The Creative Teacher 5: Listening with Movement and Dance from Udemy

Early childhood educators, special education professionals, cultural educators and artists will gain in-depth knowledge on how young children learn through movement and dance to harness their artistic and creative potential.

The Creative Teacher programme is made up of eight separate courses, each of which can be watched as a stand-alone course or as part of the whole programme. It is recommended to watch at least the first course in addition to any other you choose if not purchasing the whole programme.

This is the FIFTH course in the programme and sets out the foundations for nurturing young children's physical, sensory, communication and language development through movement and dance.

In this course you will learn:

How children tell their stories through the body
How dance strengthens the body ready for fine motor, coordination, language, sensory and creative expression
Using dance and movement from birth to enhance mutual understanding and attunement
Building a pedagogy of (body) listening in your setting
Real world examples of how to facilitate a child's spontaneous movement ideas
Practical ideas for harnessing sensory, physical, cognitive and creative engagement
The importance of expressing emotions through dance
A personal story illustrating children's rich meaning-making through
Further reading and resources to support you in developing your creative curriculum

Join me on this adventure and discover how to bring to life your own and your children’s awesome creative talents.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Movement and Dance

Movement for communication, attunement and expression

Building a pedagogy of (body) listening

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides educators with methods to nurture physical, sensory, communication, and language development in young children through movement and dance, fostering creative expression

Explores how children communicate narratives through physical expression, offering insights into understanding and interpreting their stories through body language and movement

Recommends watching the first course in the series before taking this one, which may require learners to invest additional time and effort to gain foundational knowledge

Offers practical ideas for harnessing sensory, physical, cognitive, and creative engagement, which can be directly applied in educational settings to enhance learning experiences

Focuses on using dance and movement from birth to enhance mutual understanding and attunement, which is valuable for early childhood development and caregiver-child interactions

Reviews summary

Listening with movement and dance

According to learners, this course provides practical strategies for educators and artists working with young children. Students found the content on using movement and dance for communication and developing a pedagogy of 'body listening' particularly insightful and valuable. The course offers concrete examples and helps connect theoretical concepts to real-world application in educational settings. While some reviewers noted it's part of a series, many found it works well as a stand-alone module for understanding the importance of physical expression in early childhood development.

Can work as stand-alone or in series.

"This is the fifth course in the programme, but I found it insightful even without taking the previous ones."

"Recommended to watch the first course, but this module stands alone fairly well."

"Provides a solid foundation on its specific topic, even if part of a larger set."

Applicable for educators/professionals.

"Highly relevant for early childhood educators and special education professionals."

"The content directly applies to my work with young children and enhancing mutual understanding."

"It’s great for anyone wanting to incorporate movement and dance into their practice with kids."

Insights into understanding child expression.

"Building a pedagogy of (body) listening is a key takeaway, really changing how I view child communication."

"Helped me understand how children tell their stories through the body in new ways."

"Valuable insights into nurturing young children's physical, sensory, communication, and language development through movement."

Offers concrete ideas for classroom use.

"The course provided really helpful, practical strategies I can use right away in my classroom."

"I appreciated the concrete examples of how to facilitate a child's spontaneous movement ideas."

"Learned practical ideas for harnessing sensory, physical, cognitive, and creative engagement."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Creative Teacher 5: Listening with Movement and Dance with these activities:

Read 'Brain-Body Parenting'

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Gain a deeper understanding of the neurological basis of children's behavior and how movement can be used to support emotional regulation.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Brain-Body Parenting'.
Read the book, focusing on chapters related to emotional regulation and sensory processing.
Reflect on how the concepts relate to movement and dance activities.

Review Child Development Milestones

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Solidify your understanding of typical developmental milestones to better assess children's movement abilities and tailor activities appropriately.

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Review resources on child development milestones for different age groups.
Focus on physical, sensory, and communication milestones.
Consider how movement and dance can support these milestones.

Develop a Movement-Based Lesson Plan

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Apply the course concepts by designing a lesson plan that integrates movement and dance to enhance communication, expression, and sensory awareness.

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Choose a specific learning objective related to communication or expression.
Design movement and dance activities that support the objective.
Outline the lesson plan, including prompts and starting points.
Consider how to facilitate children's spontaneous movement ideas.

