A recent article in the New York Times states that more and more schools are putting a greater enphasis on "block centers." What are block centers, you ask? Block centers are areas set aside in a classroom, usually are the primary level, where students are able to use the ever-popular "building blocks." Block centers appear to be gaining new popularity due to concerns that academic pressure and technology are squeezing play out of young children's lives. Many argue that teachers are getting too wrapped up in their very prescriptive curricula and that young students are losing the opportunity to explore and create things.
Studies that date as far back as the 1940s indicate that blocks help children absorb baisc math concepts. A 2001 study followed 37 preschooler and found that those who had had more sophisticated block play got better math grades and achieved higher standardized test scores. Additionally, a 2007 study found that those students with building block experience scored significantly better on language acquisition tests .
Natinal school-supply companies like Beckers and Lakeshore added more than a dozen block-related products to their catalogs this year. Teachers appear to be seizing the opportunity to connect these building block centers to their curruculum in a variety of ways. Teachers are finding that technology can be integrated into block centers. Seemingly, there appears to be a correlation between students who use blocks and build things and the ability to take pictures with cameras or i-pads, create documentaries and master the art of editing.
What do you think of this idea of "block centers?" Are teachers, in your estimation, getting too involved in the academic pressures and forgetting the play aspects of schooling? Do you see a correlation between block building and math skills? Do our students need more play opportunities during school time? Why? What do you remember about building blocks when you were in school?
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I have never heard of block centers before this blog post. I think it is very interesting how popular it is becoming. I think teachers have been getting too caught up in teaching academics that at the primary level they are forgetting young children need at least some time to play.
I think block centers are a great idea to have young students with their creativity skills, yet I also think it relieves stress from constantly working on academics.
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