Greetings all, We have 2 new workshops coming up in February.

1) Materials Literacy: Creating Strong Foundations

Saturday, February 10th, 2024, 9 am to 3 pm  Cost: $110 (plus EventBrite fees) includes light breakfast includes light breakfast.

2) Viewing The World Through Their Lens: A Journey Through Photography and Transformation 

Saturday, February 17th, 2024, 9 am to 3 pm  Cost: $110 (plus EventBrite fees) includes light breakfast.

Please read on and register below.

1) Materials Literacy: Creating Strong Foundations

Our new Branches Atelier workshop, Materials Literacy: Creating Strong Foundations, is designed for teachers, parents, and new atelieristas as a comprehensive introduction to the vital role of materials in early childhood education.

Rather than focusing on individual materials, this day-long workshop aims to deepen educators’ understanding of how to introduce new materials effectively, emphasizing the importance of caring for these materials as a fundamental aspect of their development into a language for children.

Together, we will explore properties and attributes that come into play when choosing materials to support children in making connections and building relationships.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. How are new materials introduced in the classroom? By delving into strategies for introducing new materials in the classroom, participants will engage in hands-on activities and discussions to explore the significance of the initial introduction, considering factors such as cultivating an inquiry, making age-appropriate choices, and fostering curiosity.
2. How is caring for the materials essential to becoming a language?
3. What is the difference between developing an alphabet of materials and accessing them to develop thinking?
4. What does a materials-rich environment look like at different stages of development?

Key Takeaways:

• Participants will discuss a nuanced understanding of the role of materials in early childhood settings.
• Develop strategies for introducing and caring for materials, emphasizing their significance as a language for children.
• Highlight the difference between providing materials and using them to stimulate critical thinking.
• Cultivate practical approaches to integrating materials into long-term inquiries were discussed.
• Gain insights into creating a materials-rich environment that evolves with children’s development.

Join us for a rich and immersive adult experience, equipping ourselves with the tools and insights to create dynamic, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environments for young children.

CLICK HERE to register on EventBrite

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2) Viewing The World Through Their Lens: A Journey Through Photography and Transformation

Join Branches Atelier in an exploration of integrating photography into our experiences with young children.

This workshop delves into various vital concepts, offering participants a rich inquiry into how photography can be a powerful tool for both adult’s and children’s teaching and learning.

Key Questions:

• How do you introduce the language of photography to children?
• How do we take great photos?
• How can photographs help to tell a story?
• What is the language of creative photography, and how does this language support children’s imagination and relationships?
• How is photography used to represent children’s ideas and uncover children’s theories?
• What materials can we introduce to transform our images?
• How does photography alter our understanding of the world?
• How do we play with transformation through digital and artistic materials?

Key Takeaways:

This workshop will discuss practical strategies and the philosophical ideas underlying how we work with children to manipulate images, negotiate perspectives, and illuminate challenges. In addition to practical considerations, we will also reflect on strategies for fostering dialogue and encouraging children to articulate their thoughts and feelings about the images they encounter and create.

What was once primarily considered a tool for teachers, documentation in our classrooms has become an essential instrument for communication, storytelling, and creation in our classrooms.

CLICK HERE to register on EventBrite