This professional learning workshop provides educators with fun and engaging rhythm and music activities designed to support classroom management and Social-Emotional Learning. Based upon neuroscience and research, these accessible and sequential activities encourage positive group relationships, active listening, and mindfulness. With the goal of creating connected student communities, attendees learn practical methods and techniques for leading and engaging students in music experiences that emphasize creative development and community building.

Educators learn to use rhythmic games as brain breaks for creating predictable transitions and encouraging students to be leaders in creating positive classroom culture. Combined rhythm and movement strategies introduce the essential components of community building including student accountability, trust, ownership of learning, and collective problem-solving. Students develop confidence in self-expression while simultaneously learning to balance their needs with the needs of their peers and community members. While working together for the benefit of all, students recognize their own strengths and affirm the strengths of their peers. The creative music activities shared are designed to build focused, engaged, and creative classroom environments where kindness, appreciation and joy become the foundation for learning.

Recommended Participants

• Teachers
• Paraprofessionals
• Arts Specialists
• Principals and Supervisors

Learning Intentions

Educators will:

• Learn rhythmic games and activities that engage students in creative inclusive music experiences with a focus on student leadership, improvisation, responsive musicianship, community building, and self-reflection.
• Align rhythmic games and activities with standards-based assessments.
• Learn music improvisation strategies and structures that support social-emotional skills and empower students to identify, experience, and apply competencies to recognize strengths, achieve a goal, and generate ideas in relationship with others.
• Gain strategies for differentiation and supporting all styles of learners in the classroom.

YA Connections

• NJSLS-VPA: Artistic Process; Creating
• Anchor Standard 1: Conceptualizing & Generating Ideas
• NJSLS-VPA: Artistic Process; Responding
• Anchor Standard 7: Perceiving and Analyzing Products

Professional Standards for Educational Leaders

• Standard 4: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
• Standard 6: Professional Capacity of School Personnel

When you pair this program with Mary Knysh’s workshop or assembly, she provides teachers with the in-classroom support implementing creative teaching practices, what they have learned into practice.