Student Choice and Voice: Playing Through Teacher Preparation

Centering play as a pedagogical approach; in this chapter, I discuss how various methods were utilized in a child development course for pre-service teachers. Definitions of play often include choice, intrinsic motivation, and child or student-centered approaches. Modeling these approaches for future teachers builds their understanding of how these approaches support learning and development and may encourage them to utilize the pedagogical approaches in their future classrooms. One key aspect of ensuring that students had authentic play experiences was offering voice and choice throughout the semester; therefore, the course included a variety of free play, game-based learning, and choice board activities to encourage student-directed learning. In this chapter, I detail the various approaches used in the classroom, provide personal insight about the process, and highlight student feedback regarding their experiences in the course.