5) Children, Families and Schools as Agents of Social Change: Creating Change Through Empathy, Agency and Daily Rituals New!

Saturday, February 25th  9am to 3pm A hands-on workshop $75

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Presented byPatricia Hunter McGrath and Christina Bianchi

• How do you create, support and sustain community at the beginning of life?
• How do we support children in feeling that they can have agency in their world?
• In what ways can our homes and schools become places where daily practices support children’s agency?
• In contentious and difficult times, how can we build community and in what ways do we support conversation through perspective taking?
• How do we create communities that are flexible and dynamic in thinking as well as kind and nurturing?
• What is the role of parents and teachers in the coming era?
• How do you create a home or classroom that celebrates diversity is open to different points of view and perspectives and problem solving to build resilient social relationships?
• How do we move away from sustainability and embrace a restorative and resilient future/culture?
• What is the language of resiliency and flexibility, and how can we incorporate perspective taking through everyday communication?

6) Lines that Wander: An Exploration of Techniques and Possibilities New!

Saturday,  March 18th  9am to 3pm A hands-on workshop $75

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Presented by Patricia Hunter McGrath and Christina Bianchi

• How does line support an authentic and contextual exploration of literacy or mathematics?
• How does an exploration of line support building community and promote understanding of multiple perspectives?
• How do you introduce the many types of line tools into a classroom?
• How do you take a line for a walk?
• How do different types of line tools support observation, problem solving, gesture, reflection, impression and magical thinking?
• How do you introduce many different techniques of drawing?
• When are gestural, observational, representational, drawing to learn and narrative drawing intoduced to the children?

7) A Look Into The Big City Group; Developing Ideas and Representing Plans Through a Wide Range of Materials and Media New! 

Saturday,  April 22nd  9am to 3pm A hands-on workshop $75

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Presented Sivan Perets

• How does investigative work with children unfold?
• How does exposure to a variety of materials expand and deepen children’s thinking?
• How does thinking about cultural context unveil social responsibility?
• How does hands on work promote an investigative mindset?
• What can children learn from each other regarding their differing perspectives within this type of work?
• How can challenges within the work present valuable learning opportunities for discovery?
• How do children develop ideas in a group context?
• How are literacy, blocks, clay, drawing and math threaded through this exploration?
• What are the organizational structures that support small group work?
• What classroom strategies support and develop collaboration

About the Presenters

Patricia Hunter McGrath is the Executive Director/Atelierista of  Branches Atelier in Culver City, California.  Over the past 18 years she has developed an innovated early childhood program inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach. From 2005 to 2007 Patricia developed the role of the Atelierista at Bold Park Community School in Perth, Australia. From 1998 to 2005 she was the Atelierista at Evergreen Community School where she developed a unique approach to children’s symbolic languages. Using clay, wire, paint, dance, etc. children enter into relationship with the materials and express, clarify and modify their ideas and theories. She also taught at the Growing Place in Santa Monica for 7 years. Patricia is an artist and has over 20 years experience in Early Childhood Education.  Patricia has taught the Reggio Emilia Class at Santa Monica College and at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.  Patricia graduated with a Masters degree in Human development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California. She also speaks at conferences throughout the United States and abroad and has visited Reggio Emilia, Italy six times.  She is also a contributing author of the book In the Spirit of the Atelier published by Davis Press and Insights and Inspiration from Reggio Emilia also published by Davis Press.

Christina Bianchi has been Pedegogista/Atelierista at Branches Atelier for the past 8 years. Prior to becoming an educator at Branches Atelier, Christina worked as the Program Director for The Children’s Nature Institute bringing her passions for teaching, children and promoting environmental literacy to the agency. In addition to overseeing both the design and implementation of all new education programs and curricula; Christina also worked with Development staff on grants related to program development, managed a staff of Environmental Educators and coordinated and implemented volunteer training.

She has also been a California Mentor for the past two years, working in the classroom with college students, supporting the practical application of good early childhood practices.

Sivan Perets was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She has been teaching since she was 19 years old. As a long time employee at the Sunshine Shack preschool, she gained a love of learning through the Reggio approach and spent years developing and researching her practice. Sivan has also taught at Valley Beth Shalom preschool and is the assistant director at Camp Super Duper. She studied early childhood education at Los Angeles Valley College. She is certified to teach preschool aged children and infants and toddlers. She loves to take classes and workshops where she can stay current with pedagogical theory and practices. Sivan has a deep love for philanthropic work. She has spent several summers working with children in need. Most recently she visited Peru, where she supported and cared for children at local orphanages. She also volunteers her time in the States with children in need and the homeless. She loves story telling with children and is passionate about how stories help children connect and build a sense of self.

Spaces are limited in all workshops, please download the registration form and mail it in with your payment to secure your space.

Please click here for the Flyer.

Please click here for the registration form.

For more information about Branches Atelier please visit: www.BranchesAtelier.com