Integrating Music and Movement with Literacy and Science
About this Event
April 13, 2027 | 4:30-6:00pm
Utah State University, Edith Bowen Laboratory School
Cost: FREE
Grades: K-6
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Dive into an active, creative workshop inspired by the Great Salt Lake with classroom teacher Tiya Karaus and music and movement specialist Susan Swidnicki who will share engaging, student-tested projects that bring Utah ELA and Science standards to life through storytelling, poetry, drama, painting, singing, rhythm, movement, and music-making. Experience playful strategies inspired by Orff Schulwerk, an active approach to music learning rooted in children’s natural inclination to play and explore. Participants will move, create rhythms, tell stories, make music, and explore interdisciplinary lessons designed for grades K-6. Leave with practical, adaptable ideas for integrating movement and the arts into ELA and science instruction —whether you teach in the classroom, lead arts education, or collaborate across disciplines.
PRESENTER BIOS
Susan Swidnicki teaches music for 3 year olds-5th graders at the McCarthey campus of Rowland Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah. Susan has also served as the director of choirs and Orff-Schulwerk ensembles for children and youth at Zion Lutheran Church since 1999, where she works with toddlers through high school seniors. Susan holds degrees in music performance from St.Louis Conservatory of Music and the University of Utah. She holds full Orff certification from the University of Kentucky and Kodaly certification from Seattle Pacific University. She has completed the Smithsonian Multicultural Pedagogy course at the University of Washington. Susan has had an extensive performing career as an oboist and was principal oboist for Ballet West, as well as an extra oboist with the Utah Symphony for many years. Prior to teaching in the Lower School, Susan worked as a Beverly Taylor Sorenson music and movement instructor for arts integration at Canyon Rim Academy. She served as adjunct instructor of oboe for Utah State University and Westminster University. She has presented workshops on children’s music for the Utah Montessori Conference, Utah State University, the Utah American Orff Association and the University of Utah
Tiya Karaus Tiya earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Maine, Orono, and a teaching certificate from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. She has taught students in grades 2–5 and spent two years as a math coach in the Salt Lake City School District before joining Rowland Hall's lower school, where she currently teaches second grade. Tiya is passionate about arts integration and believes meaningful learning happens when students can connect ideas across disciplines. She enjoys collaborating with fellow educators and has presented at conferences including the Utah Science Teachers Association, the Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the Utah Art Educators Association, sharing activities that inspire creative and engaging classroom learning
*Relicensure hours available
Workshops are open to classroom teachers, arts educators, school administrators, university students, and community members
Learn more at: teal.usu.edu/arts-are-core
*Free parking is availiable in the BLACK LOT indicated on the map below
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
