One of the best parts of the week (for both the kids and the teachers) is choosing!  We typically have choosing for about 45 minutes on Friday afternoons.  This is a great time for the kids to use their imaginations, exercise their creativity and practice their social skills.  I often use this time to check in with kids about homework, but my favorite thing to do is to observe them in action!

Climbing onto my soap box for a minute…

Play is not valued enough in schools anymore.  Recess and imaginative play are being pushed out in the name of standards, rigor and achievement  At Irvington, we have held on to play as much as possible, believing that it is an essential part of a child’s development.  In fact, research shows that play actually boosts academic achievement! (See this short NPR article for more info.)

Okay, off my soap box!  Now for some pictures!