The Learning By Doing program provides teachers with the training needed to understand concepts, create intentional lessons, present lessons in a meaningful manner that involves students’ interest while systematically presenting lessons that are integrated with literacy concepts. This intentional and methodical framework allows young students to engage and master literacy concepts in a simple to complex manner. There is a repetition of how lessons are presented, yet new literacy concepts are introduced so that students are able to master concepts at their own pace. Students are exposed to three letter sounds a day for ten days. Each day brings a new literacy concept and indirect integration of other content areas such as mathematics.
Moreover, students are able to classify sounds, match upper/lowercase (large/small), and identify similar as well as different characters of letters. Such concepts include letter recognition, letter sounds, and then begin the process of reading and writing. This yearlong experience breaks down the process by allowing students of very young ages to focus on a particular aspect or concept. This is what Maria Montessori would call “isolating the quality,” which are lessons that emphasize the particular concept to learn. The Learning By Doing program does this exactly but also provides a personalized approach for each student according to his or her learning progression. As noted in NAEYC’s position statement, “children learn more in programs where there is a well-planned and implemented curriculum, it is important for every school and early childhood program to have its curriculum in written form (NAEYC. 1996. Position statement on developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs).