's worth thinking about how to manage it over summer. Some teachers send books in bags with a note asking for them back in the fall. The other piece is letting kids choose what they read. Series books work especially well because once a kid is hooked on a character, they want to keep going. You don't have to convince them to read the next one. Math is easier to practice than people think, because it shows up everywhere once you start looking for it. A few ways to work it in without making it feel like school: * Cooking and baking — measuring, doubling recipes, counting, fractions without calling them fractions * Shopping — estimating totals, comparing prices, making change * Time — telling time, figuring out how long until something happens, reading schedules One game worth knowing: Blackjack for addition. Kids practice adding to 21 without realizing they're doing math. It's a good one for families to have in their back pocket. Summer is a good time to back off and let reading just be reading. That means: * Let them pick the book * Let them abandon a book if it's not working * Reading to them still counts — even older kids benefit from being read to Journals are another low-pressure option. Kids can write, draw, list things, or tell a story from their day. It keeps writing muscles working without turning it into homework. We both share free resources through their newsletters. If you're not already signed up, that's a good place to start. * Hilary Statum: pencilstopigtails.com [https://pencilstopigtails.com/] * Deedee Wills: mrswillskindergarten.com [https://mrswillskindergarten.com/] Timestamps: * 00:00 — Introduction to summer slide and why it matters * 00:40 — Research: summer loss is greater in math than reading * 02:00 — How program length affects outcomes * 03:00 — How summer break varies by family situation * 04:30 — Strategies for kids who lose the most ground * 05:45 — Libraries, books, and access * 07:00 — Managing classroom books over summer * 08:30 — Series books and reading for fun * 10:00 — Math through games, shopping, and everyday routines * 12:00 — Teaching time concepts over summer * 14:00 — Independent reading and letting kids choose * 15:00 — Journals and writing without pressure * 16:30 — Math practice through cooking and games * 17:30 — Reading without making it feel like school * 19:00 — Blackjack for addition practice * 20:00 — Free newsletters and summer activity resources * 21:00 — Wrapping up

Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World: Why Teachers are Pulling Back on Technology

Kids are growing up with screens, and most of us are figuring it out as we go. This episode gets into what digital media actually does to children — their sleep, their attention, their social skills — and what parents, teachers, and community members can do about it. Pediatricians and experts weigh in with real, specific guidance. I've been teaching long enough to watch this shift happen in real time. The kids sitting in front of me now are different from the ones I had ten years ago, and screens are part of that story. What I've learned — in my classroom and from conversations like this one — is that small, consistent changes at home and school make a real difference. What we cover: * How digital platforms are built to keep kids hooked — and what that costs them * What screen time does to sleep, focus, social development, and physical health at different ages * Practical age-by-age guidance, from infants through teenagers * Why the example adults set matters more than most of us want to admit * Specific strategies: delaying device access, parental controls, screen-free zones, family routines * What educators, pediatricians, and policymakers can actually do * Where AI fits into all of this and why responsible tech design matters Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction: Digital media's hidden power over children's attention 00:30 — The goals of engaging digital design and its impact on kids 01:24 — How digital features interfere with children's sleep, health, and family time 02:30 — The role of algorithms in collecting data and targeting children with ads 03:22 — Effects on concentration, sleep, and behavior at different ages 04:36 — Personal experiences with algorithm-driven ads and subconscious listening 05:55 — What children notice when adults are glued to their screens 06:13 — Setting good digital examples for kids 08:36 — Age-specific guidelines: zero to five years — no screens; delays in development 09:12 — School-age children: sleep, attention, physical health, and social skills 10:47 — Strategies for delaying cell phone access and building independence 12:36 — The difference between regular phones and limited-use flip phones for kids 14:01 — Teenagers and real risks: harmful content, peer pressure, and self-esteem 15:01 — Shared responsibility: healthcare, policy, educators, and families 16:24 — Practical steps: quality content, screen-free zones, parental controls, and modeling 17:21 — How teens hide their digital activity and why transparency matters 18:41 — Screen-free zones in bedrooms and at mealtimes 19:36 — The current debate on technology in classrooms 20:24 — AI's potential to reshape how kids experience the world — and why responsible use matters 20:45 — Next steps for protecting children's digital safety Resources and Links: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/helping-kids-thrive-in-a-digital-world-AAP-policy-explained.aspx [https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/helping-kids-thrive-in-a-digital-world-AAP-policy-explained.aspx] WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ [https://pencilstopigtails.com/] Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/ [https://mrswillskindergarten.com/]

Understanding Subitizing: A Guide to Building Number Sense for Educators

Mastering Subitizing and Number Sense in Early Math Education In this episode, we dig into the concept of subitizing – the quick recognition of small quantities – and its big role in developing number sense from pre-K through elementary grades. We explore practical classroom strategies, the importance of games and visual tools, and how to build flexible math thinking that lasts beyond the early years. Key topics: * The definition and types of subitizing: perceptual and conceptual * How subitizing supports number sense and elementary math growth * Simple, effective tools for teaching subitizing (dot cards, dominoes, tally marks) * Bringing in games like Penny Drop, dominoes, and dice to strengthen recognition skills * Using quick assessment routines to gauge and develop students' subitizing abilities * Why part-part-whole understanding matters in addition * Weaving subitizing practice into classroom routines * Tips for organizing and using visual and tactile math tools at low cost Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to subitizing and its importance in math readiness 02:12 - Explaining perceptual and conceptual subitizing 03:51 - How to assess and promote rapid recognition of dots 06:19 - Using games and everyday objects (dominoes, dice) for subitizing practice 08:47 - The approximate number system (ANS) and its connection 09:34 - Practical tips for creating DIY subitizing tools (dot plates, tally cards) 11:30 - Weaving subitizing into daily math routines 14:06 - Ways to quickly assess student understanding during lessons 15:39 - Supporting slow or shy responders with intentional wait time 16:38 - Creative ideas for organizing visual math tools at low cost 17:07 - How to extend these strategies beyond early childhood Resources & Links: * Jack Hartmann Subitizing Video on YouTube [https://youtu.be/cI37YqVVQc0?si=Dgi-rqr6s5vN1RzJ] * Penny Drop Game on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4uQJofu] * 10 Frame Printable Templates * Domino Sets for Math Games [https://amzn.to/3Sg8Y05] Source:Math for Math Learning Trajectories & Subitizing: A Conversation with Dr. Douglas Clements [https://madeformath.com/learning-trajectories/] WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ [https://pencilstopigtails.com/] Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/ [https://mrswillskindergarten.com/]

