Teacher Education and Play Pedagogy

Eleni Loizou is a Professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Education of the University of Cyprus.

Jeffrey Trawick-Smith is Professor Emeritus and a senior researcher in the Center for Early Childhood Education of Eastern Connecticut State University.

Play has always been vital to the field of early childhood education, for teacher educators and early years teachers, as a pedagogy and way of organizing learning. With diverse perspectives from scholars around the world, Teacher Education and Play Pedagogy is a unique text focusing on teacher education for play pedagogy and uniquely blends research and praxis on authentically implementing play practices.

This book is divided into two main sections: part 1 unfolds the different ways in which teacher educators have been preparing early years teachers to support children's play and consider professional preparation for a play pedagogy; part 2 provides information on how teachers take on different roles, act in diverse ways to effectively support children to develop play skills, to learn and develop. With contributions from across the early childhood spectrum, researchers present their empirical work through multiple forms of data with deep reflections and critical stances towards the play pedagogy implementation.

Teacher Education and Play Pedagogy is a valuable text for early childhood education undergraduate and graduate courses, for early childhood education researchers, as well as an essential reference for professional development programs and seminars.

With diverse perspectives from scholars around the world, Teacher Education and Play Pedagogy is a unique text focusing on teacher education for play pedagogy and uniquely blends research and praxis on authentically implementing play practices.

List of illustrations

List of contributors

Foreword: Tony Bertram and Chris Pascal

Preface

PART 1

Teacher ducation for Play Pedagogy

1. Introduction: Play Pedagogy Conceptualizations and Reflections on Existing Research

2. A Closer Look at the Maturity of Make-Believe Play in Quebec's Kindergarten to Inform the Design of a Professional Development Program

3. Play as the Work of Pre-service Teachers: A Case Study of Inspiring Play as Pedagogy in a University Early Childhood Program.

4: Play Training and Coaching for Child Care Providers on How to Support Children's Play and Learning

5. Educating Early Childhood Education Teachers for Play-Responsive Early Childhood Education and Care (PRECEC)

6. Supporting Early Childhood Teachers' Play Pedagogy: Methods, Processes and Outcomes

7. Play-Based Teaching in Russian Preschool Education: Pretend and Digital Play

8. Learning to Play-2-Gether: Building Positive Relationships with Children through Play

Caroline Vancraeyveldt, Sara Barros Araújo, Annerieke Boland, Sona Grofcíková, Anna Klimentova, Ineke Oenema-Mostert and Manuela Sanches-Ferreira

9. Challenges and Dilemmas With Play-Based Pedagogy in Swedish Early Childhood Education.

10. Creating Preservice Teachers' Playful Mindsets and Dispositions Towards Play in the US

11. Advanced Block Play in Preschool: Implications for Teacher Education

12. A Case Study of an Early Childhood Teacher's Constructive Play Praxeological Transformation

13. Themes for Teacher Education for Play Pedagogy