Over the last five years, more than 1000 early childhood educators have participated intraining workshops developed with the support of the NYC Department of Education Office of Early Childhood Education and the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation.

The responses have been overwhelmingly positive:  

“I love coming to CAT and learning.
Every time I come out feeling like I will be a better teacher.”

Thanks to the continuing support of the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation this year we have been able to offer eight Level 1 Interactive Storytelling Professional Development workshops at no cost for participants. 

 At this time, we are pleased to announce that we have obtained further underwriting that allows us to offer an additional Level 1 session for the minimal fee of $50 per attendee.

All participants earn a CUNY Certificate of Completion.

CAT facilitators will model three forms of oral storytelling for teachers to demonstrate the progression from written word to active engagement – reading a storybook, telling a story based on a book and storytelling that engages an audience both physically and verbally -- drawing specific links to how each form impacts a child's literacy skills.

CAT will then mentor the teachers as they develop, practice and refine an interactive storytelling of their own based one of two picture books.

Particular attention will be paid to strengthening each teacher’s storytelling skills and identifying how specific techniques of audience participation support early childhood literacy and English acquisition.

Thoughout the process, teachers will be asked to reflect on what they have led, give and receive constructive criticism, and discuss future applications. The overarching goals throughout are to help the teachers work in a student-centered manner, use effective questioning, explore how to encourage and incorporate student’s responses, and tap into their own creativity.

Participating teachers and sites will be eligible to receive an on-site mentoring residency. (Click here for a video). During the five-day residency, CAT's professional actor/teachers will model interactive storytelling in the classroom and support classroom teachers as they design and implement their own literacy-based and English acquisition interactive storytelling lesson plan.

Led by Helen Wheelock, Director of the Early Learning Program

 CAT (CUNY - Creative Arts Team) uses the power of drama to inspire lives. 
Click here to learn more.