let me start with this story from about 20 years ago in 1999 right as we were
20 years ago in 1999 right as we were
20 years ago in 1999 right as we were moving into the new century the new
moving into the new century the new
moving into the new century the new millennium and I was invited to a
millennium and I was invited to a
millennium and I was invited to a conference where people were discussing
conference where people were discussing
conference where people were discussing some of the greatest accomplishments of
some of the greatest accomplishments of
some of the greatest accomplishments of the past thousand years and making
the past thousand years and making
the past thousand years and making predictions about the next thousand
predictions about the next thousand
predictions about the next thousand years and I was on a panel where they
years and I was on a panel where they
years and I was on a panel where they asked us the following question what was
asked us the following question what was
asked us the following question what was the most important invention of the past
the most important invention of the past
the most important invention of the past thousand years and people had lots of
thousand years and people had lots of
thousand years and people had lots of different ideas one of the panelists
different ideas one of the panelists
different ideas one of the panelists suggested the printing press someone
suggested the printing press someone
suggested the printing press someone else talked about the steam engine
else talked about the steam engine
else talked about the steam engine another person selected the computer of
another person selected the computer of
another person selected the computer of course all of those are incredibly
course all of those are incredibly
course all of those are incredibly important inventions and each is
important inventions and each is
important inventions and each is transformed society in its own way but
transformed society in its own way but
transformed society in its own way but as I thought about the most important
as I thought about the most important
as I thought about the most important invention of the last thousand years I
invention of the last thousand years I
invention of the last thousand years I had a difference to Josh John
had a difference to Josh John
had a difference to Josh John kindergarten now some people might be
kindergarten now some people might be
kindergarten now some people might be surprised by that because pi2 a lot of
surprised by that because pi2 a lot of
surprised by that because pi2 a lot of people they don’t even think of
people they don’t even think of
people they don’t even think of kindergarten as an invention let alone
kindergarten as an invention let alone
kindergarten as an invention let alone an important invention but kindergarten
an important invention but kindergarten
an important invention but kindergarten was an invention when Friedrich Froebel
was an invention when Friedrich Froebel
was an invention when Friedrich Froebel invented the first kindergarten in 1837
invented the first kindergarten in 1837
invented the first kindergarten in 1837 he wasn’t just creating a school for
he wasn’t just creating a school for
he wasn’t just creating a school for younger kids he was inventing a
younger kids he was inventing a
younger kids he was inventing a radically new approach to education
radically new approach to education
radically new approach to education fundamentally different from schools
fundamentally different from schools
fundamentally different from schools that had come before another foible
that had come before another foible
that had come before another foible certainly couldn’t have known it his
certainly couldn’t have known it his
certainly couldn’t have known it his approach to education was ideally suited
approach to education was ideally suited
approach to education was ideally suited to the needs of today’s 21st century
to the needs of today’s 21st century
to the needs of today’s 21st century society not just for five-year-olds but
society not just for five-year-olds but
society not just for five-year-olds but for all of us for learners of all ages
for all of us for learners of all ages
for all of us for learners of all ages so what makes Froy both kindergarten so
so what makes Froy both kindergarten so
so what makes Froy both kindergarten so special well before Freud ball most
special well before Freud ball most
special well before Freud ball most schools were based on what might be
schools were based on what might be
schools were based on what might be called a broadcast approach to education
called a broadcast approach to education
called a broadcast approach to education a teacher stood in the front and
a teacher stood in the front and
a teacher stood in the front and broadcast information and instruction to
broadcast information and instruction to
broadcast information and instruction to students
students
students and Freud well knew that wasn’t going to
and Freud well knew that wasn’t going to
and Freud well knew that wasn’t going to work with five-year-olds so he shifted
work with five-year-olds so he shifted
work with five-year-olds so he shifted to a much more interactive approach to
to a much more interactive approach to
to a much more interactive approach to education he designed and developed a
education he designed and developed a
education he designed and developed a set of toys and materials they became
set of toys and materials they became
set of toys and materials they became known as Froy Buhl’s gifts the children
known as Froy Buhl’s gifts the children
known as Froy Buhl’s gifts the children could use to learn and play and interact
could use to learn and play and interact
