Ultimate Goal

To help each child find their greatness.

Purpose Statement

To work with the spirited child and those with special needs for the purpose of enhancing potential within social and educational environments.

Skills to be taught

1. Reading body language
2. Eye contact
3. Reading non-verbal cues
4. Expressing an interest in others
5. Sharing
6. Turn taking
7. Working as a team
8. Staying in group or game
9. Joining a group
10. Including others
11. Forming friendships
12. Appreciation of others/using manners
13. Contributing to a conversation
14. Asking questions
15. Making connections with others
16. Interpersonal skills
17. Intrapersonal skills

Our Methodology

Innova-Play is a unique methodology dedicated to the principle that children learn best when they are not forced into an established curriculum, but that they learn and function best when they are in settings centered around them, engaged in activities that pique their interest.

This is especially true for children with special needs or for those children who have difficulty functioning within a traditional classroom: kids who have very individualized abilities, interests and energy levels. For these children, summer camp, lessons, sporting activities or other programs may leave the child feeling left out, frustrated or simply lost in a process that is irrelevant to them.

Innova-Play is different. It starts with a thorough assessment of the whole child, evaluating how the child relates to others and their environment, and determines their energy level and flow. Based upon these assessments, an individual plan is developed that addresses the child’s particular needs, and incorporates them into a group play dynamic. Children then work together in groups that make sense to them, and participate in activities that are relevant to them, making them full partners in their Innova-Play experience.

Because their group play experience "fits" them, they stay engaged, giving the Innova-Play curriculum the ability to affect change in the child. Incorporating a variety of fun filled activities that seem like play to the children, Innova-Play plans are specifically designed to focus on areas essential to children with special needs, such as social skills, gross motor skills and fine motor skills.

Innova-Play believes that hard work can be accomplished through play! By spending the summer having fun, the child acquires skills that will make them better prepared for school in the fall.

Curriculum

So I was thinking a lot about our curriculum, about the flyer, and about what we need to say to parents.

The flyer isn't clear enough that we are "special needs." When we walk up to the flyer, the first things that need to catch people's eyes are:

Special Needs Kids
Summer Innova-Play Group
North Shore Area

Everything else they can read about in the flyer, after they STOP to look at it! We have to think of our target audience:

Family members of special needs needs kids in the north shore area looking for some enriching summer programming for their kids

So we think of this scenario: Our flyers are posted at a library. A mom is there walking past. She sees our key word: Special Needs Kids. Her sister has a daughter with down syndrome. She also sees "Summer Innova-Play Group" and "North Shore Area" and is intrigued that this maybe just what her niece needs and what her sister has been looking for. She walks closer and begins to read our flyer.

At this point, she wants to know more about us:

Where is this class?
When is the class taking place?
How much is it?
Why would THIS be great for her niece?
Who is teaching the class?

Our flyer has to have these things "pop out" for her.

Play Project

http://www.playproject.org/

Starting Documentation

1. Waiver for Photos/Videos/Recording
2. Waiver for Liability
3. Parent skills assesment
4. Parent/Family Outcome Goals

Create file, upload on email Innova list, then have family print, fill out and bring to class first day.