Character Education Music Residency for 5th Grade Students

 

A Whole New World is a unique residency for fifth grade students facilitated by Miss Teri.

 

Miss Teri has extensive experience in the elementary school systems. Besides her work as a pre-school music teacher, Miss Teri has worked extensively as a teaching artist in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut public school systems. She has developed many theatre education programs including an Annenberg/Center for Arts Education-funded musical theatre program for M.S. 135 in the Bronx.

 

From 2002-2005, Teri was the Executive Director of Simply Elementary, a not-for-profit arts in education organization helping children find their inner strength through interactive theatre and music programs. Teri believes that the heart is a powerful instrument of learning and brings the commitment and devotion of her own heart to this great work.

 

 

How does the residency work?

 

Miss Teri will facilitate sixty five classroom workshops (this number is split between five different fifth grade classrooms) stressing the human values of Truth, Love, Peace, Right Conduct, and Non-Violence. This residency is long term and will take place over a period of thirteen weeks.The classroom workshops will be scheduled by the principal of the school on a specific day each  week. There will be an additional two week period to rehearse the assembly programs. There will be a pre-meeting and post meeting with the teachers, also.

 

 

Why the 5 Human Values Program for 5th Grade Students?

 

This is the perfect age for a child to integrate good habits. Using carefully crafted musical and theatrical exercises, the 5th grade students get to experience aspects of their own behaviors and think about the choices they make as they present themselves to the world.

 

The following are the Five admirable human qualities and the basis for the students' participation:

 

  • Peace (stilling the mind, taking responsibility for staying calm)
  • Truth (trusting our inner teacher, using discernment)
  • Love (expressing our truest heart)
  • Right Conduct (respect/kindness/valuing the contributions of others)
  • Non-violence (feeling of community)

 

We begin to train ourselves to:

 

  • Speak the truth
  • Let go of distracting thoughts and keep our minds still
  • Open our hearts and be kind
  • Create community
  • Believe in miracles
  • Confront our obstacles

 

This residency culminates in a musical assembly presentation on the five human values by the fifth graders for the entire school and community.

 

 

Guidelines:

 

Residency is for Grade 5.

Maximum of thirty students per classroom.

 

 

Fee

 

$7000

 

  • Sixty five classroom workshops will be split between the 5th grade classrooms. This residency will be take place over a 3 month period.
  • Two Additional dress rehearsals for assembly programs
  • Two Musical Assembly programs for the school and community performed by the 5th graders
  • Pre-meeting with teachers
  • Post-meeting with teachers

 

A scholarship program is available for schools seeking financial assistance

 

 

Testimonial

 

“After the assembly I asked some of the children at random for their feedback about this experience and they had a congruent and super positive response, stating that they loved the whole process and that it was a great experience for them. Some of the children actually said that they had learned to be 'better human beings'. This program in character education has been a gift for a lucky group of our children.”

 

Mercedes Garcia, School Social Worker, Union City, New Jersey