I am excited to report that Andrew WON the title of Mr. Rockville High School at this year’s annual fundraiser! Andrew got up in front of an audience filled with parents, teachers and peers and performed Zumba fitness for his talent.
With on stage backup from his friends and audience support from his fellow Zumba classmates, Andrew led the number with confidence and style. What a wonderful moment to watch this group of teens come together to support their friend!
Tressa with Andrew
In March of 2014 I was asked to teach Zumba ® to teenagers at an area high school. They were having an all-night volleyball “lock-in” fundraiser and needed some “entertainment” for students waiting for their team to play. I agreed, but was feeling nervous. I worked on my playlist for days, wanting to ensure I chose music that these teens were going to like. My fear was that I would show up and no one would want to participate. Even though I’ve been teaching dance and group fitness for years, I knew that Zumba ® for teens could go one of two ways…..GREAT or Epic Fail!
To my amazement Zumba ® was a HUGE hit. The students enjoyed it so much, administrators asked me to stay an extra hour that night. For two full hours, these kids danced, laughed, sang, and jammed.
A few weeks later school administrators asked if I’d be interested in teaching Zumba ® fitness to students and faculty on a regular basis after school. They were applying for a grant that would support after school activities. I agreed to this activity excited to offer the opportunity, but again nervous to see if students would actually come.
Again, to my surprise, students and faculty filled the room week after week! The program was catching on in a big way and students from all “cliques” were coming to join the “party.” The program which ran April through June continued to grow and grow each week. I was even invited to the Senior Class’s all night safe grad party by request from the students!
By the start of the new school year school, administrators and the school’s principal were certain that offering Zumba ® fitness to their students was a great thing. For one, it gives them an after school activity that is an alternative to sports. Second, it provides all students with a non-threatening, no judgment zone to express and release stress. It provides physical activity in a party-like-atmosphere….and who doesn’t like to party! It brings teachers and students together on the same level…everyone learning together. Furthermore it allows students to see their teachers in a new light…having fun and exercising. It builds relationships, brings people together and provides a safe and controlled activity for all who are involved.
Zumba ® continues to evolve at this school. This year school administrators were able to obtain funding to provide bus transportation home after the activity which is wonderful for students who may not have a ride home from a parent or friend. Students who have missed PE classes and choose to make the class up can now do so at Zumba ® which is helping students improve their PE grades.
Each week I’m amazed that kids from all walks of life, various groups, and different abilities come together to just have fun. There is an unspoken acceptance in the room. There is a group bond each week for new and returning participants alike. For 50-minutes I watch these teens and teachers move, sing, sweat, laugh, high five, dance, release stress, and just have fun.
In a high stress teenage world with pressure, expectations, negativity, it is nice to know that I can take them away from that for 50-minutes and provide a place to just live and be in the moment while improving their health. I applaud this districts openness and commitment to offer programming for their students that’s modern and somewhat out of the box.
We Zumba ® instructors have a saying that in just two words represents the feeling you have when being part of this fitness phenomenon; and through this high school group I am honored to feel it each and every week … “ZUMBA ® LOVE!”
This week a student asked me to help him with his “talent” for the Mr. RHS pageant. His talent is Zumba ® with the help of his 6 friends as back up dancers. Our rehearsal went great. I’ll keep you posted on how he does!!!
For years I have been honored to teach youth dance lessons at a local dance studio, our local Y and local recreation department. I teach a ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and tumbling to children ages 3 to 12. I find that no matter what kind of a day I may be having, coming into the dance studio and seeing all those happy smiles puts a smile on my face.
What I love most about the classes I teach, is that there is a point when I can feel myself just let go and see life through the eyes of those children. A world that is full of music, laughter, wonder and creativity. I find that through the music I play and the movements we learn, my class and I are able to express ourselves and become so many wonderful things. We roar like dinosaurs, we become princesses, we jump and leap like frogs, we make imaginary pizzas while we stretch, we laugh, we sing, we dance. For 45 minutes, these children and I enjoy the simplicity of being together, having fun, and learning all at the same time. I’m sure some of the parents in the waiting room think I’m crazy as I’m flapping my duck wings and quacking at the top of my lungs, but let me tell you, my dancers are learning!
