Literacy Served Fresh

At GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester, we’re lucky to have Joan our beloved Literacy Coordinator. Joan has been a dedicated tutor and coordinator for years, forming incredible relationships with our participants and families. Many of the kids she works with have been learning alongside her for several years, and the growth we’ve seen has been nothing short of inspiring. Each week, our participants look forward to seeing Joan, and their excitement to learn with her is contagiouis.

When Joan came to us with the idea of bringing literacy into the kitchen, we knew right away it was something special. Her vision for combining stories, reading, and hands-on cooking was the perfect recipe for learning, and we were more than willing to let her soar. The program quickly became one of our most popular! Joan starts each session with a story and literacy lesson, then bases her meals off the book. Together, the kids work on reading recipes and preparing food right in the kitchen, turning every page and every ingredient into an opportunity for growth and joy.

Here is closer look into the program form Joan’s words: “Cooking and literacy go hand in hand! For the past several sessions, I have enjoyed leading the Kids Cooking group, which I like to call ‘Cooking with Books’ Each class starts with us reading a piece of children’s literature. I work to make each story interactive, so the children are actively engaged in the story telling. Sometimes that involved making a story retelling crown, making a story mat or using story pieces to act out the story. My goal is to make children’s literature fun and in turn, encouraging the children to want to engage with literature. Books can be fun. Learning to read can be challenging and scary. Any way you can make it highly engaging, entertaining and fun it can encourage a child to take the risk to try. The pieces of literature I chose each week I connect to cooking. Some stories we have read include ‘Dragons Love Tacos’, ‘If You Give Moose a Muffin’, and ‘The Gingerbread Man’. In the Kitchen, the children also work on communicating with each other while asking for help and taking turns. Many of the children have tried new foods because they helped make it! Combining literature and cooking is a fun way to learn!”

Through her creativity and dedication, Joan has not only grown this program but also expanded the way we think about literacy here at GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester. Finding new, meaningful, and purposeful ways to learn is what our programs are all about. Joan’s literacy in the kitchen is a perfect example of that mission in action. We’re so proud of how far this program has come and excited to see the lasting impact it will continue to have on our participants.