Ailey Teacher Certification Program Curriculum
Curriculum Overview
The 32-week Ailey Teacher Certification: Ailey Horton Technique course is divided into three distinct parts or "sections.”
Section A
Section A begins with an intensive week of in-person experiential learning, which includes a strong emphasis on the development and understanding of the foundational warm-up methodologies of the Ailey Horton Technique. Participants begin to construct and teach comprehensive lesson plans and consider ways to assess students’ progress and provide meaningful feedback. In addition, the 12 weeks of Section A offer participants a unique opportunity to explore the historical context that informed and inspired the artistic work of Alvin Ailey and Lester Horton and to deepen their understanding of the cultural representation and relevance that influenced the evolution of the Ailey Horton Technique and the choreography of Alvin Ailey.
Section B
During the following 10 weeks, Section B continues the program’s focus on understanding the historical background and early influences that shaped the development of the Ailey Horton Technique. As participants build their foundational knowledge around the work of key figures who informed and inspired the work of Alvin Ailey and Lester Horton, they develop an expansive movement vocabulary to establish context for their in-depth study and understanding of the Ailey Horton Technique. Participants then apply their expanded knowledge to an Ailey Horton sequencing project.
Section C
In the final 10 weeks, Section C guides participants through a study of “standards-based” teaching and learning methods. Participants continue to broaden their understanding of the Ailey Horton Technique and incorporate that knowledge into the creation of a series of powerful, student-centered lesson plans. The program concludes with a teaching practicum in demonstration of the acquired knowledge and skills in the Ailey Horton Technique supported by comprehensive feedback.
Across the entire 32 weeks, the program offers an active learning approach with frequent opportunities for self-reflection and goal setting, as educators consider how they will bring their new knowledge and understandings into their own teaching practice.
Schedule
In-Person “Kick-Off Week” Daily Schedule* (9AM – 6PM)
- Breakfast meet and greet
- Welcome/introduction: review syllabus, discussion of what to expect from coursework
- Prerequisite material review
- Break
- Ailey Horton Technique warm up: learning/doing/teaching
- Lunch
- Ailey Horton Technique warm up (cont’d.): review and discussion; learning/doing/teaching
- Watch Portrait of Ailey, Chapter 1
- Discuss Teachable online platform: assignments, quizzes, discussions; Google Classroom: video uploads
- Day 1 wrap-up discussion: technology questions/issues, closing thoughts
*Preliminary schedule; subject to change
- Greeting and reflection
- Ailey Horton Technique warm up (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching
- Break
- Assessment discussion
- Lunch
- Ailey Horton Technique warm up (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching; small group review
- Break
- Watch Portrait of Ailey, Chapter 2
- Review written assignment #2 and quiz #1
- Day 2 wrap-up discussion
*Preliminary schedule; subject to change
- Greeting and reflection
- Ailey Horton Technique warm up (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching
- Guest speaker
- Break
- Warm up review and expansion of Ailey Horton Technique materials: learning/doing/teaching
- Lunch
- Warm up review and expansion (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching
- Music discussion
- Lesson plan material
- Break
- Partner work: build an Ailey Horton Technique class w/B.A.S.T.E. and lesson plan material listed (what we have covered to date). Discuss questions and approaches and how to tie in any new material or ideas that have been introduced.
- Day 3 wrap-up discussion
*Preliminary schedule; subject to change
- Partner work (cont’d.): finish building Ailey Horton Technique class
- Break into 2 groups and partner teach class (using the assessment tools to share feedback).
- Come back together and discuss findings
- Ailey Horton Technique material (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching
- Lunch
- Ailey Horton Technique material (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching
- Break
- Ailey Horton Technique material (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching
- Collaborate and create
- Share
- Day 4 wrap-up discussion
*Preliminary schedule; subject to change
- Last day thoughts
- Review all Ailey Horton Technique material. Discussion will include introducing and repeating material, progressions, and modifications for various age groups.
- Ailey Horton Technique material (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching
- Team building
- Break
- Team teaching
- Come together
- Lunch
- Ailey Horton Technique material (cont’d.): learning/doing/teaching
- Closing thoughts: looking ahead; virtual learning
*Preliminary schedule; subject to change
Hybrid Instructional Model