Four other activities

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Practice Body Listening with a Partner

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Refine your ability to observe, feel, and sense movement by practicing body listening exercises with a partner.

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Find a partner who is also interested in movement and dance.
Take turns leading and following simple movement sequences.
Focus on sensing the other person's movements and responding accordingly.
Discuss your experiences and insights.

Explore 'Dance, Movement Therapy'

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Deepen your understanding of the therapeutic potential of movement and dance for children's emotional well-being.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Dance, Movement Therapy: A Healing Art'.
Read the book, focusing on chapters related to child development and emotional expression.
Reflect on how the concepts relate to your teaching practice.

Lead Movement Activities at a Local Center

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Gain practical experience by volunteering to lead movement and dance activities for young children at a local community center or preschool.

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Contact local community centers or preschools to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Prepare a movement activity based on the course concepts.
Lead the activity and observe children's responses.
Reflect on your experience and identify areas for improvement.

Create a Portfolio of Movement Activities

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Solidify your learning by creating a portfolio of movement activities that you can use in your teaching practice.

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Gather examples of movement activities from the course and other sources.
Document each activity, including the learning objectives, materials, and instructions.
Organize the activities into a portfolio that you can easily access and use.
Share your portfolio with other educators for feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete The Creative Teacher 5: Listening with Movement and Dance will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Early Childhood Educator

An early childhood educator shapes the developmental journey of young children, fostering their cognitive, social, and emotional growth. This educator creates stimulating environments for children. The Creative Teacher course, with its focus on movement and dance, helps develop this creative potential. The curriculum emphasizes physical, sensory, communication, and language development through movement. It equips educators with strategies to enhance attunement with children via dance, build listening skills, and facilitate expression through movement. This course also provides practical ideas for engaging children's senses, bodies, and minds, which is why prospective early childhood educators should consider enrolling in this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Early Childhood Educator

Special Education Teacher

A special education teacher tailors instruction to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities, creating inclusive learning environments. The Creative Teacher course provides valuable insights into how movement and dance enhances children's physical, sensory, communication, and language development. This course highlights how dance strengthens the body in preparation for fine motor skills, coordination, language acquisition, sensory processing, and creative expression. Moreover, the course emphasizes understanding children through body language and building a pedagogy of bodily listening. Special educators can use this understanding to enhance engagement and learning and foster a more inclusive and responsive classroom environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Special Education Teacher

Dance Therapist

Dance therapists utilize movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being. This course offers a pathway into dance therapy, emphasizing the importance of dance in communication, attunement, and creative expression. It helps aspiring therapists learn how children tell stories through their bodies and how to facilitate spontaneous movement ideas. In particular, this course helps to build a pedagogy of bodily listening. By understanding how to harness the power of movement, dance therapists can effectively support clients in processing emotions and improving their overall quality of life. A master's degree is typically required to become a dance therapist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Dance Therapist

Arts Integration Specialist

An arts integration specialist collaborates with teachers to incorporate art forms into various subject areas, enriching the learning experience. The Creative Teacher course provides a strong foundation for this role, focusing on the integration of movement and dance into early childhood education. It helps develop methods for nurturing physical, sensory, communication, and language development. The course equips specialists with practical ideas for harnessing sensory, physical, cognitive, and creative engagement through movement. By understanding how dance strengthens the body and enhances emotional expression, arts integration specialists can effectively promote creativity and learning in the classroom.

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Movement Specialist

Movement specialists work with individuals to improve their physical coordination, balance, and body awareness through targeted exercises and activities. This course provides a helpful exploration into how movement and dance strengthen the body, readying it for fine motor skills, coordination, language, sensory awareness, and creative expression. It shows how to use dance and movement from birth to enhance mutual understanding and attunement. By learning about the significance of expressing emotions through dance and building a pedagogy of body listening, movement specialists can enrich their practice and promote holistic well-being among their clients.

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Preschool Teacher

Preschool teachers play a crucial role in shaping young children's early learning experiences, preparing them for kindergarten. The Creative Teacher course may be useful for creating a vibrant and engaging preschool curriculum. The course focuses on harnessing young children's artistic and creative potential through movement and dance. It covers methods for nurturing physical, sensory, communication, and language development. With its emphasis on building a pedagogy of body listening and facilitating spontaneous movement ideas, this course may equip preschool teachers with innovative techniques to promote holistic development of their students.

