Professional Development for Classroom Teachers
Arts-Integrated, Standards-Aligned Training for New York Schools
At Child’s Play NY, we provide professional development for elementary and early childhood teachers that transforms classrooms through the power of theater, storytelling, and play. Our workshops are designed for school administrators and educators who want to strengthen student engagement, deepen social-emotional learning (SEL), and connect curriculum to creative expression.
Each PD session is arts-integrated and standards-aligned, helping teachers bring joy, inquiry, and imagination into core subjects while advancing academic outcomes in ELA, Social Studies, and STEM. Grounded in evidence-based practices, our approach supports your school’s goals for equity, inclusion, and whole-child development.
Through our trainings, teachers learn how to help students:
- – Activate agency, identity, and belonging
- – Feel seen and connected to their school community
- – Grow in confidence and self-expression
- – Develop their authentic voice and creative problem-solving skills
- – Build academic mastery through creativity
Our Professional Development sessions are fully customizable and begin with a collaborative listening meeting between Executive Director Jocelyn Greene and your school leadership. We adapt our approach to your grade levels, curriculum goals, and community needs—whether that means reimagining a unit of study through project-based learning or introducing drama games that foster literacy.
Bring meaningful, arts-based professional learning to your teachers and students. Set up a call with Jocelyn Greene to explore how Child’s Play NY can partner with your school for engaging, transformative professional development.
Watch Our Games in the Classroom
“Activated Curriculum” Professional Development
Arts-Integration, Literacy & Play-Based Professional Learning for NY Schools
At Child’s Play NY, we partner with elementary schools and districts across New York State to deliver professional development in arts-integration, project‐based learning, early-childhood play, and literacy tie-ins. Our “Activated Curriculum” workshop series supports school administrators looking to build teacher capacity, improve student engagement, and meet academic goals through drama, storytelling, and creative play.
Our PD sessions are aligned with New York State Learning Standards (ELA, Social Studies, STEM) and designed to boost student voice, agency, and academic achievement. Whether you’re seeking a stand-alone workshop or full residency, our model is tailored to your school context and budget.
Curriculum in Play
In this module, teachers experience hands-on drama games that bring learning to life. With a focus on arts-integration professional development for elementary teachers, the training supports:
- – Building student voice and confidence through theater-inspired games
- – Connecting drama to core academic standards (ELA, Social Studies, STEM)
- – Fostering excitement and curiosity around curriculum
- – Strengthening teacher practice and classroom dynamics
This PD satisfies the demand for fresh, creative instruction and helps administrators deliver arts-inclusion PD that is practical and impactful in NY schools.
Child’s Play NY project-based learning workshop
Theater Arts in Project-Based Learning
Project-Based Learning with the Arts: Inquiry, Choice & Performance
This training helps teachers update an existing unit into a project-based learning (PBL) unit enhanced by theater arts. Teachers will learn to:
- – Design inquiry-based units anchored in student questions and choice.
- – Use dramatic rehearsal, performance, or creation as a final “public product” to show what students know.
- Empower students to speak, perform, and articulate learning with passion.
By aligning PBL with your school’s goals for engagement, deeper learning and authentic outcomes, this module supports administrators who want project based learning professional development for their elementary teachers in NY.
Literacy Through Drama
ELA + Arts Integration
Our ELA-focused session equips teachers with drama-based literacy strategies directly aligned to grade-level standards. Outcomes include:
- – Narrative, persuasive and poetic student work using drama/storytelling.
- – Enhanced comprehension, analysis, story structure, sequencing and vocabulary.
- – Stronger emotional intelligence and peer connections through shared dramatic work.
This supports administrators in offering PD that explicitly targets literacy integration through the arts, bridging arts-inclusion with foundational literacy skills.
Executive Function and Social Emotional Learning Professional Development
Team Building for School Community
This arts-based PD module uses theater games to build positive classroom and school culture. Teachers will access routines that:
- – Open and close class with circle time, transitions & celebrations.
- – Build community, belonging and student voice.
- – Support a harmonious dynamic and reduce peer conflict, exclusion, and bullying.
Ideal for administrators focused on SEL teacher training through drama and play-based methods.
Building Emotional Literacy Through Drama Activities
Drama becomes the vehicle for emotional awareness. Teachers learn to facilitate experiences that:
- – Strengthen students’ empathy, perspective-taking and self-awareness.
- – Create a “feeling intelligence” in the classroom.
- – Serve individual students and whole-school culture alike.
This module supports PD goals around SEL, inclusion, and safe, responsive learning environments.
Imaginative Play, Executive Function and Family Engagement for Early Childhood
In this session, early childhood teachers learn to scaffold dramatic play, developing students’ executive function skills such as working memory, flexible thinking and self-regulation. Includes:
- – Structures and routines for imaginative play in the classroom.
- – Language, game templates and home-practice resources for families.
- – Focus on early learners (Pre-K, K) within the context of project-based, play-rich environments.
This module fills a niche for early ed PD in dramatic play + executive function, helping NY administrators provide targeted support for younger learners.
Partnering with Child’s Play NY
Our PD offerings are customizable to meet your needs:
- – School-wide full-day or half-day workshops.
- – Grade-level teams or cross-grade planning sessions.
- – Push-in/coaching follow-ups tied to teacher practice.
Contact us to design a PD program that fits your calendar, budget and vision.
When Child’s Play NY partners with your school for an in-school residency, the first step is always a Professional Development session to align teachers with the practices they will see in classroom implementation. This ensures cohesion, fidelity, and long‐term sustainability.
What our customers say…
I’m really grateful for the experience and will continue using these creative techniques in class!.“
As a business, this is an incredibly professional group. Thorough, thoughtful, organized, and communicative. The teachers are tremendous – they are well trained as performers and educators. Embedded in all programs is a focus on social emotional development. I highly recommend all things Child’s Play NY – at Avenues New York, we have partnered to offer summer camps, after school programs, teacher training and online courses.”