How is online play involved in the teaching of language, literacy and numeracy skills, which are vital?

Play-based learning plays a crucial role in the development of literacy and numeracy. Both are forms of communication; ways in which we represent and share information with others about our world, as a result, they learn languages. These are essential life skills; children need opportunities to use them in a real-life situation. When children are exposed to such kind of learning through hands-on, practical and play-based experiences, they are more likely to engage meaningfully and successfully.

It can be integrated with any subject and in any mode of learning. Our students are learning numbers while jumping and counting numbers while balancing through Virtual School Experience. It makes number name sequence an easy task.

Ms.Kathakali Roy, the Nursery and Early Years Coordinator of Oakridge International School, Gachibowli says, “The play that has the most profound effect on language and literacy development is dramatic play and we are teaching our kids through our Virtual School Experience.” According to our expert, the characteristics of dramatic play that provide the best opportunities for children to practice language and literacy through online include:

  • Using a variety of props and objects available at home ("Let's pretend this block is our phone and we have to call for help when the car breaks down"),
  • Combining multiple roles and themes while interacting online ("Toby is the daddy. He's the doctor too.")
  • Creating a pretend scenario and solving disagreements by talking and negotiating and learning to share and take care of people around them at home.

Mathematical experiences for Early Years children should build largely upon their play and the natural relationships between learning and life are in their daily activities, interests and questions while they are involved in play assignments at home.

  • Play moves math instruction beyond rote memorization to a more expansive understanding of mathematics. Our Virtual School Experience encourages students to talk, think, reason, and wonder as they move through problems. Creating a sense of curiosity, even for simple concepts, playfully engages students.
  • Play creates open spaces for thinking where teachers can guide students to engage with big and interesting ideas of mathematics during their online classes.
  • Math in Early Years starts with pre number concepts followed by measurements, patterns and functions, shapes and space and numbers. In virtual learning, they collect items available at home such as utensils, vegetables, fruits and objects which would help them learn math.
  • Symbolic exploration and expression play an important role when it comes to learning math virtually in the Early Years

 

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