Throughout the year, Chicago Children’s Theatre offers unique professional development opportunities to educators and arts partners across the city. Through these initiatives we aim to share helpful techniques, access and inclusion strategies, curriculum ideas, and materials with teachers and institutional partners in Chicago and beyond.
“I loved how interactive it was, I loved the cadence and personality of the facilitator, and I loved the valuable information I’ll be able to use in the classroom!”
– Workshop Participant at Shedd Aquarium, 2023
Professional Development Workshops
Creating an Accessible & Inclusive Classroom
Workshop Length: 1.5-2.5 hrs
Who it’s best for: Classroom Teachers (all ages), Teaching Artists, Performing Arts Organizations/Institutions, Education Teams at Non-Profits, anyone looking to make their learning space more accessible to neurodiverse learners!
Session Topics Include:
- Neurodiversity 101 (and 102)
- Disability Affirming Language
- The Social Model of Disability
- Setting the Tone of Inclusivity
- General Accommodations to your Classroom
- Individual Accommodations for Students
- Practice: Adapting an Activity
Here’s what those who have taken the workshop have to say:
“[The facilitator] had a great way of contextualizing everything they presented. They made the task of creating a more inclusive educational space seem achievable and far less intimidating.” – Workshop Participant at Shedd Aquarium, 2023
“Thank you so much for your amazing workshop.” – Workshop Participant at Columbia College, 2023
From Page to Stage: Theatricalizing Books in Inclusive Drama Classrooms
Workshop Length: 1.5 hrs
Who it’s best for: Classroom Teachers (PreK-5), Teaching Artists, Children’s Librarians, Early Childhood Educators, anyone looking to make early literacy exploration more engaging to a variety of learners!
Session Topics Include:
- Why Multi-sensory Matters
- Book Selection
- What is Theatricality?
- Connecting to Theatre and Literary Concepts
- Using Props and the Senses
- Practice: Create a Multi-sensory Activity
Here’s what those who have taken the workshop have to say:
“Your presentation was just pure joy.” – Workshop Coordinator at Seesaw Theatre, 2022