Loretta Rotolo

Loretta Rotolo

Loretta began her career as a drama/play therapist working with young children with special needs in preschool and hospital settings, and is a registered drama therapist and licensed creative arts therapist. To expand her role and develop her skills, Loretta later attended the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute, where she could learn more about group facilitation, sociometry, and playback theatre as a way of integrating role-play with storytelling.

Over the past 20 years, Loretta has been fortunate to have worked with a variety of populations with diverse needs and abilities: older adults with multiple cognitive and physical disabilities, children with mental health needs, and adults in treatment for alcohol and substance abuse.

Relevant Experience:
Loretta has worked as a developmental therapist and creative arts therapist in hospitals, school, and mental health and substance abuse counseling settings. She has worked in the human services field in both program development and management capacities, with years of experience in community building and collaborative projects that improve the quality of life for individuals and families.

Education and Credentials:

Loretta is a Registered Drama Therapist, a licensed Creative Arts Therapist (in NY), and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist.
She completed over 300 hours of training at the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute.

BA Theatre and Education, Hunter College; MA Drama Therapy, New York University

 

EDUCATOR CONTACT INFO

rotolori@gmail.com

  2002 Pinercrest Drive

Sonoma

(845)399-9290

Integrating Creative Expression in the Classroom - A Series for Elementary Ed Teachers

Program description

Discover new ways to reach, teach, stimulate, engage and encourage students through interactive, creative learning experiences. Integrating creative arts into the classroom and providing experiential learning opportunities can address a variety of learning styles (the multiple intelligences model) and make curriculum and units come alive!

In this experiential series, we will explore ways to utilize creative drama, theatre games, storytelling, poetry, movement, and team-building and interactive games, to enrich the learning experience in your classroom. Providing opportunities for self-expression, creativity and spontaneity, can foster the development of language, cognitive, and motor skills; highlight individual strengths and talents; improve attention and concentration; invite creative problem solving; encourage teamwork and cooperation; and create an environment where active learning can take place.

Participants will learn ways to apply the creative arts to curriculum, subject themes and projects, to make learning (and teaching) fun. We will use class time also to brainstorm creative interventions to incorporate into your existing lesson plans.

This is an experiential class exploring interactive, creative, fun, activities, interventions and strategies to encourage self-expression, participation and foster group cooperation.

We will discover ways to utilize:
• Improvisation and Spontaneity
• Creative Drama
• Storytelling/Story Dramatization
• Language Arts/Poetry
• Sensory Awareness
• Learning through Music
• Rhythm Games
• Art Expression
• Movement/Non-verbal communication
• Interactive Games
• Arts for Art Sake

The benefits of incorporating creative arts into the classroom include:
• Increases focus and attention
• Encourages creative self-expression
• Teaches active listening
• Allows us to see and appreciate other’s strengths and talents
• Builds trust and respect
• Develops mutually respectful relationships
• Promotes cooperative and supportive groups
• Acknowledges and incorporates diversity
• Offering multiple learning styles

Series: Classes can be offered as either
• 2 hours/week for 4 weeks to allow educators to “try out” the activities in the classroom, adapt and brainstorm ideas/methods that will enhance existing lesson plans and support educational goals. 8-15 participants.
• Full day workshop option – 9-4 pm

 

Instruction is offered as team by:

Loretta Rotolo, M.A., LCAT, RDT
Registered Drama Therapist; Licensed Creative Arts Therapist

Jamie Blumenthal, M.A., MT-BC
Board Certified Music Therapist

Booking / scheduling contact

Loretta Rotolo

   (845)399-9290

 rotolori@gmail.com

Program detail
Artistic discipline: Multi-discipline, Music, Storytelling, Theatre, Visual Arts
Cultural Origin: Multicultural
Program type: Professional Development, Workshop/Class
Population served: Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04, Grade 05, Kindergarten, Students with Special Needs
Subject: Language Arts, Math, Media Arts, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies and/or History, Visual Arts
Bilingual: No
Available dates:

Workshops to be Scheduled Upon Request:

Mon/Tues -  (2 half days) or  Mornings: 8:30-12:30 or Afternoons: 12:30-4:30 pm

Tues/Wed -  (2 half days) Mornings: 8:30-12:30 or Afternoons: 12:30-4:30 pm  OR

Wed/Thurs. -  (2 half days) Mornings: 8:30-12:30 or Afternoons: 12:30-4:30 pm  OR

Saturday - All Day workshops 8:30-4:30 or 9:00 - 5:00

Weekly Follow Up Coaching Sessions are available after initial 8 hr. workshop is completed. Virtual or in-person.

Available times:

Workshops to be Scheduled Upon Request

Mon/Tues   Two mornings  8:30 am to 12:30 pm  OR  Two afternoons 12:30 -4:30 pm

Tues/Wed    Two morning 8:30 am to 12:30 pm  OR Two afternoons 12:30 -4:30 pm

Wed/Thurs   Two mornings 8:30 am to 12:30 pm OR Two afternoons 12:30 -4:30 pm  OR

Saturday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Weekly Follow Up Coaching Sessions available after initial 8 hr. workshop is completed.  Virtual or in-person.

Length of program: Workshops will be scheduled upon request: 4 hours/2 half days; or one 8 hour workshop
Space / technical requirements:

Open flexible space, classroom with chairs to be put into a circle, 2 tables

Whiteboard and markers

Location(s):

At a School District or Elementary School Site or other County/Community Meeting Space

Fees / Ticketing:

$150 per person (8 hour workshop)

Qualifications

Two or more years of educational programming experience: Yes
Provides study guides for teachers and or students: Yes
Connects to State and or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes
Provides tools to assess student learning (workshops and residencies): Yes
Conducts ongoing assessments of program quality: Yes
Maintains general liability insurance: Yes
Three letters of recommendation / references available: Yes
Cancellation Policy

Instructors to be notified up to 2 weeks prior to date of first session.