Gillian Corbally, also known as The Glitter & Coffee Teacher, is passionate about teaching and education and has a keen interest in the area of play-led learning. Gillian loves seeing children engage with a topic through playfulness and seeing how it motivates them to learn.
Lucky for us, she is our newest course author, with her upcoming Learning to Play; Playing to Learn! We are delighted to hear her thoughts on all things play and why it is so important in teaching & learning.
5 words to describe the course.
Playful, Informative, Varied, Interesting, Creative.
Who should take this course?
Teachers should take this course if they are interested in developing a playful approach to teaching and learning and giving the children playful and engaging experiences across the curriculum.
Why is play important?
Play is the way children interact with the world. It is the universal language of childhood. Play can break down barriers such as languages and accessibility. Play can take many forms including physical activity such as sports and games, imaginative play such as role-playing and pretend games, creative activities like drawing and building and social interactions such as discussions, chatting and engaging with each other. Play is not only important for entertainment but also for learning, social development, language acquisition, problem-solving and emotional wellbeing for children of all ages.
Children have both a desire and a right to play.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child, every child has the right to play. It is the child’s way of making sense of the world – a learning tool that engages, motivates, challenges and pleases.
Why did you write this course?
I wrote this course as I am passionate about play-led learning and I really see the benefits in the classroom. I currently teach 6th class and I use play-led learning daily. Learning through play helps all the children to access the curriculum, regardless of their learning style. With this course I hope to inspire other teachers to develop their confidence to use play-based learning in their classrooms, regardless of the age of the children they teach. Teaching and learning through play doesn’t have to cost a fortune or have fancy resources and teachers will see this throughout the course.
There is always time to play!
What inspires you about this topic?
The children inspire me! They never cease to wow me with their input, their knowledge, their questions, their agency, their creations and constructions and their learning.
3 things teachers will learn on this course.
Teachers will learn why play is so important, ideas to take into their classrooms for playful learning and how play can be inclusive and break down barriers to learning.
Favourite quote about play.
Play is not a box of toys. Play is a state of mind and a way of being. – Dr Joanna Fortune
Interesting statistic about benefits of play.
An IBM Institute survey shows that CEOs value employees with creativity, which can be fostered through childhood play. This shows that play throughout childhood can positively influence a person’s career.
Who do we hear from in this course?
We hear from experts in the areas of curriculum development, teacher education, UDL and play therapy. We also hear from teachers and children.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I have been a teacher since 2010 and a mum since 2018. I am passionate about play, both at home and in school. I aspire to be a playful teacher and parent. I have been in the same school since I graduated from St. Pat’s and have taught Senior Infants, 2nd class and now 6th class. I have loved teaching all levels and have used play-based learning with all classes I have taught. I am also an Assistant Principal in our school. I have diplomas in Speech and Drama, Psychology and Therapeutic Play.
I love glitter and coffee and am known for having a constant stash of both in my classroom. I am on Instagram as the Glitter and Coffee Teacher and love having the chats.
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