We offer workshops, curriculum planning and coaching tailored to schools’ and teachers’ needs and curricular goals.
Contact us at info@imaginativeinquiry.com for more information and pricing.
WORKSHOPS
(For our national and regional based workshops, see the Upcoming Events page)
Introduction to Imaginative Inquiry
Duration: Half-Day (up to 3 hours) or Full-Day (up to 6 hours)
Number of participants: Up to 25 participants
This workshop introduces elementary school teachers to the pedagogy of Imaginative Inquiry and Mantle of the Expert framework. We model and examine how Imaginative Inquiry is used to teach a Social Studies unit of study, and provide examples of its uses in grades K-6.
Participants will be introduced firsthand to the process of Imaginative Inquiry, begin to analyze and practice the methods themselves, and discuss the rationale of using an Imaginative Inquiry framework in light of progressive practices and pedagogy. In the full-day workshop teachers will also begin planning an Imaginative Inquiry infused lesson for their own curriculum.
Imaginative Inquiry Practicum
Duration: Half-day (up to 3 hours) or Full-day (up to 6 hours)
Number of participants: Up to 25 participants
Participants in this workshop will dive more deeply into the elements of Imaginative Inquiry, with a focus on the drama inquiry conventions used. Teachers will experience a variety of Imaginative Inquiry lessons and analyze the conventions used, as well as practice leading drama activities themselves. We will consider how specific theater conventions not only create contexts for Social Studies lessons, but put problem-solving and social justice at the center of a lesson. In the full-day workshop teachers will also have the opportunity to think about and plan how to apply Imaginative Inquiry to their own lessons and curriculum units.
Pre-requisite: Teachers must have attended an Introduction to Imaginative Inquiry workshop.
This workshop can be combined with an Introductory workshop for educators who are new to Imaginative Inquiry or as a refresher and practicum for those already experienced with Imaginative Inquiry.
Advanced Practicum
Duration: One or Two 6-hour days
Number of participants: Up to 15 participants
This workshop is designed for practitioners who have previously participated in an Imaginative Inquiry workshop and have implemented Imaginative Inquiry lessons in their classrooms. In a writing/theater workshop format, participants will share lessons that they have created, receive feedback and suggestions from their peers and facilitators, rework their lessons, and practice leading a drama lesson. Theater conventions, Mantle of the Expert, and other elements of Imaginative Inquiry will be reviewed and discussed.
Summer Institute for Imaginative Inquiry
Duration: Four 6-hour days
Number of participants: Up to 30 participants
In this summer intensive participants gain an in-depth overview of the methods of Imaginative Inquiry and experience firsthand an arc of lessons that uses a Mantle of the Expert framework to create exciting contexts for learning. Through demonstration and the practice of techniques themselves, teachers learn how drama can be used to ignite children’s imaginations and engage students of all ages in authentic inquiry and critical thinking skills. We examine how Imaginative Inquiry has been used in grades K-6 classrooms, and walk teachers through the process of planning Imaginative Inquiry lessons for their own curriculum.
Day 1 – Setting up the Framework for Imaginative Inquiry
Day 2 – Tools for Teaching an Imaginative Inquiry Lesson
Day 3 – Student Engagement in Imaginative Inquiry
Day 4 – Synthesis and Innovation
CURRICULUM PLANNING AND COACHING
We offer on-site consultations for grade level teams of teachers to develop and implement Imaginative Inquiry lessons for a Social Studies unit of study.
This includes creating original lessons designed around existing curricular units or to launch a new study. We aim to support teachers’ own work while offering a broader framework of study and innovative methods of instruction. Ongoing coaching and collaboration with teachers throughout the unit of study provides consistent, in-class support. Depending on the teachers’ experience, this may be in the form of observation and feedback, co-teaching lessons, and/or demonstrating lessons.
A planning and coaching consultation over a unit of study includes:
- A pre-unit curriculum planning meeting (half or full day)
- 3-5 pre-lesson planning meetings (45 min)
- 3-5 in-class visits to co-teach lessons (45 min)
- 3-5 post-lesson debriefing session (45 min)
- Ongoing support via email/phone
- A post-unit debriefing meeting
Pre-requisite: Teachers must have attended an Introduction to Imaginative Inquiry workshop.
A breakdown of costs can be provided upon request, and depends on number of classrooms and schedule of visits.
IMAGINATIVE INQUIRY LESSON FEEDBACK
Receive one-on-one feedback for specific lessons: this can be in the form of a 30-minute online meeting (to discuss a planned lesson or debrief a lesson already taught), written feedback on a lesson plan, or feedback for a videotaped lesson.
Pricing based on type of feedback. Contact info@imaginativeinquiry.com for more information.