Playful Learning and Teaching: Integrating Play into Preschool and Primary Programs Book

Each chapter includes “Prereading Guide,” “Stories from the Field,” “Developing Advocacy Skills,” “Summary,” “Revisiting First Impressions,” “Questions for Discourse,” and “Suggested Readings.”

I.CONNECTING THEORIES OF PLAY, LEARNING, AND DEVELOPMENT.

1. Defining Play from Many Perspectives.

Multiple Perspectives Regarding Play.

Brain Development and Play.

Defining Play and Playfulness.

2.The Child's Perspective of Play.

Characteristics of Play That Facilitate Learning and Development.

Categories of Play.

Individual Factors That Influence Play.

Embedding Play into the Culture of the Classroom.

II.CONNECTING PLAY THEORY AND PRACTICE IN PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PRIMARY CLASSROOMS.

3.Embedding Play into the Curricula.

Learning Goals for Young Children.

The Teacher's Role in Fostering Learning Goals through Play.

Combining Elements of Emergent Curriculum, Thematic Instruction, and Projects to Create Opportunities for Playful Learning.

4.Fostering Playful Learning throughout the Day.

Recognizing Diversity among Learners.

Using a Learning Center System to Provide Opportunities for Playful Learning.

Embedding Transitions and Routines with Playful Activities.

Technology and Play.

5.Fostering Playful Learning through Pretense.

The Role of Pretense in Development and Learning.

Fostering Dramatic Play in Early Childhood Classrooms.

Fostering Creative Dramatics in Early Childhood Classrooms.

Including Children with Special Needs in Dramatic and Sociodramatic Play.

6.Fostering Playful Learning through Ongoing Assessment.

Definition of Assessment.

Purpose of Assessment.

Scope of the Assessment.

Context for Assessment.

Play as a Developmentally Appropriate Context for Assessment.

Techniques for Capturing Observations.

Validity Considerations for Observational Assessment.

Sharing Assessment Information.

III.CONNECTING PLAY AND CONTENT IN PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PRIMARY CLASSROOMS.

7.Fostering Healthy Living through Playful Learning and Playful Teaching.

Fostering Healthy Living through Play.

Healthy Living and Self-Esteem.

Healthy Living and Nutrition.

Healthy Living and Physical Development.

The Outdoors as a Learning Center.

Routines and Transitions That Foster Healthy Living.

Including Children with Special Needs.

8.Fostering Creative Expression through Playful Learning and Teaching.

Fostering Creative Expression.

Fostering Creative Expression through Music.

Fostering Creative Expression through the Visual Arts.

9.Fostering Language and Literacy through Playful Learning and Playful Teaching.

Developing Language and Literacy through Play: Revisiting Cognitive Theory.

Language and Literacy Connections.

Literacy Centers.

The Teacher's Role in Maintaining an Emergent Literacy Perspective.

Using Transitions and Routines to Support Language and Literacy.

Including Children with Special Needs.

10.Fostering Cognitive Competence through Playful Learning and Playful Teaching.

Developing Cognitive Competence.

Fostering Cognitive Competence.

Using Centers to Encourage Cognitive Competence.

Using Technology to Support Cognitive Competence.

Maintaining a Constructivist Approach.

Including Children with Special Needs.

References.

Index.