Issue 49 changeagent.nelrc.org September 2019 THE CHANGE Adult Education for Social Justice: News, AGENT Issues, and Ideas We All Need to Play Everyone Needs to Play: 3 Walking is My Play: 4 Red Tricycle: 5 A Game for Learning: 6 Just This One Time: 8 Fair Play for a Fair Future: 10 The Way I Got My Dolls: 12 Fun in a Farming Village: 14 Hide-and-Seek in War: 15 Everybody Played: 16 Passing the Ball On: 18 I Still Like to Hula Hoop: 19 We Were Captains of Our Ships: 20 The Caves: 21 Not Much Time to Play: 22 Sacred Play: 24 Old Games vs. New Games: 26 Strict Mom: 27 Nothing to Compare: 28 Siri, Why Is Mom So Boring: 29 Addiction to Video Games: 30 Hooked on Video Games: 32 Play for Bodies, Minds, and Souls: 34 Who Is Allowed to Play? 36 Playtime: Not Just Fun and Games: 38 Football Taught Me to Embrace Challenges: 40 Play Sports and Learn: 41 My Tamagotchi Taught Me: 42 Imagination is the Best Play: 43 Concepción Saravia (above as a child with her baseball More than Marbles: 44 bat, and left as an adult) begged her mother to let her Be Happy—Play: 47 play baseball. Read her story on p. 8. Whole Body Development through Play: 48 ENGAGING, EMPOWERING, AND READY-TO-USE. Early Childhood Educator Career Student-generated, relevant content in print & audio at various levels of Pathway: 49 complexity—designed to teach basic skills & transform & inspire adult learners. I Wanted to Play: 50 Gamification: 52 A MAGAZINE & WEBSITE: CHANGEAGENT.NELRC.ORG The Change Agent is the bi- A Note from the Editor: annual publication of The New Our writers in this issue are from all over the world, from Mexico to Mol- England Literacy Resource Center. Each issue of the paper dova, from Lebanon to Gambia, and from Indonesia to Cape Verde, as helps teachers incorporate social well as the U.S. They are enrolled in programs from Arkansas to Arizona, justice content into their curricu- lum. The paper is designed for and from New England to Oregon and Alaska. One takes correspondence intermediate-level ESOL, ABE, courses while incarcerated; another is studying to become a phlebotomist; GED, and adult diploma classes. some hope to help their children with their homework. Others are working Each issue focuses on a different topic that is relevant to learners’ on their high school diploma, job skills, and college readiness. One “has a lives. curious mind, a kind heart, worker’s hands, and traveler’s feet.” All of them In New England, online access put their full hearts and minds into exploring the topic of play—defining to The Change Agent is available it, sharing the joy of it, noting the lessons learned from it, and shining a free of charge through NELRC’s affiliated state literacy resource light on the ways we do not all have fair access to it. Special thanks to Netty centers. Email changeagent@ Prastika (p. 3) who gave us our title, “We All Need to Play.” worlded.org to learn how to ac- Students using this issue in the classroom will benefit not just from the cess the site. stories, which are engaging, playful, and at times heartbreaking. They will Submissions: For the theme of our next issue, also find learning activities; vocabulary lessons; extensions that incorporate see the “Call for Articles” on math, science, geography, and history; as well as research and presenta- the back cover. Note that we tion ideas that help them take their learning further. I hope they will be as feature writing by adult learn- ers. For submission guidelines inspired as I am by these powerful stories. And perhaps they will consider visit: <changeagent.nelrc.org/ writing for our next issue. See p. 55 and the back cover for more informa- write-for-us> or contact us at 617-482-9485 or changeagent@ tion about how to write for the next issue, “Stand Up and Be Counted,” worlded.org. which marks the election and the decennial census. Subscriptions: Individual, bulk, and electronic Our Editorial Board: subscriptions to The Change Many thanks to the members of our editorial board, whose collective cre- Agent are available. See the back cover and/or our website ativity and wisdom about play and all things adult ed. helped shape this for details: issue: Aliza Ansell, ABE and Workforce Development at Holyoke Commu- <https://changeagent.nelrc.org/ subscribe/> nity College, Holyoke, MA; Sheon Casabuena, student at Avoyelles Parish Schools in Marksville, LA; ESOL student at the Seaport Ho- Editor: Ana Contreras, Cynthia Peters tel in Boston, MA; Ed Latham, technology specialist, Milbridge, ME; Andy Proofreaders: