Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts
The Rochester Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts program at Nazareth College partners highly trained performing artists with preschool and kindergarten educators and families to enhance learning through drama, movement and music. Arts activities are woven into the curriculum to enhance the social, perceptual, cognitive, physical, creative and literacy skills of each child and to foster family involvement. The Rochester Wolf Trap Program also offers a series of professional development workshops for preschool through second grade teachers.
Jack Langerak
Director, Wolf Trap
Residency
Early childhood educators and Wolf Trap artists work collaboratively during a seven week residency featuring 14 classroom visits. During this sequence, an artist comes to the preschool classroom and demonstrates for the teacher how the performing arts can be used to teach curriculum topics. The performing arts become an integral part of educating young children through Wolf Trap's proven teaching methods.
The teacher ultimately learns how to develop performing arts-based activities on his or her own while the artist strengthens his or her knowledge of early childhood educational theory. Each teacher who participates in the residency program receives curriculum materials, including Stages for Learning: Performing Arts Activities for Preschool Children, with songs and musical accompaniment on cassette-tape.
Wolf Trap is currently providing residencies at:
- Rochester City School District
- Rush-Henrietta School District
- Newark School District
- Our Children's Place, Clifton Springs
- Nazareth College Child Care Center
Arts Play!
Arts Play! is an integrated program of experiential arts classes for toddlers (12-36 months), their parents, and caregivers. It has been implemented it in the Rush-Henrietta School District and will be offered at Nazareth College.
Professional Development Opportunities
The Wolf Trap program also offers a series of professional development workshops for preschool through second grade teachers, as well as teaching artists. The focus of the workshops ranges from foundational project planning, partnership, and collaborative skills to unit design, co-teaching techniques, and assessment.
I have had the good fortune to participate in two Wolf Trap residencies. It was through these residencies that my eyes were opened to the learning that can take place through music, movement and drama. Wolf Trap helped us to extend and develop new ways to engage our young children in learning through participation in the arts.
Pre-School Teacher, Family Learning Center, Hart Street
Contact
If you are interested in more information about any of these programs, please contact Jack Langerak at (585) 389-2949 or jlanger0@naz.edu.