For instance, if I notice that two children enjoy playing house, I will encourage them to test their math skills by counting the apples that they will serve for lunch or the dishes in their sink. In addition, I will encourage them to expand their play to include new skills, such as note writing (language) and matching (math). In addition to encouraging this more learning-focus type of play, I will also need to teach students to get used to the system of testing and assessment, as this is how they will be assessed throughout the rest of their school careers. Thus, I plan to encourage a positive attitude toward this type of assessment in my classroom. I will do this through using methods similar to those I will use to encourage learning-based play. Although the fact that "children are active learners who contribute to their own development and learning as they strive to make meaning out of their daily experiences" ("Early Childhood Education," 2008, para. 4) seems to be more closely associated with pay, it can also be associated with assessment. I plan to encourage children to have a positive attitude toward assessment by putting assessments into their daily routines. These will include formal assessment practices, as well as encouragement to think critically about the decisions they make. For instance, if two children enjoy playing house, I might ask them to explain why they chose certain foods to serve for lunch or identify two food items that match.

Thus, the importance of play cannot...

Even in the current climate that encourages standardized testing as a means of assessing students, it is the responsibility of the early childhood educator. While it is important not to neglect play in the focus of testing, as Clark (2007) indicates is happening in the modern educational system, it is possible to balance both play and test-driven curriculum through proper encouragement of students. I plan to encourage my students to use creative play in order to both learn and grow accustomed to assessments.
References

Almon, J. (n.d.). "The Vital Role of Play in Early Childhood Education." Retrieved May

28, 2009, from the Waldorf Research Institute. Web Site: http://www.waldorfresearchinstitute.org/pdf/BAPlayAlmon.pdf

Carllson-Paige, N. (2008) "Reclaiming Play: Helping Children Learn and Thrive in School." Retrieved May 28, 2009, from Nancy Carlsson-Piage.org. Web Site:

http://www.nancycarlssonpaige.org/articles10.html

Clark, L. (2007) "Test-driven schools that rob pupils of play time." Retrieved May 28,

2009, from The Daily Mail Online. Web Site:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-452686/Test-driven-schools-rob-pupils-play-time.html

"Early Childhood Education students learn to teach children through play." (2008).

Retrieved May 28, 2009, from Hispania News. Web Site: http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/2005/06/24/10.htm