Seminars Applying a play-based approach to the DRDP-Rs This area allows you (early childhood educators), the ability to look at a series of seminars which will help you transform your classroom into one that supports a play-based curriculum. These seminars provide specific information on how to incorporate the California Department of Educations: Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP-R) into a play-based curriculum. Part 1 Learn how to develop classroom curriculum that encourages children to take an active role in the learning process. Seminar 1 What is play? I.      Understand that young children learn best through meaningful, active, hands-on activities.  Explore how play fulfills these criteria. II.     Acknowledge and address the importance of Piaget and Vygotsky’s definitions of play. III.    Define emergent play.  Explore techniques on how to develop meaningful, on-the-spot curriculum using children's interests. IV.    Discover how to provide all academic components through play within each interest area throughout the classroom. V.     Explore different types of play that may occur indoors. VI.    Explore different types of play that may occur outdoors. VII.   Investigate Reggio Emilia’s “hundred languages of learning.”  Investigate which kinds of materials should be provided in order to allow this type  of discovery within a preschool setting. VIII.  Understand the purpose and overall goals of the desired results developmental profile instrument. Seminar 2 Documentation  I.    Define documentation and understand its role as an assessment tool within the classroom. II.    Become familiar with DRDPR measures and each indicator. III.   Understand the role of the teacher during documentation, and the materials needed for documentation. Explore ways to record children's learning and  to evaluate written observations, photography and video clips. IV.   Discover what to look for when observing play within the classroom. Explore how to use multiple measures of the DRDPR as a guide to documenting  observations. V.    Comprehend the importance of children’s artwork and its relevance to meeting multiple aspects of the DRDPRs. Understand how to use art as a language and comprehension tool. VI.   Discover organizational techniques which provide easy assessment strategies when completing the DRDPR. Explore how to create student portfolios and computer files. VII.  Understand how to match documented evidence to their correct indicators and measures. Part 2 Discover ways in which children use play to understand literacy and math in everyday life. Implement these concepts through a play-based curriculum that meets multiple measures on the DRDPR. Seminar 3 DRDPR Part 1 Introducing Language/Reading and Comprehension Through Play I.    Explore skills to be mastered in the literacy area of the DRDPR. II.    Recognize popular themes and interests of children. Identify props and appropriate space needed to incorporate themes into the classroom. III.    Understand how to orchestrate and identify meaningful play within a classroom through scaffolding and asking open-ended questions. IV.    Understand how to promote symbolic recognition through play, and how that enhances cognitive and language development. V.     Identify ways to incorporate literacy comprehension through play. Discover ways to access themed materials and create opportunities for children to develop and retell their stories and experiences. VI.    Identify ways children can practice letter and word knowledge through play. Discover a variety of materials that enhance interest of emergent writing skills, such as  letter and word recognition. VII.    Understand the importance of phonological practice and the ability to provide this practice through play. VIII.    Discover a variety of tools and props that may be used to encourage literacy in a dramatic play area. Seminar 4 DRDPR Part 2 Introducing Math Through Play I.    Explore important skills to be mastered in the math area of the DRDPR. II.    Discover different types of math manipulatives and tools. Identify ways to incorporate these props into different areas of the classroom. III.    Assess different math props and discover how to relate them to a variety of dramatic play events. IV.    Discover the importance of numbers and the multiple ways in which adults use them throughout the day. Discover how to incorporate these daily routines into dramatic play events to promote number recognition. V.    Discover how to use daily play experiences to guide children’s understanding of simple mathematical concepts. VI.    Explore measurement and its different uses throughout the classroom. Identify ways in which measurement can be assessed through a variety of classroom activities. VII.    Recognize a variety of ways in which classification can be practiced through popular dramatic play themes. VIII.    Understand ways in which children use time in their play. Discover time-related questions and props which can be used to enhance play. IX.    Explore patterning and its place in dramatic play. Explore different ways in which patterning can be used to enhance cognitive development through rhythm and movement. X.    Explore different ways to describe shapes. Discover ways to incorporate discussions about shapes throughout a play experience.

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