From playtime to mealtime: How PEI embeds instruction into daily routines

preschool teachers instructs students during snacktime

Preschool Early Intervention (PEI) programs across Pennsylvania are adopting Embedded Instruction for delivering early intervention services to young children with developmental delays and disabilities — and PEI at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) is no exception.   

Embedded Instruction emphasizes including intentional learning opportunities into everyday routines and activities, creating frequent and meaningful chances for children to practice skills in familiar settings. For preschoolers, these routines may include play, snack and mealtimes, circle time, and gross motor activities on the playground.    

PEI supports eligible preschoolers in hundreds of early childhood programs across Allegheny County through a team of nearly 150 professionals, including Special Education Teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Occupational and Physical Therapists from the AIU’s Occupational/Physical Therapy Services Program. Together, Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams — including the child’s parent/caregiver, AIU specialists, and early childhood teachers — develop outcomes and goals that increase a child’s independent participation in daily routines.  Teams target the specific skills a child needs during that activity. For example, a goal might focus on improving communication by increasing opportunities to make requests during mealtimes or strengthening social skills by building sharing and turn-taking with peers during play. AIU teachers and therapists then partner with classroom teachers and caregivers to implement strategies that support success and skill growth across everyday routines — at home, at school, and in the community.  

Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), the Early Intervention arm of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), is supporting programs statewide as they implement Embedded Instruction. During the 2024-2025 school year, eight PEI staff members completed the Embedded Instruction Learning Path, a series of online courses and webinars facilitated by EITA to help special educators and therapists implement Embedded Instruction with fidelity. In July 2025, 15 additional PEI staff enrolled in the Learning Path. PEI is also strengthening implementation through a Core Leadership Team comprised of PEI administrators, community partners, and EITA supports, which meets monthly to guide next steps and sustain progress.

Through Embedded Instruction, PEI is putting the AIU’s mission into action — advocating for and advancing opportunities for young children to participate in meaningful everyday learning experiences.

More about Embedded Instruction

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