Benefits of Speech and Drama Class

Dear Parent,

Your child has recently joined us in one of our fun and exciting new speech and drama classes, which they enjoyed thoroughly. This class was only a demonstration of what will happen during the course of the year. If you should be interested in having your child attend these classes please fill in the attached reply slips and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

As Drama Specialists, with qualifications which are positively seen around the globe, we feel the need to help and let each of our students make the progress and reach their best potential. We tend to work in small amounts of classes, if allowed, and take special care of working with the individual as well as improving their group work skills. Each and every child is unique, so we tend to focus on their needs by specifically working on their improvement in speech or co-ordination or whatever it is they may be struggling with. We use poetry and fun group activities to help out students excel in their own way. For kids lacking confidence, we help them by slowly giving them enough courage and motivation to communicate with other kids. We build their relationships and make them feel safe and secure, and that they can openly and freely expect their desires and feelings.

Children with speech problems or where we focus on voice, we use poetry and stories to fuel and enrich their mind, allowing them to be creative and come to an agreement of which ways will help them improve their speech.

Our main focus is English, as this is the language that the whole world communicates in. We are aware that in South Africa there are many different cultural influences and dialects that we come across every day. We do not want to change the way your child speaks, we only want them to be able to communicate and be able to express their thoughts and feelings in an easy way.

Our drama classes can also help young aspiring actors and help lead them and improve their acting abilities, this is however not our main priority or concern

I hope that I have opened your eyes about the positive effects and attributes we can give your child.

Feel free to contact the school for more details,

Drama Doodle Director

Writing Their Own Name

Tips and Techniques for Teaching your Child to Write their own name!

Writing their own name - Drama Doodle

This week's Task is to Teach Miss Boo how to write her own name!
Some Background Details:
She's 3 years and 3 months old - She recognizes her Own name when I write it down - as well as Mom, Dad and Nat! She knows the letters from all the Letter Recognition activities I have done with her, and can sell her name when we ask her to!

Here are some of my ideas about how to 'inspire' Miss Boo to write her own name :

1)Tracing Letters :
 I have printed out some letter example tracing pages from homeschooling.com (I definitely recommend this website for ideas!!) Great stuff! I plan to sit down with Miss Boo, at our School-like Elmo desk - She loves pretending to work like Mommy and Daddy, start tracing the letters, and just leaving the pages for her on her desk! Many times during nap hours or before we wake her in the morning, she sits by the desk and draws or colors-in! The main focus is for her to get use to tracing and being creative in a more constructive manner!

2) Letter Collages :
Using Magazines/Newspapers/Or printing letters, we are going to cut out her letters and make a Collage with her name on it! You can also Outline the name - and paste the letters in the matching letters! This is also a wonderful activity to improve other Fine Motor Skills - cutting and pasting!

3) Practicing :
To help her get use to the writing skills, I plan on sitting down with her for a few minutes every day (as long as I have her full attention and concentration span) with lined paper, and a pen for each of us - I will write out her name, ask her to go-over (trace) them with her own pen - and when she feels ready, she can write it on her own! I believe in giving treats, or acknowledging achievement! We have a star chart - so I will add that to her 'chores-list' .

4) Painting Techniques : 
Using all different types of painting-styles (Finger, brush, sponge, household-objects, nature-things etc) make her more aware of her name! Paint around it, over it, with alphabetical magnets, etc! The more they see their name, the more they will comprehend and copy it!

5) Alphabet Cookies :
This might take a little longer - but Make Alphabet Cookies! Forget the Cookie-cutters and roll-the letters yourself! I'm not sure what recipe I will use yet, but I will post that when I get to this part! Bake their name in cookies and then decorate it! Fun!

6) Alphabet Clay:
Using a salt-dough recipe (will post it when I find it) spell out their name, pop it in the oven and decorate it as an Arts and Crafts Activity! This is a great keepsake, as well as an example to work from when they feel inspired to write on their own! Glue it up, or leave it on their school table!

7) Magic Letters :
Although this activity has more to do with Letter Recognition, it can be used to write and trace letters as well! Write the letters, or have your child write them, with white crayon on normal paper - using water-color paint have your child discover the magic letters! Then ask them to think of other words starting with the same letter!

That is all for now!
Will keep you informed about how the activities turned out and what new inventions we came up with!

Music and Movement Monday

Music and Movement Lesson Benefits

In Music and Movement, we use our bodies and musical instruments to explore rhythm and music! We use props and costumes to dance and create beautiful movement pieces! These classes are perfect for Grown-Up and me, even if the child can't sit-up by itself - feeling the movement and rhythm from their adult-caregiver can be very educational!

In every Music and Movement class :
  Stimulates the Imagination Is creative and engaging Is Challenging and Fun Use Musical Instruments to express and create Use our bodies and props to dance and explore We learn by singing, playing and sharing

The Wonderful Benefits of Music and Movement:Provides a means of communicationServes as an Emotional releaseDevelops and Promotes Creative ThinkingAssists in the development of physical coordination and body awarenessEnhances the Ability to differentiate SoundsHelps develop Fine Motor skillsStimulates the Part of the Brain that learns.

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