So many wonderful things happen in dance classes, educationally. Children are learning vocabulary, directional words, counting skills, and patterning. Their social skills are strengthened by learning how to work as a team while interacting with peers and adults. Their attention spans are lengthening. Children also develop skills to perform their dances in front of others, which is a HUGE accomplishment and social lesson. Obviously their physical development is benefiting; their muscles are strengthening and they are building coordination and body awareness. This, all from a 45 minute activity!
One of my favorite activities at dance is when we sit and stretch and “make a pizza.” I love to hear what each student wants to put on our pizza each week. I note how at the beginning of the year, their toppings choices are short and generic….”cheese, pepperoni” etc. By the end of October their responses are detailed and elaborate; “5 Red gummy bears, 13 cups of apple juice, everything but broccoli.” As my students become comfortable in their environment and are encouraged to be creative, their responses become more thoughtful and detailed. What they love is my response. No matter what the topping is that they choose to share, I give them a positive response, making sure that each of them knows that their toppings are appreciated and are important to our final creation.
When Laura and I go out to conduct professional development seminars I always comment that there are thousands for “mediocre” teachers in this world. Teachers who come in, educate, are kind and loving, they do nothing wrong in their quest to educate…but then there are BA BAM teachers….those who go above and beyond to ensure that their students are given opportunities to be creative, exploratory, inquisitive, and most of all listened to.
Does it take a bit more energy and planning to become a “BA BAM” teacher? You bet! But it is worth it and our children deserve it. So my last question for this post is…..How will you be a “BA BAM” teacher today?
Today we are releasing a NEW video in our “Book & Boogie” series! This online video series features stories and music components that work well together – and some movement choreography to go with them, so teachers and parents can do this literacy activity with children in their class, playgroup or at home.
Alphabet Boogie
This video features a book and song component related to learning the alphabet. The story we chose is “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom“, with all the lower case letters racing to the top of a coconut tree. The story helps children begin to recognize upper and lower case letters, while enjoying the rhyming text. Watch the video to see the fun “Alphabet Boogie” component that Tressa adds for you to do AFTER reading the story!
You can access our ENTIRE video collection at www.bookandboogie.com.
CREDITS
Book: “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin
Music: “Alphabet Boogie“, Kidzup Educational Music
Sponsor: Dance Express of Tolland
Dance Express has been teaching children to dance for 25 years. Our philosophy from the beginning has been to teach children the wonderful artistry of dance. We have succeeded in accomplishing this while developing the students’ sense of self-esteem, discipline and hopefully a lifelong interest in the performing arts.
Filmed and edited by: Dan Wills
Do you want to be a featured “Book & Boogie” sponsor? Click here to learn how!
We are still processing all the great experiences we had at the NAEYC annual conference in Atlanta last week. A frequent presenter at the conference was a childhood favorite of ours … Mr. Bob McGrath from Sesame Street! How fun it was to sing songs that I remember from the show (all the words come back to you!). As an early childhood professional, it’s interesting to look at all those songs with different eyes … and how those songs tie into early learning concepts for children.
Bob McGrath
Very calming and entertaining, Bob McGrath gave a great presentation in Atlanta – despite arriving very late the night before due to the winter storm that hit NY that week.
Remember all those fun songs from Sesame Street? Used with your preschoolers in class or at home, those fun songs also incorporate learning concepts that you can use to extend topics that you may already be talking about.
Tressa got up on stage with Bob when he (and those of us in the audience) sang to “This Little Light of Mine“.
Using instruments, (like the triangle Tressa is holding) – they emphasized the rhyming words in the song by hitting their bells or triangles. Such a simple and effective idea to use in your classroom to take a song that the children are familiar with; but having them really listen for the rhyming words and then reinforcing that by tapping on an instrument.
