Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten is Making a Comeback
In this episode, Deedee Wills and Hilary Statum talk through a recent Education Week article on why play-based learning is returning to kindergarten classrooms. They cover the pressure of standardized testing, the rise of scripted curricula, and why guided play can be more effective than rigid instruction for young learners.
Key Takeaways
Timestamps
0:01 — Introduction and greeting
0:16 — Hilary introduces the article: Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten is Making a Comeback
0:42 — Why more presenters are being asked for play-based sessions
1:11 — The shift away from play and into more academic instruction
1:40 — How No Child Left Behind and standardized testing changed kindergarten
2:08 — Testing pressure spreading into earlier grade levels
2:34 — Teacher stress around standardized testing
3:02 — States beginning to require play-based learning
3:57 — The challenge of teaching from a script for long periods
4:36 — Deedee explains when scripts can help new teachers
5:28 — Research comparing guided play and direct instruction
5:58 — Why kindergarten needs more than academic skills
6:49 — What guided play looks like in practice
7:27 — Deedee clarifies the difference between play and guided play
8:39 — Free play vs. instructional learning goals
9:09 — Why lessons should feel less rigid and more joyful
10:06 — Ideas for balancing direct instruction with active learning
11:06 — The problem with oversized curriculum packages
11:50 — How teachers can advocate for more play using research
13:04 — Using evidence to explain why changes matter
13:34 — Closing thoughts and future blog and podcast potential
RESEARCH ARTICLE:
Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten Is Making a Comeback. Here’s What It Means
WHERE YOU CAN FIND US:
Hilary Statum: https://pencilstopigtails.com/
Deedee Wills: https://mrswillskindergarten.com/