Nash, World Education, Boston, MA; Alexandra Papagno, former ESOL Sydney Breteler, Sandy teacher, Boston, MA; Francisco Romero ESOL student at the Seaport Hotel Goodman, Andy Nash, Kath- leen O’Connell, and Priyanka in Boston, MA; Nico Scallan, ABE teacher at Avoyelles Parish Schools in Sharma. Marksville, LA; Ebony Vandross, World Education, Boston, MA. The Change Agent is published —Cynthia Peters, [email protected] by the New England Literacy Re- source Center/World Education 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, And finally... please subscribe or renew! We need you! MA 02210 (617) 482-9485 Spread the word to friends and colleagues, and encourage programs to sub- No information in this magazine scribe. Remember to revisit our back issues for a great source of relevant, is intended to reflect an endorse- ment for, or opposition to, any timely content. You—our fans and allies—help us keep the lights on! candidate or political party. Prisons Race Immigration Math We All Need to Play Everyone Needs to Play Netty Prastika BEFORE YOU READ: How would you define play? ments. We face daily stresses at Play has many definitions. Some say that for chil- work and in our dren, play is actually their work. Others say that families. We are play is for fun only. The Google dictionary says always looking play is for enjoyment and does not serve “a serious for ways to solve or practical purpose.” But most of us know that our problems. We play helps us relax, and in this busy life, that is feel like we don’t very practical! It is hard to decide which definition have time to play. is right. Let’s look more closely at play. But play is For a child, play is an essential part of his not just for kids. or her life—it is like their job. Researchers have We all need to play. shown that play can in- We need to forget for a while about work, dead- crease a child’s intelligence Play is a way to lines, or problems. By playing, we give ourselves and creativity, and improve permission to have fun, relax, or even be silly. fuel yourself! their emotional, social, and When we play, it is not the outcome that is im- physical health. When the portant, but the process. There are so many ways children are playing, they to play, such as sharing jokes with friends, flying look focused. They take their play seriously! Also, a kite at a park, baking with your kids, biking they look free, enthusiastic, excited, and so alive. I around with friends, or building a sand castle on a think many of us never realized as we were grow- beach. ing up, how lucky we were to be able to play. Play is a way to fuel yourself! When you play, As adults, there are so many important you have a chance to be creative, use your imagi- things to do. We work and have serious commit- nation, and solve problems in a carefree way. So… what is play? Play is something we do for plea- sure. But it is also serious. Play is something that we all—adults and children—need in our lives. Sources: <www.psychologized.org/jean-piagets-theory-of-play>; “Why It’s Good for Grown-ups to Go Play,” Jennifer Wallace, Washington Post, May 20, 2017. Netty Prastika is studying English at Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ. She came to the U.S. from Indonesia in 2017. She has two young daughters and she likes to go traveling with her family. “If you want to be creative, stay in part AFTER YOU READ: a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they 1. According to the author, what is play? are deformed by adult society.” 2. Read the quote by Jean Piaget in the box. Dis- —Jean Piaget cuss what it means. Research Jean Piaget and share your findings. changeagent.nelrc.org — September 2019 — The Change Agent 3 We All Need to Play Walking is My Play Marie Nicolle Romelien As a child, I was worried about getting hurt playing games. So, as an adult, I still don’t like to play games. Instead, I enjoy spending my free time walking around Cambridge. This past Saturday, I walked more than 12,000 steps. I enjoy walking because I like to watch the boats in the river. I like to see people do their exercises. I get excited when I see buildings and construction. How intelligent people are! I love to stop and listen to people playing guitar or singing in the streets. I often watch kids play in the park. They play basketball, soccer, and volleyball. And they ride their bikes, too. I feel emotional and happy to see kids that are doing well. If I stayed in my house all the time, I couldn’t see all of these beautiful things.