could use to learn and play and interact with with Froy Buhl’s
with with Froy Buhl’s
with with Froy Buhl’s geometric tiles kids can make mosaic
geometric tiles kids can make mosaic
geometric tiles kids can make mosaic patterns with his blocks they can make
patterns with his blocks they can make
patterns with his blocks they can make towers and buildings with his sticks and
towers and buildings with his sticks and
towers and buildings with his sticks and peas they could assemble three did
peas they could assemble three did
peas they could assemble three did three-dimensional structures and if you
three-dimensional structures and if you
three-dimensional structures and if you walk into a kindergarten today you can
walk into a kindergarten today you can
walk into a kindergarten today you can see descendants of rooibos gifts and
see descendants of rooibos gifts and
see descendants of rooibos gifts and ferbos ideas children are often
ferbos ideas children are often
ferbos ideas children are often playfully collaborating with one another
playfully collaborating with one another
playfully collaborating with one another on creative activities you know and in
on creative activities you know and in
on creative activities you know and in the process kids are learning important
the process kids are learning important
the process kids are learning important ideas and concepts when children are
ideas and concepts when children are
ideas and concepts when children are building castles and houses with wooden
building castles and houses with wooden
building castles and houses with wooden blocks they learn about structures and
blocks they learn about structures and
blocks they learn about structures and stability when they make paintings with
stability when they make paintings with
stability when they make paintings with finger paint they learn how colors mix
finger paint they learn how colors mix
finger paint they learn how colors mix together but more important than that
together but more important than that
together but more important than that and much more important in my mind kids
and much more important in my mind kids
and much more important in my mind kids are learning about the creative process
are learning about the creative process
are learning about the creative process they’re learning how to start with and
they’re learning how to start with and
they’re learning how to start with and the inkling of an idea and turn it into
the inkling of an idea and turn it into
the inkling of an idea and turn it into a project how to imagine an idea test it
a project how to imagine an idea test it
a project how to imagine an idea test it out share it with others and continually
out share it with others and continually
out share it with others and continually refine the idea based on their
refine the idea based on their
refine the idea based on their experiences and these creative thinking
experiences and these creative thinking
experiences and these creative thinking skills that kids learn in kindergarten
skills that kids learn in kindergarten
skills that kids learn in kindergarten are ideally suited for the needs of
are ideally suited for the needs of
are ideally suited for the needs of today’s fast-changing society I think
today’s fast-changing society I think
today’s fast-changing society I think that we can all agree that the world is
that we can all agree that the world is
that we can all agree that the world is changing more quickly nails and ever
changing more quickly nails and ever
changing more quickly nails and ever before that today’s children as they
before that today’s children as they
before that today’s children as they grow up are going to be confronted with
grow up are going to be confronted with
grow up are going to be confronted with a never-ending stream of unexpected
a never-ending stream of unexpected
a never-ending stream of unexpected situations and unknown challenges so the
situations and unknown challenges so the
situations and unknown challenges so the ability to think and act creatively is
ability to think and act creatively is
ability to think and act creatively is going to be more important than ever
going to be more important than ever
going to be more important than ever before and that’s precisely what kids
before and that’s precisely what kids
before and that’s precisely what kids are learning in kindergarten but there’s
are learning in kindergarten but there’s
are learning in kindergarten but there’s a problem
a problem
a problem that when kids leave kindergarten and
that when kids leave kindergarten and
that when kids leave kindergarten and move on to elementary school and middle
move on to elementary school and middle
move on to elementary school and middle school and beyond oftentimes
school and beyond oftentimes
school and beyond oftentimes things change they spend a lot of time
things change they spend a lot of time
things change they spend a lot of time sitting in desks filling out worksheets
sitting in desks filling out worksheets
sitting in desks filling out worksheets listening to lectures it’s often going
listening to lectures it’s often going
listening to lectures it’s often going back to the broadcast approach where a
back to the broadcast approach where a
back to the broadcast approach where a teacher is delivering information or
teacher is delivering information or
teacher is delivering information or delivering instruction or a computer is
delivering instruction or a computer is
delivering instruction or a computer is delivering instruction or delivering
delivering instruction or delivering
delivering instruction or delivering information and this approach is not
information and this approach is not
information and this approach is not well aligned with the needs of today’s
