Giving students, teachers, and parents an edge in dance education
“Raising Happiness” is a parenting book but Stacey Pepper Schwartz shows that teachers can take away some of its lessons, too. For example, how to effectively recognize achievement, model optimism, convey positive messages, create a joyful atmosphere, resolve conflict, and promote gratitude among your young students.
K-12 dance educator Heather Vaughan-Southard walks us through some ways study and exploration of dance elements like space, time, and energy can help students connect ideas to other subjects and prepare them for the “real world”, including the every day tasks of test-taking, interacting in their community, and expressing themselves and their goals.
The Ballet Combination Book and Ballet Step by Step by Dance Teacher Press serve two different uses and audiences. But you’ll love the simplicity and practicality of both. For teachers, the classic combinations can save you time or serve up a little inspiration. For students or parents, terminology is presented clearly in a useful and logical order. Read more of our thoughts in this review.
We all have things we do as we close the door on one dance year and prepare for the next. Stacey Pepper Schwartz has three items on her list that go beyond physically organizing her closet of props and other items. These can’t be folded neatly or packed away. But they do give perspective and closure for the year behind so that you and your students can move confidently ahead into the new year.
Get a jump start on curriculum planning using televised dance shows like So You Think You Can Dance as a jumping off point to connect with and educate dance students. K-12 educator, Heather Vaughan-Southard helps you frame your dance philosophies then incorporate conversation-starters about TV dance into your instruction methods.
Dancing outside can be a fantastic teaching tool. The change of scenery from a classroom or studio can change the way students perceive space and their bodies and provides them with a hands on approach to exploring texture and qualities of movement. Stacey shares 6 helpful tips, tricks, and activities to make your outside class/exploration a success.
Guest, Lydia Hance has never been more fulfilled as a teacher as she has teaching students on the autism spectrum. A challenge and a mental, spiritual, & artistic reward for her, she shares a bit about what she’s discovered throughout the process. Whether you work with the autistic population, desire to, or simply work with teens, I think you’ll find her insight beneficial.
A reader, looking for resources to assist in helping the students create their own dances, asks for recommendations. Included is a list of books and manuals on dance composition and improvisation plus my own quick tips for working with younger age groups as they begin their exploration of choreography.
Alexandra Langstaff has been teaching creative movement and modern dance in Vermont for over 20 years. She spends the majority of her time in pre-schools, elementary schools and day care centers. She shares her Top Three Props with DA readers because they saved her when the electricity went out, the iPod quit and the cute speaker system wasn’t loud enough.
Jenn Romano works with high school dance students and in two after school dance programs for at risk youth. Jenn’s Top Three comes directly from her work, teaching dance composition in New Mexico high schools. She uses these “games” to practice improvisational skills as well develop student-generated choreography in her classes.
abc for dance creates teaching tools, curriculum and specialty manuals for dance educators and dancers. The not-yet-released Pre-pointe Dance Curriculum includes both a manual (pdf format allowing teachers to print what they need) that covers the reasoning behind pre-pointe work, screening for readiness, educational materials for parents, in depth descriptions of all exercises, sample lesson plans and video clips of the exercises, AND exercise cards with each exercise printed on heavy cardstock to be taken into the classroom for easy reference.
Spring Fever Giveaway 2011: Dance In A Box
Today’s giveaway is sponsored by Dance in a Box. Dance in a Box provides tools for teachers to aid in teaching hip hop and rhythm to kids age 3-12, including interactive choreography kits and learning music. Creator, Tricia Gomez is giving away her new 1-2-3 Dance interactive hip hop choreography kit, containing 50 mix-and-match hip hop step cards and much more, to two DA readers.