Doodle Den

Each session begins with a snack and sign-in routine, followed by various aspects of literacy teaching and activities, and concludes with a ‘fun’ element (such as art, physical education, drama, or music). A sample outline of each element of the intervention is given below:

Snack and sign-in (10 minutes): The evidence-based Doodle Den manual outlines links between nutrition, behaviour, and learning. Therefore, the children sit together to eat a snack. During this time, they are also exposed to environmental print, defined as ‘print of the everyday world of the child’ which ‘allows children to gain an initial level of comfort within the group’.

Shared reading (Big Book reading; 20 to 30 minutes): This element includes subsections on ‘before reading activities’, ‘during reading activities’, ‘after reading activities’, and ‘reflection’. A Big Book is used over several weeks, taking a different focus or revisiting previous learning outcomes.

Shared writing (10 to 30 minutes): The time allocated to the shared writing element gradually increases throughout the year. This element includes specified focus vocabulary, a list of comprehension skills and guidelines on the ‘introduction’, ‘writing’ and ‘reflection’ subsections of the mini-lesson, such as sequencing events and sentence structure.

Phonics mini-lesson (10 minutes): The phonics section progresses from the individual sounds letters make to blending two-, three-, and four-phoneme words and segmenting two-, three-, and four-phoneme words into word families. Each mini-lesson has a ‘focus sound’ with details on the activities to be used. Jolly Phonics flashcards are used, as well as mini whiteboards, magnetic letters, sound pictures, oral segmentation boxes, and word family flashcards.

Sight vocabulary (10 minutes): This mini-lesson focuses on whole words and, for example, involves placing them in sentences or on an alphabetical ‘word wall’ or playing word games/rhymes. Each mini-lesson has a ‘focus word’ and the words become more difficult as the intervention progresses.

Reading independently (10 minutes): Facilitators are directed to listen to two or three children reading independently from an appropriate book within a ‘levelled text scheme’. Children also select a new book to take home.

Centres (10 to 20 minutes): These are small-group work activities/games involving combinations of reading, writing, sight vocabulary, and phonics work, using a variety of fun, educational, and interactive resources.

Fun elements (art/music/drama/physical education, 20 to 30 minutes): Each of these activities is carried out at least once a week and involves a variety of games/activities. Art and drama are Big Book-related; music reinforces sounds and rhymes covered; PE promotes physical activity and incorporates games using letters, sounds, and words.

The parent sessions are entitled: Introduction to Doodle Den; Reading is Fun; Making Story Sacks; Picking Books; Using the Library Service; and Writing and Supporting your child after Doodle Den. These sessions are designed to inform parents about what their children are doing in Doodle Den, and to provide information about using the local library and tips for supporting their children’s reading and writing at home.

Parent and child sessions: As well as encouraging parents to read and engage with the books sent home with their children, the Doodle Den intervention also has a parent/family element aimed at promoting enhanced confidence among parents and children, celebration of achievements, and enhanced relationships. This element is made up of six parent sessions and one family day (for example, involving a visit to the local library, attending plays, or story-telling sessions).