well aligned with the needs of today’s
well aligned with the needs of today’s society it doesn’t help kids develop as
society it doesn’t help kids develop as
society it doesn’t help kids develop as creative thinkers and even worse many of
creative thinkers and even worse many of
creative thinkers and even worse many of today’s kindergartens are starting to
today’s kindergartens are starting to
today’s kindergartens are starting to move into this type of approach if you
move into this type of approach if you
move into this type of approach if you go into kindergarten today oftentimes
go into kindergarten today oftentimes
go into kindergarten today oftentimes you will start to see kids filling out
you will start to see kids filling out
you will start to see kids filling out math worksheets or drilling on phonics
math worksheets or drilling on phonics
math worksheets or drilling on phonics flashcards with less time for creative
flashcards with less time for creative
flashcards with less time for creative play and exploration
play and exploration
play and exploration so in short today’s kindergartens are
so in short today’s kindergartens are
so in short today’s kindergartens are starting to become more like the rest of
starting to become more like the rest of
starting to become more like the rest of school and what we need is exactly the
school and what we need is exactly the
school and what we need is exactly the opposite we need to make the rest of
opposite we need to make the rest of
opposite we need to make the rest of school in fact the rest of life more
school in fact the rest of life more
school in fact the rest of life more like kindergarten that’s the goal of my
like kindergarten that’s the goal of my
like kindergarten that’s the goal of my research group at the MIT Media Lab and
research group at the MIT Media Lab and
research group at the MIT Media Lab and that’s why we call it the lifelong
that’s why we call it the lifelong
that’s why we call it the lifelong kindergarten group we’re trying to
kindergarten group we’re trying to
kindergarten group we’re trying to spread the spirit of kindergarten to
spread the spirit of kindergarten to
spread the spirit of kindergarten to learners of all ages from all
learners of all ages from all
learners of all ages from all backgrounds to provide opportunities for
backgrounds to provide opportunities for
backgrounds to provide opportunities for everyone everyone to continue to
everyone everyone to continue to
everyone everyone to continue to experiment and explore and express
experiment and explore and express
experiment and explore and express themselves so they can develop the
themselves so they can develop the
themselves so they can develop the creative capacities they’re needed to
creative capacities they’re needed to
creative capacities they’re needed to thrive in today’s society you know let
thrive in today’s society you know let
thrive in today’s society you know let me give an example of the type of way
me give an example of the type of way
me give an example of the type of way we’d go about that you know we tend to
we’d go about that you know we tend to
we’d go about that you know we tend to think about the kindergarten approach in
think about the kindergarten approach in
think about the kindergarten approach in terms of four guiding principles that we
terms of four guiding principles that we
terms of four guiding principles that we call the four PS of creative learning
call the four PS of creative learning
call the four PS of creative learning projects passion tears and play that is
projects passion tears and play that is
projects passion tears and play that is we develop technologies and activities
we develop technologies and activities
we develop technologies and activities to engage kids in working on projects
to engage kids in working on projects
to engage kids in working on projects based on their passions in collaboration
based on their passions in collaboration
based on their passions in collaboration with peers in a playful spirit and we
with peers in a playful spirit and we
with peers in a playful spirit and we think that’s the way to sustain that
think that’s the way to sustain that
think that’s the way to sustain that kindergarten spirit of learning for
kindergarten spirit of learning for
kindergarten spirit of learning for example we’ve worked for many years with
example we’ve worked for many years with
example we’ve worked for many years with the leg
the leg
the leg company on developing a new generation
company on developing a new generation
company on developing a new generation of building blocks with electronics
of building blocks with electronics
of building blocks with electronics inside so that kids could build not just
inside so that kids could build not just
inside so that kids could build not just structures like houses and castles the
structures like houses and castles the
structures like houses and castles the buildings that move and sense and
buildings that move and sense and
buildings that move and sense and communicate and interact you might think
communicate and interact you might think
communicate and interact you might think of these as the formal gifts of the 21st
of these as the formal gifts of the 21st
of these as the formal gifts of the 21st century but they use technologies that
century but they use technologies that
century but they use technologies that were certainly unavailable and
were certainly unavailable and
were certainly unavailable and unimaginable in furballs era
unimaginable in furballs era
unimaginable in furballs era but they’re based on the spirit of
but they’re based on the spirit of
but they’re based on the spirit of rooibos kindergarten providing kids with
