Cleveland, Ohio

Learning on the Go with ReadyRosie

Each year, the leaders of Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) in Cleveland’s Starting Point and Invest in Children programs choose a theme to guide the work of more than thirty preschools that are members of NNPS. The preschools conduct innovative activities for families to help students build basic skills to prepare for a successful transition to kindergarten. This year’s theme Learning on the Go was supported by ReadyRosie— a subscription-based, online program that provides parents with daily language arts and math activities in English or Spanish. The interactions help preschoolers build vocabulary, ask questions, use complex sentences, and give their own opinions.

The Family Engagement Coordinator helped schools’ Action Teams for Partnerships (ATPs) address questions about ReadyRosie. Teachers were guided to communicate with parents about how to use the videos and materials to spark their children’s interest in learning. For example, short 2-minute videos illustrated “real-world” parent-child interactions at home, in the park, grocery store, and other common locations. One video guided parents to have fun with vocabulary and math at the grocery store by talking with the child about “more vs. less” by weighing different fruit. ReadyRosie helped parents get students ready for kindergarten.

Learning on the Go with ReadyRosie is featured in Promising Partnership Practices 2016.

Learning on the Go

Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) in Cuyahoga County is committed to involving families in their child’s early care and education. Starting Point and Invest in Children, the Cleveland UPK program, guided schools’ ATPs to work with families to use “teachable moments” to talk with their children about interesting events and ideas all around them. The ATPs added activities for Learning on the Go to their One-Year Action Plans for Partnerships. Along with Ready Rosie, several schools listed Whooo’s Ready for School. This activity is based on a calendar for parents of four-year olds that lists ideas and actions from the Cuyahoga County Public Library on reading and literacy skill building.

Other schools focused on helping parents understand that learning can take place anytime and anywhere. The ATPs developed and shared designs for exciting activities such as lending libraries, a math and science carnival, family library visits, and more. Learning on the Go carried over to the End-of-Year Celebration at the Cleveland MetroParks Zoo. Over 250 people enjoyed a meal together, visited zoo exhibits, and engaged in Learning on the Go stations. The stations included activities such as dance and movement, arts and crafts, and good stories. Each child received a book to take home. Everyone had a chance to visit each other’s school displays highlighting family engagement activities that were conducted throughout the year.