SPARK: Professional
Development Series
At Oregon Children's Theatre, we recognize and acknowledge that being an educator is more challenging than ever before. Teachers are managing more uncertainty, stress, and hardship, while still performing at their very best to serve the young people they care about. That's why Oregon Children's Theatre's Education team has been hard at work creating Spark: a brand new, professional development series designed specifically for teachers in today's unique educational landscape.
This engaging, interactive, arts-based series uses theatre games and SEL skills to elevate a variety of topics, such as Mindfulness for the Classroom, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Educators, and Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices. Developed by professional teaching artists with extensive experience in effective classroom strategies, this series will inspire educators while enhancing their skills and strengthening relationships with their students.
As an on-going series, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications of future workshops and other professional development opportunities.
About the Workshops
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In this two-part, 90-minute workshop series participants will discuss and learn the importance of trauma-sensitive and informed teaching practices and build tools to provide a safer and more inclusive environment for students.
Overarching Goal: Providing a safe learning environment for educators to practice trauma-sensitive skills that build confidence and improve capacity in their interaction with students and themselves; helping educators “find joy in their practice.”
Part I: Trauma and the Teaching Artist
Learn definitions and consider how trauma impacts student behavior and learning
Understand the role of self-regulation in trauma-informed teaching
Learn the impact of trauma on the teaching artist and implement self-regulation practices
Part II: Trauma and the Classroom
Apply a trauma-sensitive lens to challenging student interactions
Identify triggers that lead to the phases of escalation and their corresponding behaviors
Learn and practice de-escalation tools and strategies in the classroom
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In this 90-minute workshop, participants explore a variety of ways to incorporate mindfulness practices into the classroom through fun and engaging activities and exercises that can be used by young people and adults alike.
Objectives:
Define mindfulness
Understand the value of mindfulness in classrooms
Discuss the causes of mindlessness
Explore and practice mindfulness tools and techniques
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In this workshop participants will discuss the importance of neurodiversity inclusion and learn informed teaching practices to build tools to provide a safer and more inclusive environment for all students including those on the autism spectrum. Participants will learn:
Definitions of common types of neurodiversity
Signs and symptoms of neurodiversity
Common triggers and de-escalation tools
A better understanding of how to communicate with ND youth
Overarching Goal: Providing a safe learning environment for educators to practice skills that build confidence and improve capacity in their interaction with neurodiverse students and themselves; helping educators “find joy in their practice.”