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ERIC Number: EJ1479615
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1707
Available Date: 2025-05-17
Guided Play in the Kindergarten Classroom: One Teacher's Inquiry into Scaffolding Play-Based Writing Instruction
Early Childhood Education Journal, v53 n6 p2089-2098 2025
Research abounds regarding the need for young children's access to authentic play experiences. Yet, while play is considered the main method of learning for young children, mainstream curricula often omit this mode and further perpetuate the artificial divide of play or learning. Guided play is a pedagogical approach in which teachers integrate a balance of child-led exploration alongside intentional scaffolding and targeted guidance. This method allows educators to support children's agency while facilitating their play towards specific learning outcomes. However, along with challenges related to limited time and support, teachers face a lack of clear guidance on how to implement guided play in their classrooms and scaffold children's learning within these environments. Supported by current research, this paper provides methods for incorporating writing instruction through guided play in four kindergarten classroom spaces. Materials and scaffolding strategies are discussed, along with a brief list of resources for each learning area. Finally, this paper concludes with recommendations for teachers who are beginning to incorporate guided play into their early years kindergarten classrooms.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Kent State University, Kent, USA