Enhancing Reading Comprehension and Self-Regulation in Young Learners

In this episode, we discuss two big areas in early education — dialogic reading techniques that deepen comprehension and strategies for building self-regulation skills, especially in post-pandemic classrooms. Both topics have a direct impact on how kids engage, bounce back, and learn. Main Topics: * The science and application of dialogic reading to improve student comprehension * Practical prompts and question strategies to actively involve students during read-alouds * Building self-regulation skills as a cornerstone of classroom management and learning success * How the pandemic affected student self-regulation and emotional regulation * School-wide approaches and teacher strategies to support executive function development * Using visual supports and modeling to build emotional awareness and regulation * Why social-emotional learning matters for academic and life outcomes Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to dialogic reading and its research foundation 02:22 - The peer and crowd prompts — what they are and how to use them 03:30 - Why open-ended questions matter during read-alouds 04:39 - Using annotations and margin notes to build comprehension and engagement 05:37 - Moving beyond simple recall questions to richer language and connection prompts 06:39 - How turn-and-talk supports active learning and language development 07:43 - Connecting story content to students' personal experiences for deeper understanding 08:12 - Story retelling and oral language practice 09:16 - Recent research on the value of oral language and discussion in literacy 09:40 - Why read-alouds are disappearing from classrooms — and why that needs to change 10:00 - Resources and tools for dialogic reading prompts 11:19 - How to balance questions across first reads and rereads 12:42 - Looking at illustrations and understanding the illustrator's process 13:14 - The link between self-regulation, emotional health, and academic achievement 13:37 - Coming up: digital tools and their impact on self-regulation Free Reading Comprehension Lessons You can find all of the Free week-long lessons [https://mrswillskindergarten.com/shop/?jsf=jet-woo-products-grid&tax=product_cat:8037,8002,operator_AND] on Deedee's blog! Resources & Links:  Dialogic Reading's Potential to Improve Children's Emergent Literacy Skills and Behavior [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4422048/] Additional Research: Pillinger & Vardy (2022) A Systematic Review of the Dialogic Reading Literature This is one of the strongest recent reviews because it analyzed many dialogic reading studies together and confirmed positive effects on language and literacy outcomes. The story so far: A systematic review of the dialogic reading literature Lepola et al. (2023) Opportunities to Talk Matter in Shared Reading This study highlighted the importance of children’s active verbal participation during read-alouds. Opportunities to Talk Matter in Shared Reading: The Mediating Roles of Children’s Engagement and Verbal Participation in Narrative Listening Comprehension [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10409289.2023.2188865] Dong et al. (2024) Effects of Dialogic Reading Elements on Children’sLanguage Development This research examined which dialogic reading practices were most effective and found strong benefits for listening comprehension and vocabulary growth. Effects of dialogic reading elements on children's language development [https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9817.12447]   WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum:⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ [https://pencilstopigtails.com/] Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/ [https://mrswillskindergarten.com/]

Play-Based Learning Making a Comeback

Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten is Making a Comeback In this episode, Deedee Wills and Hilary Statum talk through a recent Education Week article on why play-based learning is returning to kindergarten classrooms. They cover the pressure of standardized testing, the rise of scripted curricula, and why guided play can be more effective than rigid instruction for young learners. Key Takeaways * Play-based learning supports both academic and social-emotional development * Guided play is different from free play because it is intentionally connected to a learning goal * Teachers need flexibility to make lessons engaging, efficient, and developmentally appropriate * Research can help teachers advocate for more joyful, effective classroom practices Timestamps 0:01 — Introduction and greeting 0:16 — Hilary introduces the article: Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten is Making a Comeback 0:42 — Why more presenters are being asked for play-based sessions 1:11 — The shift away from play and into more academic instruction 1:40 — How No Child Left Behind and standardized testing changed kindergarten 2:08 — Testing pressure spreading into earlier grade levels 2:34 — Teacher stress around standardized testing 3:02 — States beginning to require play-based learning 3:57 — The challenge of teaching from a script for long periods 4:36 — Deedee explains when scripts can help new teachers 5:28 — Research comparing guided play and direct instruction 5:58 — Why kindergarten needs more than academic skills 6:49 — What guided play looks like in practice 7:27 — Deedee clarifies the difference between play and guided play 8:39 — Free play vs. instructional learning goals 9:09 — Why lessons should feel less rigid and more joyful 10:06 — Ideas for balancing direct instruction with active learning 11:06 — The problem with oversized curriculum packages 11:50 — How teachers can advocate for more play using research 13:04 — Using evidence to explain why changes matter 13:34 — Closing thoughts and future blog and podcast potential RESEARCH ARTICLE: Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten Is Making a Comeback. Here’s What It Means [https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/play-based-learning-in-kindergarten-is-making-a-comeback-heres-what-it-means/2025/10] WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ [https://pencilstopigtails.com/] Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/ [https://mrswillskindergarten.com/]