rooibos kindergarten providing kids with
rooibos kindergarten providing kids with opportunities to experiment and explore
opportunities to experiment and explore
opportunities to experiment and explore and express themselves and develop as
and express themselves and develop as
and express themselves and develop as creative thinkers as we started
creative thinkers as we started
creative thinkers as we started developing this first versions of these
developing this first versions of these
developing this first versions of these programmable LEGO bricks we tried them
programmable LEGO bricks we tried them
programmable LEGO bricks we tried them out with a group of 10 to 13 year old
out with a group of 10 to 13 year old
out with a group of 10 to 13 year old girls and we encourage them to use these
girls and we encourage them to use these
girls and we encourage them to use these new technologies to invent something
new technologies to invent something
new technologies to invent something that could be useful to them in their
that could be useful to them in their
that could be useful to them in their everyday life at the end of the workshop
everyday life at the end of the workshop
everyday life at the end of the workshop a local TV TV crew came and they made
a local TV TV crew came and they made
a local TV TV crew came and they made this video highlighting some of the
this video highlighting some of the
this video highlighting some of the girls inventions Kristine Acosta is
girls inventions Kristine Acosta is
girls inventions Kristine Acosta is trying to build a better mousetrap make
trying to build a better mousetrap make
trying to build a better mousetrap make that gerbil trap it’s one of the many
that gerbil trap it’s one of the many
that gerbil trap it’s one of the many inventions created at this free math and
inventions created at this free math and
inventions created at this free math and science camp run by the computer museum
science camp run by the computer museum
science camp run by the computer museum and the Girl Scouts where girls from
and the Girl Scouts where girls from
and the Girl Scouts where girls from Boston are devising everything from an
Boston are devising everything from an
Boston are devising everything from an odometer for rollerblades to a diary
odometer for rollerblades to a diary
odometer for rollerblades to a diary security system when someone touches
security system when someone touches
security system when someone touches this to try to open the diary we’ll take
this to try to open the diary we’ll take
this to try to open the diary we’ll take a picture of that person so like if your
a picture of that person so like if your
a picture of that person so like if your creepy little brother tries to read your
creepy little brother tries to read your
creepy little brother tries to read your diary yeah he’s on camera I think even
diary yeah he’s on camera I think even
diary yeah he’s on camera I think even in this short video you can get a sense
in this short video you can get a sense
in this short video you can get a sense of the four PS and practice that first
of the four PS and practice that first
of the four PS and practice that first girl was working on the project based on
girl was working on the project based on
girl was working on the project based on her passion she wasn’t just building a
her passion she wasn’t just building a
her passion she wasn’t just building a house for any durable she was building a
house for any durable she was building a
house for any durable she was building a house for her gerbil so she really cared
house for her gerbil so she really cared
house for her gerbil so she really cared about it she want to take an automatic
about it she want to take an automatic
about it she want to take an automatic door to the Drobo could go in and out
door to the Drobo could go in and out
door to the Drobo could go in and out easily and she started collecting data
easily and she started collecting data
easily and she started collecting data each time the door open it shut because
each time the door open it shut because
each time the door open it shut because she was really interested in what was
she was really interested in what was
she was really interested in what was her pet gerbil doing during the day
her pet gerbil doing during the day
her pet gerbil doing during the day while she was at school
while she was at school
while she was at school what was it doing at night while she was
what was it doing at night while she was
what was it doing at night while she was sleeping or the second girl loved
sleeping or the second girl loved
sleeping or the second girl loved rollerblading so she wanted to know how
rollerblading so she wanted to know how
rollerblading so she wanted to know how fast was she going on her rollerblades
fast was she going on her rollerblades
fast was she going on her rollerblades so she attached a little magnetic sensor
so she attached a little magnetic sensor
so she attached a little magnetic sensor to the wheel of the rollerblade to count
to the wheel of the rollerblade to count
to the wheel of the rollerblade to count the rotations but she wanted to know how
the rotations but she wanted to know how
the rotations but she wanted to know how fast she was going a miles per hour so
fast she was going a miles per hour so
fast she was going a miles per hour so she had to figure out how to convert
she had to figure out how to convert
she had to figure out how to convert rotations per second into miles per hour
rotations per second into miles per hour
rotations per second into miles per hour and the school there’d been lessons
and the school there’d been lessons
and the school there’d been lessons about that type of unit conversion but