I agreed with Tressa that the next time there was an opportunity to go up on stage, that I would do it. So of course, there was DANCING involved (I thought Tressa was supposed to do the boogie!) I did my best, as we got up to do the “Dinosaur Swing“.
And then it was time to ROAR!!
It was fun … and gave us another musical song choice that we can use for “Dinosaur Book & Boogie“!
Our favorite new song!
By far, our FAVORITE new (to us) song was “Everyone Asked About You” – which is basically a song version of this book. We had never heard this one before, and loved the rhythms in the music and the story that is told. Bob told of a teacher who uses this story and song at the beginning of each school year – and when one year she decided to change it, all the kids complained that they wanted “Nora Blue”!
Again, I think of the teaching aspects that can be used with this book and song. Nora experiences that feeling of being lonely, which children can relate to – don’t we ALL want to feel like people miss us or “ask about us” when we are not around? So it opens up an opportunity for discussion with your children (“Why do you think Nora didn’t want to come out at first?” “How was she feeling?” “Have you ever felt that way?”) When all the very colorful and vibrant characters come at the end of the story … it’s a great celebration! The song component really helps to make this a story that the children will remember.
We very much enjoyed Bob’s workshop … and we are still learning from him, just as we did when we were kids!
You can view all our NAEYC conference photos on our Facebook page!
More story reviews and music and movement ideas and choreography coming your way with the “Book & Boogie” ONLINE VIDEO SERIES today!
To recap the videos we released so far, we featured a Warm up & Cool down, along with fun story / music combinations about dinosaurs, trains and ducks. Today we are showcasing a book and song component related to riding a bus or transportation.
The Wheels on the Bus
This video features a fun a popular book “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus” – along with a modern, jazzy version of the ever popular “The Wheels on the bus” song (you have to hear this one … adults and children alike will love it!)
We will feature one of the videos each day this week on our blog … but you can also have easy access to the ENTIRE collection at www.bookandboogie.com.
CREDITS
Book: “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus” by Mo Willems
Music: “The Wheels on the bus” – Go Fish, Party Like a Preschool
Sponsor: CPR Training Professionals, LLC
CPR Training Professionals, LLC was created to meet the training and education needs of healthcare professionals and families who need and want CPR training.
Filmed and edited by: Dan Wills
Do you want to be a featured “Book & Boogie” sponsor? Click here to learn how!
More story reviews and music and movement ideas and choreography coming your way with the “Book & Boogie” ONLINE VIDEO SERIES today!
To recap the videos we released so far, we featured a Warm up & Cool down, along with fun story / music combinations about dinosaurs, trains and ducks. Today we are showcasing a book and song component related to riding a bus or transportation.
The Wheels on the Bus
This video features a fun a popular book “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus” – along with a modern, jazzy version of the ever popular “The Wheels on the bus” song (you have to hear this one … adults and children alike will love it!)
We will feature one of the videos each day this week on our blog … but you can also have easy access to the ENTIRE collection at www.bookandboogie.com.
CREDITS
Book: “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus” by Mo Willems
Music: “The Wheels on the bus” – Go Fish, Party Like a Preschool
Sponsor: CPR Training Professionals, LLC
CPR Training Professionals, LLC was created to meet the training and education needs of healthcare professionals and families who need and want CPR training.
Filmed and edited by: Dan Wills
Do you want to be a featured “Book & Boogie” sponsor? Click here to learn how!
We are continuing this week with our “Book & Boogie” ONLINE VIDEO SERIES, where we feature stories with music and movement!
We are featuring a new “Book & Boogie” video each day this week to kick off the series. So far this week, we featured our Warm up & Cool down, and fun story / music combinations about dinosaurs and trains. Next up, we are going to meet a duck named Ruby, and learn a song and movements to “The Little White Duck“.
