February 22 - April 4, 2027

Professor: Lynn Monson

Tuition: $310 member / $410 non-member

6 Weeks; 1.5 NDEO-Endorsed PDCs

**Optional add-on** College Credits through Oakland University: 3

This course explores the concepts and content essential for quality teaching and learning for creative dance for early childhood. Cognitive and child development, standards, assessment, pedagogy and the foundations of curriculum development will be investigated through readings, research, observation and interactive projects. The course will explore BrainDance, developed by Anne Green Gilbert, and its 8 patterns of movement (Breath, Tactile, Core-Distal, Head-Tail, Upper-Lower, Body Side, Cross Lateral, and Vestibular) to show how it addresses child development principles and current brain research. Participants will grapple with essential questions, and learn the skills to be able to develop and implement a creative dance curriculum outline for either 3-5 or 6-8 years of age.

Book required: None

To receive college credit for this course in addition to PDCs, you must register through Oakland University by scheduling an advising session and finalizing your registration through OU before the November 7 deadline.

Questions about this Course?  Email opdi@ndeo.org

"I was able to break down the brain patterns, learn more about the brain and where my dancers are developmentally.  I like the resources and assignments that really had me thinking, debreifing, and explaining in my own words to solidify the content learned."

"Provided me with multiple lenses to examine my teaching.  New reasons for teaching dance."

"I learned quite a bit about the Brain Dance Compatible Teaching theories and like them very much.  I thought that the homework exercises overall were very helpful in cementing the material in our minds."

"I really like how this course delved into the brain development principles and patterns and gave me more opportunities for thoughtful, planned instruction.  I also very much appreciated the accessibility to the instruction. Lynn was open with her feedback and always available for guidance."

"This coures opened my mind to so much I wouldn't have otherwise learned about.  I would have felt lost without the important knowledge I gained from this course.  I really like that the course kept building upon itself with the neuroscience foundation, standards, patterns, and principles that all come together and intertwined to provide creativedance instruction in the most optimal and beneficial way."

Lynn Monson completed Hartford Ballet’s Teacher Training Certificate Program, and earned a BA in Dance at ASU. She has taught dance to all ages, and is a certified Labanotation teacher. She managed an arts-based charter school, developing curriculum, training staff, writing grants, directing school accountability, and teaching dance.   Lynn teaches Creative Dance for Early Childhood for NDEO’s Online Professional Development Institute. She worked on the writing team for the Arizona Dance Standards, and worked on a team to develop student assessments/SLOs for dance. Lynn worked on NDEO’s DELTA writing team. She helped formed the Arizona Dance Education Organization, serving as Secretary, President and Executive Assistant, and served as the State Affiliate representative on the NDEO board.

How Courses Work