Topic Workshops

California’s standards for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) emphasize meeting students where they are, fostering relationships, supporting family involvement, and utilizing developmentally appropriate teaching practices. Dance is a perfect vehicle for meeting TK objectives as it intersects with literacy, numeracy, and social interactions. Learning how to move one’s body within a group of other movers is at the core of self-regulation. Dance, like play, provides opportunities for rich emotional and social experiences and expression.

Dance & TK offers an in-depth look at Four Year Olds: Who are they? How do they move? What is happening in their cognitive, social, psychological, and emotional development? How can we provide safe, joyous activities for TK students to discover themselves and express their knowledge and feelings? What kind of risks help students extend through the full range of the Zone of Proximal Development for 4-year-olds and how do we, as teachers hold space for them to take those risks? What does an environment of inclusion, possibility, and creativity look like and how can we, as teachers, recognize and extend learning opportunities for everyone?

Join us in exploring these questions through the Elements of Dance, body-brain connectivity, observation, and play!