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Childcare Provider

Childcare providers offer essential care and supervision for young children, ensuring their safety and well-being. The Creative Teacher course may provide invaluable insight into enhancing children's development through movement and dance. It introduces ideas on how dance strengthens the body readying it for fine motor skills, coordination, language, sensory awareness, and creative expression. Moreover, the course emphasizes the importance of expressing emotions through dance and building a pedagogy of body listening. This course may allow childcare providers to create enriching experiences for young children in their care, fostering their overall growth and development.

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Recreational Therapist

Recreational therapists use recreational activities, including movement and dance, to improve the physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with illnesses or disabilities. The Creative Teacher course may be useful as it explores the power of movement and dance in communication, attunement, and expression. Furthermore, it highlights real world examples of how to facilitate a child's spontaneous movement ideas. This course may enhance a recreational therapist's skill set, enabling them to design more effective and engaging programs that promote healing and improve quality of life.

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Physical Education Instructor

Physical education instructors teach students about physical fitness, health, and sports, promoting active lifestyles. The Creative Teacher course may be useful for instructors to create engaging and educational programs that promote physical development and well-being. The course explores the importance of expressing emotions through dance and highlights the real world examples of how to facilitate a child's spontaneous movement ideas. It also suggests how children tell their stories through their bodies. With this understanding, instructors may enrich their practice and foster a lifelong love of movement among their students.

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Early Intervention Specialist

Early intervention specialists work with infants and young children who have developmental delays or disabilities, providing support and therapies to promote their growth. The Creative Teacher course may be useful by offering insights into how movement and dance enhance development. The course underlines how to use dance and movement from birth to enhance mutual understanding and attunement. Furthermore, the course focuses on nurturing young children's physical, sensory, communication and language development through movement and dance. This course may enable specialists to implement innovative strategies to support children's development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Early Intervention Specialist

Camp Counselor

Camp counselors supervise children in recreational activities and teach them skills to develop self-sufficiency and enhance their skills in sports and other activities. Counselors supervise children in dance and movement activities. The Creative Teacher course may be useful because it includes practical ideas for harnessing sensory, physical, cognitive, and creative engagement. It also emphasizes the importance of expressing emotions through dance, which may assist counselors in promoting the personal growth of the campers.

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Nursery Assistant

Nursery assistants provide support to nursery staff in caring for and educating young children. It often involves facilitating play and learning activities. This course may allow the nursery assistant to learn new techniques for movement and dance. The Creative Teacher course may be useful because it sets out the foundations for nurturing young children's physical, sensory, communication and language development through movement and dance. It also describes the importance of expressing emotions through dance. This may help boost a nursery assistant's prospects.

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Museum Educator

Museum educators design and deliver educational programs and exhibits for visitors of all ages, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of art, history, and culture. This course may be useful for museum educators who work with young children, especially in interactive exhibits. The Creative Teacher course discusses how children tell their stories through the body and how dance strengthens it for sensory and creative expression. It also provides practical ideas for harnessing engagement, which would be very helpful in a museum environment.

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Children's Librarian

Children's librarians foster a love of reading and learning among young people by providing access to books, resources, and programs such as storytimes. This course may be useful for supplementing a librarian's storytime skill set. The Creative Teacher course teaches how dance strengthens the body ready for fine motor, coordination, language, sensory and creative expression. It also provides practical ideas for harnessing sensory, physical, cognitive and creative engagement. This may lead to more engaging and educational storytime for the librarian's young audience.

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Music Teacher

Music teachers instruct students in music theory, performance, and appreciation, nurturing their musical talents and creativity. Even though unrelated to dance, movement may be useful for beginning music students. The Creative Teacher course explores how movement and dance affects physical, sensory, communication and language development. It also discusses the importance of expressing emotions through dance. This may have benefits for music teachers, especially when working with young students.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Creative Teacher 5: Listening with Movement and Dance.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Provides a neurobiological perspective on children's behavior, emphasizing the importance of understanding the brain-body connection. It offers practical strategies for educators to respond to children's needs in a way that fosters emotional regulation and connection. This is especially useful for understanding how movement and dance can be used to address underlying needs and promote positive behavior in early childhood settings. It provides a strong foundation for the course's focus on body listening and attunement.

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The Creative Teacher 5

Listening with Movement and Dance

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Listening with movement and dance

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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