WISIT Summer Institute 2026: Full Schedule

WISIT Summer Institute 2026

August 3 to 7, 2026
Washington International School, Tregaron Campus

1:45pm EDT

Ready, Set, Play!: Reclaiming Play as a Catalyst for Deep Learning

LIMITED

Monday August 3, 2026 1:45pm - 3:45pm EDT

Middle School Building Room 215

Limited Capacity seats available

Feedback Survey

Are you ready to play? This session challenges participants to rethink the essential role of play as a powerful driver of learning well beyond the early childhood years. Grounded in research, we will examine how play fuels engagement, deepens creativity, and strengthens social-emotional development across age groups. Together, we’ll analyze what meaningful play looks like in diverse classroom contexts and uncover practical, intentional ways to embed it into everyday teaching and leadership practices. Designed for teachers and school leaders alike, this session will leave you inspired and equipped to intentionally design for learning that is dynamic, joyful, and deeply engaging.

Speakers

Bridget Yoko

The Village School

Bridget Yoko is a lifelong educator and child advocate who believes every child carries a story worth discovering—and that play is one of the most powerful ways to tell it. With over 13 years of experience in PreK–8 education and advanced degrees in Integrated Studies, Elementary... Read More →

Aaryn Drapiza

The Village School

Aaryn Drapiza (she/her) is devoted to learner-centered and community-oriented education. Her education journey began with elementary learners, and the insights she gained from those foundational years inspire and inform her approach to middle school, a stage she's deeply passionate... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 1:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
Middle School Building Room 215

Interactive Course

1:45pm EDT

Acting Up and Acting Out: Using Stories and Drama to Uncover Perspectives and Build Empathy

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:45pm - 3:45pm EDT

Middle School Building Room 215

Limited Capacity seats available

Feedback Survey

Storytelling is a fundamental way in which humans connect; it allows us to share experiences, evoke empathy, and understand perspectives beyond our own. Through narratives, we can explore the intricacies of global issues and recognize our shared humanity. Using storytelling, thinking routines, and drama conventions, we will immerse ourselves in these intricate topics and work to make the invisible visible. Join us in this thought-provoking journey, and be inspired to step outside of your comfort zone to connect with others through the power of dramatic storytelling!

Speakers

Foun Tang

Georgetown Day School

Foun Tang is currently an elementary school teacher at Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC. She has been working as an educator for over 20 years in international schools in Hong Kong and Japan, as well as in independent schools in the DC area. Since attending the Project Zero... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
Middle School Building Room 215

Interactive Course