Since the pandemic, it has become even more evident that kindergarten is a crucial time to ensure that students from low-income and marginalized families have an equal chance to create a solid foundation toward early school success. In fact, research demonstrates that the entire third-grade reading gap is evident by the end of kindergarten, and students who are behind after this foundational year fall even more behind in first grade. Innovative teaching and learning strategies are needed to ensure young learners are progressing on target through the all-important kindergarten year. 

Fortunately, research also has shown that play-based learning is an effective way to personalize teaching and learning. According to the Early Learning Academies, play-based learning helps learners to “be interested in what they are learning, more likely to retain knowledge, and to apply new knowledge to different activities.” The Academies go on to say that: “By allowing children to engage with letters, sounds, words and books through play, it increases their ability to form language and strengthens their early literacy skills.” With the onset of artificial intelligence and the growing field of gaming and EdTech, there are even more resources to support this playful and engaging approach in the classroom and outside of school.