‘A place of their own’: creating a classroom ‘third space’ to support a continuum of text construction between home and school.

This paper uses aspects of ‘third space’ theory to support the use of site-based classroom role play as a means of ensuring continuity of text construction between home and school. A hypothetical continuum of text construction between home and school is described, and it is suggested that schools wishing to support this continuum might consider incorporating some home-type contexts and pedagogies into classroom practice. A model of site-based role play is described that aims to do this by setting up an actual third space in primary classrooms, together with some of the educational outcomes of the model's implementation. Implications for schools and family learning programmes are briefly discussed. In conclusion, the paper argues that if we want curriculum continuity between home and school, we need to create ‘third spaces’ in schools that bring together the experiences and pedagogies of both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]