WePlaySmart® by Hatch™
WePlaySmart® is a state-of-the-art multi-touch table that provides a cooperative, interactive learning environment for small groups of children. Through the delivery of hundreds of games, children have opportunities to develop a variety of important social and emotional learning skills while building essential cognitive abilities.
WePlaySmart® helps teachers monitor social and emotional learning development over the course of a school year, capturing authentic video clips of strategic play moments as children work together! The WePlaySmart® teacher area provides intuitive assessment tools and reporting that shows the progress of each child.
Important Facts About WePlaySmart®
- It is based on the most current, relevant research and learning standards.
- It presents a range of difficulty scaffolds within the games.
- It features automatic game selection for each group of children to ensure that they practice all skills during each time frame.
- Children move through all skills in a way that promotes understanding, supports success, and emphasizes cooperative problem-solving.
- It integrates smoothly to support current classroom curricula.
- It encourages cooperative play, rather than parallel play, by sparking and modeling interaction with peers.
- Built-in video recording captures authentic interaction and enables teachers to monitor social–emotional progress year-round.
- It supports a 21st-century classroom by bringing children to technology informed by software design principles tailored for young learners.
- Multi-touch technology allows for a more natural and intuitive interaction experience.
- It integrates into every classroom as a learning center to fit your classroom’s daily routine.
Social-Emotional Development
WePlaySmart® develops social and emotional learning skills, such as self-management, responsible decision-making, and social awareness. The WePlaySmart® games are accessible by way of four designated play positions, ensuring engagement for each child. As children work together, solving problems, taking turns, supporting their peers, and following instructions, they are collaborating as a team!
Child Photo Login
The WePlaySmart® table is equipped with our patented Hatch™ Authentic Photo Login, which enables real-time, relevant progress monitoring for each child. Our login ensures accuracy every time children log in to play!
WePlaySmart® is the only multi-touch table that promotes social and emotional learning, which is essential to continual academic success!
High-Definition Video Recordings
WePlaySmart® features a powerful tool that captures and documents children’s progress in an authentic and inclusive environment. The built-in, 180-degree, fish-eye video lens provides automated progress monitoring and records children’s interactions as they play. The videos represent a data source that illustrates growth over time.
- High-definition, intelligent video recordings captured throughout each play session
- Easy-to-navigate teacher portal through which video clips and recordings are accessed
Features
- Preloaded software includes more than 275 games!
- Four designated game play stations!
- Capacitive touch screen with shatterproof glass!
- Just-in-time instructions that enable children to initiate play without teacher facilitation!
Packed with Games!
WePlaySmart® offers a year’s worth of engaging activities! In addition to nonstop social and emotional learning, WePlaySmart® promotes cognitive skill development in a language-rich environment.
Research Says It Works!
In a research study, preschoolers exhibited better cooperation and collaboration skills after engaging with the WePlaySmart® games in small groups.
WePlaySmart® activities are based on scientific research and align with national and state standards:
- The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
- Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework
- Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)
- Individual state early-learning standards
What Teachers Say About WePlaySmart®
“The children absolutely LOVE the table! They are working on social and emotional skills without even realizing it. It is so neat to see the children working together to achieve common goals while I observe their problem-solving skills in action!”
— Emily Tacquard, MEd, Pre-K II Master Teacher, Early Childhood Lab, Stephen F. Austin State University
How to Use WePlaySmart® by Hatch™
Just as you model everything else in your classroom, show your students how to use the WePlaySmart® by Hatch™ solution. In addition to modeling appropriate use of the table, talk with your students about expectations and guidelines for collaborative game play.
WePlaySmart® by Hatch™ Playtime
We recommend 20–30 minutes of playtime per child, per week; although, the system does not have a technical time limit. When using any technology in the classroom, it’s best to provide a balance and adhere to the accrediting state and/or county guidelines that your school follows. WePlaySmart® by Hatch™ is intended to encourage collaboration; we strongly recommend that two to four children play at the table at one time. The goal is to promote social–emotional school-readiness skills through interaction with games that provide cognitive skill exposure. One to four children can play in the Free Play Music area (easily accessed from the Main Menu [Shift+Ctrl+T]). If only one child logs in, Free Play Music loads automatically. Exit Free Play Music using the Main Menu.
Professional Development
Professional Development is available virtually and on site. For more information, please visit the Hatch Early Learning website: https://www.hatchearlylearning.com/customer-support/product-training.
Product Specifications
WePlaySmart® is designed to be an intuitive, interactive learning tool in the classroom. It is built to withstand the rigors of an early childhood classroom. Specifications can be found in this article: WePlaySmart® Specifications. Please note that a wireless Internet connection is required to use WePlaySmart®.