MMSD’s Mobile Play & Learn at Jefferson Middle School
Enthusiastic Learning
Enthusiastic Learning
another MMSD employee cart their mobile classrooms to other sites like the Lussier Community Education Center to conduct weekly
sessions with the parents and children.
According to Sanderson, this was the first time that Play & Learn was offered during the summer. “A lot of our children have
brothers and sisters who go to summer school, so the little ones get to come to Play & Learn in the same building,” Sanderson said. “It’
s been a great success this summer. This site is one of our most multicultural sites. A lot of the children don’t speak English of
Spanish. Their parents are also learning because they speak Arabic or their own home language. Here we do it with signs and pictures.
By the end of the year, the kids are learning how to sing songs and are counting in Spanish and English.”
Sanderson clearly loves her work with the children and their parents, who are required to stay and learn with their children. “I’m
having a blast,” Sanderson emphasized. “Everyday is different and everyday, I see different families. I go to different sites. It’s different
people and different children every day. It is wonderful.”
During the 2010-2011 school year, Play & Learn will be offered at 20 sites in the greater Madison area. For information visit http:
//elemedweb.madison.k12.wi.us/files/elemed/PlayandLearnSchedule_10_11.pdf or call 663-1632.
sessions with the parents and children.
According to Sanderson, this was the first time that Play & Learn was offered during the summer. “A lot of our children have
brothers and sisters who go to summer school, so the little ones get to come to Play & Learn in the same building,” Sanderson said. “It’
s been a great success this summer. This site is one of our most multicultural sites. A lot of the children don’t speak English of
Spanish. Their parents are also learning because they speak Arabic or their own home language. Here we do it with signs and pictures.
By the end of the year, the kids are learning how to sing songs and are counting in Spanish and English.”
Sanderson clearly loves her work with the children and their parents, who are required to stay and learn with their children. “I’m
having a blast,” Sanderson emphasized. “Everyday is different and everyday, I see different families. I go to different sites. It’s different
people and different children every day. It is wonderful.”
During the 2010-2011 school year, Play & Learn will be offered at 20 sites in the greater Madison area. For information visit http:
//elemedweb.madison.k12.wi.us/files/elemed/PlayandLearnSchedule_10_11.pdf or call 663-1632.
By Jonathan Gramling
Even before one enters the room, one can feel the energy emanating out of the
classroom on the second floor of Jefferson Middle School. There is singing and the
laughter of young children. Rissel Sanderson, the staff for MMSD’s Play & Learn, and the
parents are leading the children through fun activities designed to encourage the children
to learn.
Soon they are marching around the school with colorful and sometimes imaginative
hats on, led by Sanderson in her “Cat in the Hat” headwear. At the end of the two and a half
hours of playful learning, Sanderson says good-bye to her young charges one-by-one,
giving them books and other educational items because it was the end of the summer
session of Play & Learn.
“This program is designed for parents, grandparents or anyone taking care of the
children who are not going to any kind of day care, Head Start or have any engagement
with other kids,” Sanderson said. “Play & Learn is for newborns to five year olds. They get
to meet other kids. We do early literacy in math. We concentrate on different ages and bring
appropriate activities and projects for the children. The parents are learning how important
it is to play and communicate with their children. We help them teach their children. We
bring a lot of resources for parents, places where they can go and spend time with their
kids. We have single moms who have 1-2 kids and the kids stay at home all of the time.
They get to come and meet other families. The parents become friends and it is wonderful.”
Play & Learn was established five years ago by the Madison Metropolitan School District
(MMSD) in partnership with United Way, Children’s Service Society and Family
Enhancement. Two years ago, MMSD started mobile Play & Learn where Sanderson and
Even before one enters the room, one can feel the energy emanating out of the
classroom on the second floor of Jefferson Middle School. There is singing and the
laughter of young children. Rissel Sanderson, the staff for MMSD’s Play & Learn, and the
parents are leading the children through fun activities designed to encourage the children
to learn.
Soon they are marching around the school with colorful and sometimes imaginative
hats on, led by Sanderson in her “Cat in the Hat” headwear. At the end of the two and a half
hours of playful learning, Sanderson says good-bye to her young charges one-by-one,
giving them books and other educational items because it was the end of the summer
session of Play & Learn.
“This program is designed for parents, grandparents or anyone taking care of the
children who are not going to any kind of day care, Head Start or have any engagement
with other kids,” Sanderson said. “Play & Learn is for newborns to five year olds. They get
to meet other kids. We do early literacy in math. We concentrate on different ages and bring
appropriate activities and projects for the children. The parents are learning how important
it is to play and communicate with their children. We help them teach their children. We
bring a lot of resources for parents, places where they can go and spend time with their
kids. We have single moms who have 1-2 kids and the kids stay at home all of the time.
They get to come and meet other families. The parents become friends and it is wonderful.”
Play & Learn was established five years ago by the Madison Metropolitan School District
(MMSD) in partnership with United Way, Children’s Service Society and Family
Enhancement. Two years ago, MMSD started mobile Play & Learn where Sanderson and
| Rissel Sanderson talked with one of her preschoolers during the Play & Learn session at Jefferson Middle School this summer. |