about that type of unit conversion but
about that type of unit conversion but she hadn’t paid attention because she
she hadn’t paid attention because she
she hadn’t paid attention because she figured what’s the purpose but now she
figured what’s the purpose but now she
figured what’s the purpose but now she had a reason for it so since she was so
had a reason for it so since she was so
had a reason for it so since she was so engaged so passionate she was able to
engaged so passionate she was able to
engaged so passionate she was able to learn the mathematics ideas to make that
learn the mathematics ideas to make that
learn the mathematics ideas to make that conversion you know I think in these
conversion you know I think in these
conversion you know I think in these cases we can see that even though these
cases we can see that even though these
cases we can see that even though these girls certainly were above kindergarten
girls certainly were above kindergarten
girls certainly were above kindergarten age they were still learning into
age they were still learning into
age they were still learning into kindergarten spirit working on projects
kindergarten spirit working on projects
kindergarten spirit working on projects based on their passions and
based on their passions and
based on their passions and collaboration with peers in a playful
collaboration with peers in a playful
collaboration with peers in a playful spirit and developing as creative
spirit and developing as creative
spirit and developing as creative thinkers know these examples they were
thinkers know these examples they were
thinkers know these examples they were building things in the physical world we
building things in the physical world we
building things in the physical world we know that today kids spend a lot of time
know that today kids spend a lot of time
know that today kids spend a lot of time in online worlds in virtual worlds and
in online worlds in virtual worlds and
in online worlds in virtual worlds and we want to make sure the kids still have
we want to make sure the kids still have
we want to make sure the kids still have opportunities for kinder our
opportunities for kinder our
opportunities for kinder our kindergarten style learning in the
kindergarten style learning in the
kindergarten style learning in the online world and that’s what led us to
online world and that’s what led us to
online world and that’s what led us to develop the scratch programming language
develop the scratch programming language
develop the scratch programming language and online community with scratch kids
and online community with scratch kids
and online community with scratch kids don’t just play games they create and
don’t just play games they create and
don’t just play games they create and share games they don’t just watch
share games they don’t just watch
share games they don’t just watch animations online they create and share
animations online they create and share
animations online they create and share animations if you go to the scratch
animations if you go to the scratch
animations if you go to the scratch website you can see millions and
website you can see millions and
website you can see millions and millions of interactive stories and
millions of interactive stories and
millions of interactive stories and games and animations created by kids
games and animations created by kids
games and animations created by kids around the world right now there’s more
around the world right now there’s more
around the world right now there’s more than 20 million registered members of
than 20 million registered members of
than 20 million registered members of the scratch online community let me tell
the scratch online community let me tell
the scratch online community let me tell you about one of them whose user name is
you about one of them whose user name is
you about one of them whose user name is Apes a and from an early age if she
Apes a and from an early age if she
Apes a and from an early age if she loved to draw every day she would to
loved to draw every day she would to
loved to draw every day she would to fill sketchbooks you know with drawings
fill sketchbooks you know with drawings
fill sketchbooks you know with drawings and sketches and one day a friend told F
and sketches and one day a friend told F
and sketches and one day a friend told F say about scratch and explain the ipsy
say about scratch and explain the ipsy
say about scratch and explain the ipsy could use scratch to make their drawings
could use scratch to make their drawings
could use scratch to make their drawings come alive and if she was intrigued and
come alive and if she was intrigued and
come alive and if she was intrigued and tried it out
tried it out
tried it out this is one of Apes ease first projects
this is one of Apes ease first projects
this is one of Apes ease first projects say if C started with you
say if C started with you
say if C started with you with something familiar drawing drew a
with something familiar drawing drew a
with something familiar drawing drew a picture but then you scratch and wrote
picture but then you scratch and wrote
picture but then you scratch and wrote programs to animate the eyes and the
programs to animate the eyes and the
programs to animate the eyes and the ears and this is a good learning
ears and this is a good learning
ears and this is a good learning strategy start with something you’re
strategy start with something you’re
strategy start with something you’re passionate about
passionate about
passionate about in this case drawing and then learn
in this case drawing and then learn
in this case drawing and then learn something new in this case coding and if
something new in this case coding and if
