Children will bond with one another over the course of this Multi-Day course and develop the foundational skills of philosophical discourse through a fun mix of play and discussion. 

As an early primary school educator, I know that young children are not only capable of but thrive on challenging, philosophical discourse. Kids care passionately about the ethical issues that matter to them; they just need to be offered the encouragement and tools to engage on a practical level. This is where Philosophy for Children comes in. We will learn: 

Week 1: What is philosophy? What makes a question philosophical? 
--> Games: Silly Sausage, Questions/Statements Sort, Open/Closed Questions Sort
Week 2: How do we State a Position, Give a Reason, and Actively Listen?
--> Games: Good Idea/Bad Idea, What Did I Say?
Week 3: How do we Give Examples and Counterexamples?
--> Contrast drawings, Venn Diagrams
Week 4: How do we Respectfully Disagree and Give a Reason?
--> Philosophy poems, Concept contrast drawings (e.g. Fair/Not Fair or Want/Need)

Each class includes check-ins and a few minutes of social time so that everyone is able to relax with one another as friends. This creates a comfortable, stress-free atmosphere in which children do their best learning. 

I was a Philosophy major in college, served as a teaching assistant for Logic 100 for 3 years in a row, and have taught Philosophy for Children since 2012. I have a Master of Arts in Teaching, completed an Advanced Practice Philosophy for Children course, and work full time at a primary school that is known nationally for its Philosophy for Children program. 

My teaching style is fun and firm. I am flexible and responsive to students' needs and interests while being clear about boundaries and schedule so children understand what to expect. 

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Why Philosophy for Children is important to me:  

Imagine if education was for exploration and the realisation of revolutionary ideas. Imagine if kids were taught to critically examine everything they are told, to form their own opinions based on evidence and their own ethics, and to defend their positions with sound logical reasoning. Imagine if kids were empowered to think for themselves and to challenge authority, cultural norms, and their peers in thoughtful, reasoned, and respectful ways. 

Imagine if all children were challenged to think and act intersectionally, to study how their privileges and challenges combine to affect how they interact with the world and the opportunities that they have. Imagine if all educators challenged themselves to do the same. 

Philosopher John Dewey is famous for saying “Education is not preparation for life. Education is life itself.” Imagine that school can be, as Dewey envisioned, a microcosm of a democratic society, empowering children to take charge of their learning community and strengthen their growth mindsets by really examining the underpinnings of their setbacks and figuring out how to change that with which they are unsatisfied.

Imagine: These children go out into the world equipped with the tools and confidence to challenge the injustice of the status quo and actually change society. Imagine: Every child knows how much they/she/he matters. Imagine: These children never learn to hate. These children grow into confident adults who never are inclined to put others down in order to validate themselves. Imagine this, combined with and nourished by creative expression and the written word. In my classrooms, this vision is my baseline goal, and it is why I do philosophy. 

*Please note that on days in which a book or poem is read aloud, with publisher permission, I may be unable to share the recording due to copyright permissions.*