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Contact VSA:
• 608-241-2131
• Email
VSA
• Sign up to receive VSA news alerts and e-newsletters
• For
more information on Early Childhood programs, contact VSA's Early Childhood Director.
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| Early Childhood - Healthy Foundations Artist
Residencies |
 VSA
arts of Wisconsin's
nationally recognized Early Childhood program, which serves children from
birth to age
6, provides arts programming at early childhood sites across
the state. Our programs
focus on working with teachers whose classrooms have children with
disabilities
or
serve a
high
at-risk
population.
VSA provides credit for early childhood educators through The
Registry. Our early childhood programs can also be applied to Professional
Development Plans for
the Department
of
Public Instruction.
The Early Childhood Healthy
Foundations initiative began in 1992 and uses the arts as a tool
1) to better prepare children with disabilities, and those at risk, to
succeed when they enter
the typical school environment; 2) to train early childhood educators to
use the arts to foster literacy and support physical, social and emotional
growth, and 3) encourage the role of parents in providing optimal growth
and development for their children. This arts-in-education
program provides a framework for creating comprehensive learning experiences,
evaluating, and improving
conditions for children with disabilities, ages birth to 6.
Studies have shown that young children with developmental delays
and those in need of intervening services benefit from early intervention
and quality preschool programs. Early intervention also promotes inclusion
by providing children with a "jump start" to learning.
Artist Residencies
During fiscal year 2008-2009,
VSA will conduct artist residencies for approximately 460 children
with and without
disabilities and involving approximately 50 educators.
2008-09 Early Childhood Artist Residency Sites
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Beloit Head Start
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Common Paths, Green Bay
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St. Peter's Head Start, Janesville
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Tanner Elementary School, Kaukauna
- East Madison Head Start
- Marathon Area Elementary School
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Common Threads, McFarland
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68th Street Early Childhood Center, Milwaukee
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Penfield Children's Center - Milwaukee
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St. Francis Children's Center, Milwaukee
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Peace Early Learning Center, Oshkosh
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Roosevelt Elementary School, Plover
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The Early Learning Center, Sheboygan
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Hometown Children's Center, Stevens Point
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Westside Elementary & Gingerbread
House (two sites), Sun Prairie
The
Artist Residency Program is a collaborative project designed to use
the arts as
a means of helping children with disabilities excel in the classroom
and community. These programs pair early childhood educators with a VSA teaching
artist. Together,
the
teaching artist and educator explore one of four art mediums (movement,
music, drama, or visual art).
VSA's Artist Residency
Program is
highly collaborative and each program is unique. Programs
build
off the
strength and
interests of the children, educators and VSA teaching artists.
2008-09
Artist Residency application form available - click here to download
(PDF).
“To say that VSA has done wonders for our program and families,
is not giving it enough credit. It has given a path to new teachers
and reinvigorated those with decades in the classroom. It has taught
us and our families not only the importance of arts in the classroom,
but the lasting effects that they have on the children we love so
much.”
~Debbie Robie, Children’s House Montessori, Eau Claire |
Download:
Program Information
Program Registration
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