PLAY AND LEARN PROGRAM
Daily Dose of Reading’s (DDR) Play and Learn Program is an intensive early childhood pre-literacy program that integrates learning activities in the classroom or small group setting. Providing professional development for early childhood teachers and related staff, and distributing books to participating children, including literacy activity guides for parents to use at home.
Play and Learn currently serves children at a variety of partner agencies within Cuyahoga County, including the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
The Play and Learn curriculum can be offered at a variety of different times and locations. Materials and ideas are discussed that can be integrated into each classroom. The program also gives teachers and other staff an opportunity to observe different techniques for engaging children using the “Talk, Sing, Read, Play” activities.
“Daily Dose of Reading’s Play and Learn program, which combines talking, singing, reading and playing, is designed to meet curriculum requirements and standards as set out by the Ohio Department of Education and partner agencies.”
Talk, Sing, Read, Play
Children receive a new copy of a book read in each Play and Learn session to help build their own home library.
Children are given “homework” for parents and caregivers that explains how the classroom activities can be repeated at home.
Interactive activities such as songs, fingerplays, and crafts.
DDR literacy specialists participate in parent engagement where they can serve as a resource to parents to help parents play a greater role in the language development of their children.
Beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, DDR began serving children from 6-weeks to 3 years in Step Forward (formerly CEOGC) Early Head Start program. A substantial body of research shows that at-risk children, on average, fall behind their peers in vocabulary by age 3 and that the gap persists throughout the school years. DDR modified its Play and
