Q: What is Play & Learn?
A: Play & Learn is a motor-based preschool curriculum for children of ALL abilities based on current research that emphasizes a holistic model in which the child, environment, and the functional tasks are integrated – not isolated. It is also an excellent example of universal design in action! The model for universal design supports an environment where ALL children are included in the same activities within the classroom. Play & Learn shows how to embed adaptations and simple assistive technology into the classroom, so all children can be full participants in their educational environment. Play & Learn is a proven 12-month, theme-based curriculum that includes step-by-step instruction and is full of over 260 activities that promote the development of the whole child. Each activity includes a "Try Another Way" option that utilizes simple technology so that all students can playfully participate, communicate, and learn with each other.
If you are interested in learning more about this quality preschool program, check out the Frequently Asked Questions.
Q: How is the Play & Learn curriculum structured?
A: This twelve-month preschool curriculum provides a framework that is organized to facilitate learning based on current research and monthly theme-based activities that correlate with high quality literature books. The structure includes eleven Play Areas and emphasizes the four key elements necessary in a preschool learning environment. Each of the activity lessons is supported with student photos that make the activities come to real life.
If you are interested in learning more about eleven Play Areas and Four Key Elements in a preschool learning environment, check out the Frequently Asked Questions.
Q: How many Monthly Themes are Included in the Play & Learn curriculum?
A: There are 12 monthly themes:
• September: Welcome to School
• October: Fall Colors
• November: Celebrating Families
• December: Holiday Dazzle
• January: Winter Wonderland
• February: Friends
• March: Animals on Parade
• April: Spring
• May: All Kinds of Gardens
• June: Summer Fun
• July: Celebrate with a Parade
• August: Exploring Our Environment
Q: What are the Play Areas included in the curriculum?
A: There are eleven Play Areas for each month:
• Cooperative Project
• Art in Process
• Obstacle Course
• Swing
• Mat
• Manipulatives
• Gym
• Pre-Writing on a Vertical Service
• Cooperative Sensorimotor
• Cooperative Sensorimotor
• Games
Q: What are the four key elements emphasized in Play & Learn?
A: Routines and Music, Repetition, Play, and Social Interactions
Routines and Music:
Both routines and music play a significant role in creating a predictable environment which supports a child's learning. The Play & Learn curriculum offers an array of music options and cooperative sensorimotor routines that give structure to the schedule and the environment.
Repetition:
Children learn to develop skill transference through repetition of tasks that contain variation. You will find repetition with a variety throughout all the activities in the Play & Learn curriculum.
Play:
Because we know children stay motivated when that are having fun, work becomes child's play work. The Play & Learn curriculum is full of activities centered on play. These fun activities enhance all developmental areas, because children are using multiple sensory systems for learning.
Social Interactions:
Play & Learn incorporates the use of commercially available preschool games throughout the curriculum, since these provide an excellent way to promote natural social interactions. All of the 260 activities provide an opportunity to expand social interactions and have been design with this in mind.
Q: How will I be able to include all my students, even those within the severe disability range?
A: It's easy with "Try Another Way."
Each activity is supported with a "Try Another Way" option, which reflects the actual activity, yet includes a simple assistive technology solution for students in the serve disability range. It is believed that an integrated setting, which utilizes a transdisciplinary model of service delivery, is the most effective way to teach young children. The content of the curriculum includes a variety of activities which are meaningful and relevant to young children, some of which include simple technology tools. The activities have been carefully chosen to meet the ability levels and needs of all students. Children in regular preschool programs will benefit from the activities, as well as children with delayed cognitive development or physical disabilities.
Q: Does the Play & Learn curriculum provide data collection tools?
A: YES!
Play & Learn includes the Functional Motor Checklist for recording and sharing student growth and progress, and is an excellent addition to other assessment and data collection tools you may already have in place. The checklist addresses a variety of times of day and skills used during those times and locations.
Q: What Support Materials are included?
A: There are several items that support the teaching of the themed-based activities:
• Each month includes a recommended literature book list
supporting the monthly theme. Also included on the list are
literature books that promote disability awareness
• Toys and Equipment Resource list to locate the teaching
materials suggested in the curriculum
• Reproducible patterns for supporting activities
• Directions for creating:
- Adapted juice lids
- Adapted stamps
- Adapted sponges
- Adapted fishing poles
- Adapted magnetic stickers and colorforms
- Adapted felt materials
- And so much more
• Functional Motor Checklist for recording and sharing student growth and progress
Q: Will I be able to meet my students IEP goals and objectives using this program?
A: Yes.
Play & Learn provides a framework with activities that are designed to meet the developmental needs of all children – the typically developing child, as well as a child with special needs. All children can be involved in the same activity when assistive technology is embedded into the classroom. In the past, we used switches and voice output communication aides mainly for our children with more severe disabilities, but we found this was just one more thing that separated our students from their peers. Now, the switches are out for everyone to use, and it draws children together, while increasing the opportunities for meaningful social interactions. We've learned that not only can assistive technology benefit children with severe disabilities, but it is also a useful learning tool for our students with autism, communications disorders, and developmental delays, because it draws them into an activity that they may have otherwise avoided. When children are playing and learning together with developmentally appropriate learning materials, everyone benefits!
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