Becca's Blog

  Playful Stretching Routine: Animal and nature themed stretching.   Our objective is to explore aspects of making shapes with the body. We will teach kindergarten students animal and nature themed stretches such as butterflies, downward dogs, and tree poses. We will incorporate fun questions about these stretches to ensure that our students are engaged. We can ask them where their butterfly is going to fly, what type of dog they are, or what type of tree they are.  Competency: A.  The student can solve Locomotor And Non- locomotor movement problems (walk slowly, run quickly, stop) by creating a short thematic interpretation that will demonstrate these movements. Warm Up: As our warm-up we will teach a variety of stretches that all symbolize a different animal or parts of nature. For example, downward dog, cat/cow, butterfly, tree, cobra, pigeon, camel, etc.  Cool Down: Rainforest/ nature sounds and fun little animal music and mediation Assessment: Ask stud...

  Teaching - We will teach the students a skill that they have not learned before. For example, a set of six or seven jazz moves like the box step allows the students to experiment with the moves through practice in order to learn.  Coaching - After teaching the students the new dance move/skill, we will incorporate time to make sure every student is doing it correctly and to the best of their ability. Finding the small details that are preventing the students from fully committing to the skills and reaching their full potential will help them move past boundaries and improve.  Mentoring- We’re teaching them how to be resilient. If they fail the first time trying to complete a skill, we will make sure they get up and try again no matter how many times they fail. We will teach them respect for eachother and kindness. We will only tolerate treating each other with respect and using kind words with one and another.

  How will we teach Social Emotional Learning? Letting them build connections/friendships with each other first before giving them competitive tasks  Teaching them that they are working together to make a great performance together and emphasizing teamwork as a whole In the beginning of class giving the students five minutes to stretch and socialize. How will they build healthy relationships together? (getting along in groups, making dances) In the beginning of the summer camp, we will do team bonding exercises and games. As the teacher, being aware of different cultural backgrounds of students and making sure everyone is included and appreciated the same Group Teaching philosophy Our teaching philosophy is creating an enjoyable dance environment that encourages personal growth and development of skills. We want our students to be motivated to improve while also having a positive experience. While teaching them new skills, we also want them to enhance their creative side and i...

  My identity as a teacher is someone who is task and relationship oriented. I feel that it is important to maintain a harmonious relationship because I want my students to feel connected to me and cared for so that they have the confidence to succeed. I want my students to feel comfortable speaking to me so that they can ask questions in the event that they are struggling. I will foster my students' critical thinking to allow them to be more creative by challenging them to try new dance forms and moves. I want my students to see me as a governing figure and understand that there are many things that need to get done that have a set time limit. Due to my task orientated background I will demand respect and keep my students on a minute to minute schedule. I will always focus on the needs of my students because I understand that learning new dances can be stressful. I believe that my classroom should work as a team to foster personal, professional, and emotional well-being. I believe...

  Action Plan The students will know what is expected of them and how their behavior is important in order to help them in their performance. Beliefs We believe dance should be fun and every student starts with a clean slate that can be tarnished but can always be fixed with good behavior.  One Classroom Rule Respect We will always respect each other's personal space, well-being, and opinions.  Class Procedures Minute to Minute Monday  9-9:30 am – class starts; stretching; warm up  9:30-10:30 – learning new dance moves; showing moves that you want to teach the class  10:30-10:45 – snack/water break  10:45-11:45 – learning recital routine 11:45 – 12:45 – lunch  12:45-1:45 – more learning recital routine  1:45- 2:45 – game/activity of the day  2:45- 3:00 – stretching/meditation of the day  10 Most Important Classroom Procedures Entering the classroom — Enter quietly and politely; don’t interrupt other students when they are sharing w...

  1. Brain Break - Incorporate brain breaks after long periods of dance Games (end of the day), stretching, meditation (middle of the day) 2. Teaching children how to learn about their brain and how to use it. a) Focus - breathing exercises, taking your mind off of dance and focusing on meditation b) Happiness - encouragement, enjoying dance and not seeing it as a task c) Kindness- teaching kids to be kind to their peers and their teachers. d) Gratitude journaling - end of every class day with saying what they are grateful for; rose and bud exercise 3. Teach children brain fitness: a) Resilience- to not give up when they're frustrated or they find something challenging and keep going when they make a mistake. b) Self-Awareness- Helping  students to understand that they come from different backgrounds  and levels of experience. If your neighbor is struggling, help them out because dance takes a  group effort.  c) Critical Thinking - Teach our children to be cre...