Ducks in the pond
This video features a book and song component that can be used when talking about farms, pond life or animals. “This Way Ruby” is an engaging story, which lends itself to pause at times, pointing out all the things Ruby sees on the pond adventure she has with her siblings. Get the children involved in the story by having them call out “This way, Ruby!”
We will feature one of the videos each day this week on our blog … but you can also have easy access to the ENTIRE collection at www.bookandboogie.com.
CREDITS
Book:“This Way Ruby” by Jonathan Emmett
Ruby’s brothers and sisters are always racing off in search of adventure. “This way, Ruby!” they call, but Ruby, who is still the littlest, likes to take things slowly. She prefers to look at all the grassy banks, the willow trees, and the dragonflies, which is just as well, for when the ducklings get lost in a storm, it’s up to Ruby to find the way back home!
Music: “The Little White Duck“, Miss Lisa, Over in the Meadow
Filmed and edited by: Dan Wills
We are having fun this week with our “Book & Boogie” ONLINE VIDEO SERIES, where we feature stories and music and movement components that work well together for teachers and caregivers to use with their preschool groups.
So far, we featured our Warm up & Cool down, and a fun story / music combination about Dinosaurs. Next up … chugga chugga choo choo, here come the TRAINS!
Trains
This video features a book and song component to go with a discussion about trains. You can make the story more fun and engaging by having the children repeat the train sounds that they hear as you read.
We will feature one of the videos each day this week on our blog … but you can also have easy access to the ENTIRE collection at www.bookandboogie.com.
CREDITS
Book: “A Train goes Clickety Clack” by Jonathan London
Music: “Chugga Chugga Choo Choo” – Choo Choo Soul, Choo Choo Soul
Sponsor: CPR Training Professionals, LLC
CPR Training Professionals, LLC was created to meet the training and education needs of healthcare professionals and families who need and want CPR training.
Filmed and edited by: Dan Wills
Do you want to be a featured “Book & Boogie” sponsor? Click here to learn how!
In August we hinted about a new project we were working on. We are ready to give you a sneak peek before we unveil our entire new video series on October 15th! For the past two years, we have been offering a literacy-based music & movement program to preschools across Connecticut called “Book & Boogie“.
“Book & Boogie” is a children’s program where we incorporate books and literacy with music and movement activities geared towards children ages 3-6. We bring together story themes with a music and movement component to go with the stories, which gets children moving and actively learning. Research shows that movement is the young child’s preferred mode of learning – and that children learn best through active involvement.
Children and teachers have loved the opportunity to combine books with fun, age-appropriate dance movements. So, we wanted to find a way to share “Book & Boogie” with lots more teachers and parents – and through our video series we will be able to provide story ideas, music choices and simple dance choreography for you to share with your own classroom or playgroup.
Our first set of videos will be launched on October 15th … but we really just couldn’t wait to start sharing, so our first video is available to view below or via our YOUTUBE channel (www.youtube.com/theseedsnetwork). This first video features a story and music selection about FARMS … get ready for a more modern musical take on “Old MacDonald”!
Take a peek … let us know what you think! And be sure to stop back on October 15th!!
CREDITS
Book:“It’s a Perfect Day” by Abigail Pizer
Filled with repetition, children become familiar with the pattern of this book quickly. Have the children participate by making animal sounds as you read. Point to the pictorial cues in the book and children will be able to “read” with you.
Music: “Old MacDonald” – The GiggleBellies Musical Adventures Children’s Music
Activity Idea: “Down on the Farm in preschool” – PreK+K sharing blog
Filmed & edited by: “Dan Wills
Sponsor: Dance Express of Tolland
Dance Express has been teaching children to dance for 25 years. Our philosophy from the beginning has been to teach children the wonderful artistry of dance. We have succeeded in accomplishing this while developing the students’ sense of self-esteem, discipline and hopefully a lifelong interest in the performing arts.
Do you want to be a featured “Book & Boogie” sponsor? Click here to learn how!