Tara Papandrew has worked with Opal School since its inception in a variety of leadership roles: Director of Museum Programs & Outreach (2002-2008), Director of Opal School (2010-2014), and Teacher-Administrator (2014-present). This path has been fueled by her curiosity about children: who they are, what they imagine, and how they interact with the world. She seeks connections among children, materials, and ideas. In this work, she thrives on playing with her creativity (Bachelor of Arts in Dance) and her understanding of systems-thinking (Master of Arts in Administration). Currently, she is eager to move children’s stories out of the classrooms and into the city.
Venue:
KOWLOON JUNIOR SCHOOL
20 Perth Street, Homantin,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Registration at 8.00 am
on the 7th September 2019.
Deep Dive Sessions: Engaging with stories from Opal School's practice, opportunity to engage with materials, and time to reflect and consider implications to your setting. Particular attention will be paid to Story Workshop, an approach birthed at Opal School which has flowered in learning communities around the world.
"Today's puzzle," writes Jamie Holmes, "is to figure out what to do - in our jobs, relationships, and everyday lives - when we have no idea what to do." This conference thread considers how Playful Inquiry guides early childhood programs to respond to that challenge through becoming places where people learn to practice embracing uncertainty, developing empathy and agency, and opening doors to unimagined possibilities. Playful Inquiry describes a learning ecosystem, informing relationships between and amongst a school's children, staff, and families. Playful Inquiry is invited and sustained through inspiring curiosity, seeking connections, nurturing empathy, sharing stories, and exploring playfully.
Since 2001, Opal School in Portland, Oregon, has worked with children age 3 through grade five to provoke fresh ideas concerning environments where curiosity, creativity, and the wonder of learning thrive.
