Running head: BALANCE BETWEEN PLAY AND TESTING 1

Free Play vs. Structure Play

Monica Espinoza

ECD 470

Fresno Pacific University

BALANCE BETWEEN PLAY AND TESTING 2

Free Play vs. Structure Play

Throughout the school year students are given test to determine what letter grade they should

earn and if they should pass of fail. Cramming different subjects in specific time is another

reality issue that is being addressed to all teachers. On the other hand, test results can be

beneficial to the teachers and students as they see what they need to improve on or what is

learned already. Knowing exactly how to help students during station activities often times be

difficult between play and test-driven curriculum. Establishing a balance between the importance

of play in early childhood development and a test-driven curriculum can be done when looking

at the foundations of the specific topic that needs to be met. Addressing these points and making

sure that they are followed helps an educator/teacher determine the difference between play and

test-driven curriculum. Trying to establish a balance between both can often times be very

difficult because of the pressure the teachers are being put on so therefore the students can get

the scores in, in time.

In addition, there is a difference between free play and structure play. Free play in my

opinion is playing safely with their friends while teachers are supervising for safety. Children in

preschool often times need that time to let their wiggles out when they transition from learning

time after a longer period. Structure play can be viewed as all students working in the same area

and trying to solve a challenge using playful items. For example, if the students are learning

about dinosaurs and during a station outside the students are given the opportunity to explore

with sand and bones. This activity has structure in its play because the students are given specific

items to work with. As the skills are being used and met based on the objective that the lesson
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plan has, most of the students should be familiar with the lesson and the testing shouldnt be as

difficult as it could have been before the structure play.

Providing the students, the best of the lesson and the hands-on structure play will allow the

students to have confidence when testing comes around. On the other hand, if the majority of the

students did not understand the story telling on the dinosaurs book then more practice needs to

be addressed so the students can understand it. Testing is also helpful for the teachers because

they will see what needs to be practiced more and what is mastered. When making a decision the

teachers have to really put some thought into it and see if the activity really helped them or not.

Several questions could come across, for example, was the activity free play than structure play

or was the activity too hard to master it. Many questions can be brought up, but in the end

change for the best of the students needs to be made. Often times taking a risk in change has to

be made to see how the students follow up with it. Having the balance between the appropriate

play will determine how well the students benefited from the lesson.

In conclusion, establishing a balance between the importance of play in early childhood

development and a test-driven curriculum is done when looking at the foundations of the specific

topic that needs to be met. Following the foundations and the objective of the lesson will help a

teacher provide an adequate activity for the students. Addressing the difference between free play

and structure will also help a teacher make the correct decisions for what is best in her classroom

so therefore the students master the test. On the other hand, it is also good feedback to see what

best worked for the students and what did not work. Test results help a teacher improve their

academic skills so therefore the students can be provided with the best activities. Therefore, this
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is how balance needs to be addressed between play for early childhood and when it comes to

testing.
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