WELCOME TO MY STUDIO: Cardboard with Robin Koo

Wednesday, October 14th 3pm-4pm

Cardboard is such a ubiquitous material, making it easy to acquire on a regular basis. Incorporating it into daily classroom life can pave the way for joyful open-ended learning. In this Videochat, Robin Koo will offer participants a peek into her early childhood art studio at Packer’s Early Learning Center in Brooklyn, and go over the types of cardboard that can deepen and enrich children’s learning experiences. Examples of lessons and projects, and the tools that help make this material manageable, will be shared, with time for discussion throughout the session. 

BIO:

This is Robin Koo’s 25th year in early childhood education, and her 9th year at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights as Early Childhood Art Teacher and Curriculum Support Specialist. Prior to her role at Packer, Robin served as the Program Director of Teaching Beyond the Square and Materials Center Coordinator from 2013 to 2018. In 2015, when Teaching Beyond the Square hosted the Wonder of Learning Exhibit, Robin was the chair of the Atelier Committee, which created the Natural Materials and Light & Shadow Ateliers. During her tenure as Program Director, Robin worked closely with a variety of public schools, UPK centers, and independent early childhood school communities, supporting them as they moved towards an inquiry-based approach to teaching. She began her teaching career at Beginnings in 2001, first as a classroom teacher in the 2s and 4/5s, and then as the Studio Teacher starting in 2006. In 2007, she helped establish the Materials Center and has coached school communities across the country in establishing their own materials resources. Robin was an Adjunct Instructor at NYU SCPS teaching courses for their Childcare Management certificate program. She received her M.A. in Art & Art Education from Teachers College, and her B.A. in Visual Art & Art History from Bowdoin College.