something new in this case coding and if she really enjoyed making their drawings
she really enjoyed making their drawings
she really enjoyed making their drawings come alive so decide to keep working on
come alive so decide to keep working on
come alive so decide to keep working on scratch and worked on more and more
scratch and worked on more and more
scratch and worked on more and more sophisticated projects over time here’s
sophisticated projects over time here’s
sophisticated projects over time here’s a project the Epson made called lemonade
a project the Epson made called lemonade
a project the Epson made called lemonade time it was a game and to play this game
time it was a game and to play this game
time it was a game and to play this game you use the arrow keys to move around
you use the arrow keys to move around
you use the arrow keys to move around the otter to gather ingredients like
the otter to gather ingredients like
the otter to gather ingredients like lemons and water and sugar for making
lemons and water and sugar for making
lemons and water and sugar for making lemonade getting advice from the bird
lemonade getting advice from the bird
lemonade getting advice from the bird and other characters after if she made
and other characters after if she made
and other characters after if she made the project it si shared the project
the project it si shared the project
the project it si shared the project with tears in the online community and
with tears in the online community and
with tears in the online community and this is the project page and you can see
this is the project page and you can see
this is the project page and you can see that the project was viewed by you know
that the project was viewed by you know
that the project was viewed by you know more than 17,000 people and loved by
more than 17,000 people and loved by
more than 17,000 people and loved by close to 2,000 people
close to 2,000 people
close to 2,000 people it was remixed 88 times means that
it was remixed 88 times means that
it was remixed 88 times means that someone else took the Etsy’s project and
someone else took the Etsy’s project and
someone else took the Etsy’s project and modified the programming scripts or the
modified the programming scripts or the
modified the programming scripts or the graphics to make their own project and
graphics to make their own project and
graphics to make their own project and more than 1,700 people gave comments
more than 1,700 people gave comments
more than 1,700 people gave comments giving encouragement or feedback or
giving encouragement or feedback or
giving encouragement or feedback or suggestions to EPS a and if she was
suggestions to EPS a and if she was
suggestions to EPS a and if she was clearly paying attention if you look at
clearly paying attention if you look at
clearly paying attention if you look at the instructions you can see that it C
the instructions you can see that it C
the instructions you can see that it C added some notes saying – due to popular
added some notes saying – due to popular
added some notes saying – due to popular demand this automail walks a little bit
demand this automail walks a little bit
demand this automail walks a little bit faster some people also you know really
faster some people also you know really
faster some people also you know really liked it sees artwork and asked to see
liked it sees artwork and asked to see
liked it sees artwork and asked to see more of it so if C start sharing
more of it so if C start sharing
more of it so if C start sharing projects like this one that we’re
projects like this one that we’re
projects like this one that we’re branded as MC studio we could see more
branded as MC studio we could see more
branded as MC studio we could see more of EPs news work
of EPs news work
of EPs news work [Music]
[Music]
[Music] if you put down some rules saying that
if you put down some rules saying that
if you put down some rules saying that it’s fine
it’s fine
it’s fine to you make use of the artwork but you
to you make use of the artwork but you
to you make use of the artwork but you should give credit to FC if you use the
should give credit to FC if you use the
should give credit to FC if you use the artwork so the same way the kindergarten
artwork so the same way the kindergarten
artwork so the same way the kindergarten kids learn to share in the classroom if
kids learn to share in the classroom if
kids learn to share in the classroom if see who’s learning to share in the
see who’s learning to share in the
see who’s learning to share in the online community some kids in the online
online community some kids in the online
online community some kids in the online community get really upset when someone
community get really upset when someone
community get really upset when someone else makes use of their artwork but it’s
else makes use of their artwork but it’s
else makes use of their artwork but it’s he recognized that everyone benefits
he recognized that everyone benefits
he recognized that everyone benefits when everyone shares so if we look at
when everyone shares so if we look at
when everyone shares so if we look at it’s these projects we get a chance to
it’s these projects we get a chance to
it’s these projects we get a chance to see the four p’s in practice if C was
see the four p’s in practice if C was
see the four p’s in practice if C was working on projects based on passions in
working on projects based on passions in
working on projects based on passions in collaboration with peers in a playful
collaboration with peers in a playful
collaboration with peers in a playful spirit and really continuing to learn in
spirit and really continuing to learn in
spirit and really continuing to learn in a kindergarten style and developing as a
