Professional Development

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the Palm Beach County School District are members of the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Selected because of their demonstrated commitment to the improvement of education in and through the arts, the partnership team participates in collaborative efforts to make the arts integral to education.

Click here for the Professional Development registration form

EDUCATOR RUSH TICKET PROGRAM
By presenting their Educator ID at the box office one hour prior to curtain time, teachers receive 50% off the ticket price for any seat in the house, based on availability, for any Kravis Center self-initiated performance.
Sponsored by  Suzanne G. Reis Arts Education Fund

The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the School District of Palm Beach County are members of the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  Selected because of their demonstrated commitment to the improvement of education in and through the arts, the partnership team participates in collaborative efforts to make the arts integral to education. 

WORKSHOPS
Receive in-service credit hours for participation

Sponsored by JPMORGAN CHASE & Co.                                                   

Word Painting: Mastering Reading Fluency and
Oral Expression Through Music
Saturday, October 3 from 9 am until noon
and 1 pm to 4 pm
Workshop Leader: Marcia Daft
For Teachers of Grades 3-8
How can teachers guide students’ oral reading—changing it from a plodding monotone to a fluid, expressive voice? By integrating music into the teaching of language arts! This participatory workshop for educators explores the connections between elements of music and elements of language. Participants learn strategies for using music to increase students’ interest in the rhythmic patterns of word relationships, teach metric poetry, develop students’ listening skills, build interpretation and oral presentation skills, and improve reading fluency. A must for teachers of English language learners!

Demonstration Teaching Through the Arts
Monday - Thursday, October 5-8
(Four-day, in school sessions)
Teaching Artist: Marcia Daft
For selected teachers at two designated elementary schools

Teaching Florida History Through Drama
(in preparation for S*T*A*R Series performances of Once
Upon a Time… In Florida)
Saturday, October 10 from 9 am to noon
Workshop Leader: Don Butler
For Teachers of Grades 3-5
This workshop focuses on theatrical techniques – with emphasis on the exciting Story Theater form – to enhance interest and participation in the study of history. Teachers will learn how to take a story from Florida’s richly textured past and, by using the selection process employed by playwrights, create a plot which in turn can be performed using the physicality, space substance, imagined environments and narrative techniques unique to Story Theater. There will also be improvisational role-playing on how the teacher can use whatever is occurring in the classroom at any given moment to accomplish a predetermined goal.

Living Pictures: Deepening Comprehension
and Assessment for Learning Through Drama
Saturday, October 17 from 9 am until noon
Workshop Leader: Sean Layne
For Teachers of Grades K-8
Join national arts education consultant and Kennedy Center presenter, Sean Layne, in this participatory drama workshop designed to demonstrate ways to help students apply and expand their knowledge and understanding across the curriculum. This workshop guides teachers in an innovative, lowrisk drama strategy designed to help students construct meaning and share their understandings in a multi-modal format. This strategy models differentiated instruction, motivates all types of learners, and provides teachers with instant assessment. Join us as drama empowers, educates and transforms.

Putting Drama to the Test: Increasing Reading
Test Scores Through Drama
Saturday, October 17 from 1 pm to 4 pm
Workshop Leader: Sean Layne
For Teachers of Grades 2-8
In response to mandated statewide testing, this workshop provides teachers with innovative, engaging, drama strategies which develop students’ test-taking skills and vocabulary as well as deepen their reading comprehension. Piloted with students in classrooms over the course of a year, this work capitalizes on the collaborative, differentiated nature of drama to build students’ understanding of the type, structure, and recurring vocabulary regularly included in questions on standardized tests.To the delight of administrators, teachers, and students, these strategies are fun, engaging, and have resulted in higher student test scores in the pilot sessions.

Demonstration Teaching Through the Arts
Monday - Thursday, October 19-22
(Four-day, in school sessions)
Teaching Artist: Sean Layne
For selected teachers at two designated elementary schools.

Teaching Tolerance Through Drama
Saturday, November 7 from 9 pm to 3 pm
Workshop Leader: Stacey Coates
For Teachers of Grades 4-8
Tolerance—the willingness to respect or accept the customs, beliefs, or opinions of others—has become a focus in schools that are determined to protect students from bullying, taunting, and belittling. What is needed to help students learn to be accepting and respectful team players and protective leaders? This question is addressed in this workshop through drama strategies that build collaboration and respect in the classroom and result in teambuilding and the development of problem solving skills.

Let’s Explore Earth Science Through Creative Movement
Saturday, December 5 from 9 pm to noon
Workshop Leader: Joann Preston
For Teachers of Grades K-2
Forecast: Sunshine State Standards bloom and blossom in a classroom setting of creative movement and music! We will begin this workshop with a fun head to toes warm-up that is designed to energize and focus students. Then, we will bake a dance cake. Specific ingredients of dance mix into a short segment that is flavored with curriculum. This workshop also helps the classroom teacher fulfill the daily Physical Education requirement. Earth Science will come to life in a way that is easily and joyfully shared with students! All participants will receive a music CD to use as a resource to integrate workshop activities in the classroom.

Celebrating West African Culture Through
Storytelling, Music and Dance
Saturday, April 24 from 9 pm to noon
Workshop Leader: Trina Soumare
For Teachers of Grades 3-8
This interactive workshop, which offers a multi-sensory approach to teaching students about West African culture, will appeal to a wide range of learning modalities. Join Arts Educator and Performing Artist Trina Soumare in a simulated journey into a West African village where teachers learn how to incorporate storytelling, music and
dance into their lessons. This workshop includes elements of language and visual arts, social studies, world languages, dance and science. Each participant will receive his/her own “Teacher’s Sahgah” (basket) of teaching materials to take back to class.