Start with the Arts for CENTER based providers Deb Norris November 2, 2022

Start with the Arts with Centers is an inclusive, intensive mentoring program for center based childcare providers caring for children preschool age and younger. Quality children’s books are extended with rich, arts based experiences, something from every genre, to help the children and providers explore and find their best expressive means. Our updated program includes new content focused on social and emotional learning. The program meets 2x a week for 12 weeks with our teaching artists modeling the program and supporting the childcare providers while they create, deliver and document their own arts based literacy activities. One goal of the program is that at the end the providers themselves will have the inspiration and confidence to continue the use of the model on their own. The Start with the Arts with Centers Program Outline consists of weekly, 1 hour visits, meeting twice a week for 12 weeks with teaching artist and provider working together as a team and including 5, 1 hour reflection meetings. An ongoing public display is encouraged to celebrate the provider's and children's commitment and participation in the program and encourage family and public awareness. Providers will document the lessons that they lead on their own in the form of logs, copies of which will be collected by Inclusive Arts Vermont for PD documentation. Providers earn 20 PD hours, 6 of which can be used towards advanced specialized care.