a kindergarten style and developing as a
a kindergarten style and developing as a creative thinker let me end with a story
creative thinker let me end with a story
creative thinker let me end with a story of two kindergarten children I heard
of two kindergarten children I heard
of two kindergarten children I heard this story from a friend of mine whose
this story from a friend of mine whose
this story from a friend of mine whose daughter Lily was in kindergarten and
daughter Lily was in kindergarten and
daughter Lily was in kindergarten and Lily came home one day and told her mom
Lily came home one day and told her mom
Lily came home one day and told her mom about a conversation that she had had
about a conversation that she had had
about a conversation that she had had with Daisy
with Daisy
with Daisy another kindergarten student and
another kindergarten student and
another kindergarten student and evidently Daisy had started kindergarten
evidently Daisy had started kindergarten
evidently Daisy had started kindergarten very early she was spending a second
very early she was spending a second
very early she was spending a second year in kindergarten and Lily explained
year in kindergarten and Lily explained
year in kindergarten and Lily explained it to her mom this way saying that you
it to her mom this way saying that you
it to her mom this way saying that you know that Daisy did kindergarten last
know that Daisy did kindergarten last
know that Daisy did kindergarten last year and is doing it again this year for
year and is doing it again this year for
year and is doing it again this year for two whole years I’m gonna do
two whole years I’m gonna do
two whole years I’m gonna do kindergarten again too and when I heard
kindergarten again too and when I heard
kindergarten again too and when I heard this story I was happy that that Lily
this story I was happy that that Lily
this story I was happy that that Lily was really enjoying kindergarten and
was really enjoying kindergarten and
was really enjoying kindergarten and clearly Lily recognized that
clearly Lily recognized that
clearly Lily recognized that kindergarten was a special time at a
kindergarten was a special time at a
kindergarten was a special time at a special place guys think that Lily also
special place guys think that Lily also
special place guys think that Lily also you know realized it seemed to be
you know realized it seemed to be
you know realized it seemed to be worried that after leaving kindergarten
worried that after leaving kindergarten
worried that after leaving kindergarten is she wouldn’t have more opportunities
is she wouldn’t have more opportunities
is she wouldn’t have more opportunities for creative play and creative
for creative play and creative
for creative play and creative expression so I share Lily’s concerns
expression so I share Lily’s concerns
expression so I share Lily’s concerns and I’m going to do something about it I
and I’m going to do something about it I
and I’m going to do something about it I think it’s really important the young
think it’s really important the young
think it’s really important the young children like lily and Daisy as they
children like lily and Daisy as they
children like lily and Daisy as they continue to grow up continue to have
continue to grow up continue to have
continue to grow up continue to have opportunities to learn in a kindergarten
opportunities to learn in a kindergarten
opportunities to learn in a kindergarten spirit to have opportunities to explore
spirit to have opportunities to explore
spirit to have opportunities to explore experiment and express themselves to
experiment and express themselves to
experiment and express themselves to continue to develop as creative thinkers
continue to develop as creative thinkers
continue to develop as creative thinkers so we need to find ways to extend the
so we need to find ways to extend the
so we need to find ways to extend the kindergarten approach
kindergarten approach
kindergarten approach to children of all ages from all
to children of all ages from all
to children of all ages from all backgrounds so I hope you’ll join me in
backgrounds so I hope you’ll join me in
backgrounds so I hope you’ll join me in this effort whether you’re a parent or a
this effort whether you’re a parent or a
this effort whether you’re a parent or a teacher or a policymaker or just someone
teacher or a policymaker or just someone
teacher or a policymaker or just someone who really cares about kids let’s all
who really cares about kids let’s all
who really cares about kids let’s all work together to make sure that children
work together to make sure that children
work together to make sure that children of all ages continue to have
of all ages continue to have
of all ages continue to have opportunities to work on projects based
opportunities to work on projects based
opportunities to work on projects based on their passion in collaboration with
on their passion in collaboration with
on their passion in collaboration with peers and a playful spirit there’s
peers and a playful spirit there’s
peers and a playful spirit there’s nothing more important than helping
nothing more important than helping
nothing more important than helping today’s young children grow up as
today’s young children grow up as
today’s young children grow up as creative thinkers so they can be full
creative thinkers so they can be full
creative thinkers so they can be full and active contributors in tomorrow’s
and active contributors in tomorrow’s
and active contributors in tomorrow’s society thank you very much
society thank you very much
society thank you very much [Applause]
”
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