Teachers workshop focuses on expressive arts

As any educator will tell you, teaching takes dedication and a whole lot of creativity. With that in mind, in October the Ministry of Education launched an instruction program that uses the expressive arts to make learning fun. News Five’s Kendra Griffith explains.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
Loud cheers and applause dominated the Bliss auditorium this morning as hundreds of primary school students watched their teachers dance, sing, act, and recite poems.

These Holy Redeemer students came here especially for…

Student
“Ms. Heredia and Ms. Almendarez.”

Kendra Griffith
“What did they do?”

Student
“Dance on the stage. It was exciting.”

Vicky Heredia, Teacher, Holy Redeemer
“It was a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun in this class.”

Kendra Griffith
“Did you have any fear whatsoever being up on stage in front of your students?”

Marcella Meighan, Teacher, St. Mary’s Primary
“Oh no. I have learnt this expression, dance is life and the rest is intermission, so I was very much enjoying life on the stage.”

Kendra Griffith
“Your teacher is performing?”

Student
“Yes ma’am, teacher Ardette.”

Kendra Griffith
“Was it fun to watch your teacher up there on stage?”

Student
“Yes ma’am.”

But the exhibition was not just about entertainment, the event was the official culmination of a weekly expressive arts workshop attended by fifty-five teachers.

Leroy Green, Coordinator, Expressive Arts, Min. of Education
“Today is a sort of celebration or graduation ceremony for them where they will be receiving an award saying they have been training in either drama, dance or music and in some cases all three up to stage one. We are doing it to demonstrate how they can teach the expressive arts not as a fly by night thing, but really as a subject on the curriculum as was mandated by the Ministry of Education some years ago.”

Marcella Meighan
“I believe it’s important simply because it gives us a balance. It allows us to be focussed academically, in whatever discipline we might take up.”

Vicky Heredia
“I had a lot of fun in this class. I learnt a lot as a matter of fact. Ms. Rosita and the rest of teachers were really helpful in everything.”

Desiree Flowers, Teacher, Wesley Lower School
“We are supposed to do things that will draw the children’s attention, that will get them interested to want to learn.”

And according to the educators, they’ve already begun to incorporate their new skills in the classroom.

Desiree Flowers
“Most of the time in my lessons, I normally start with a little drama, a little action, so these same things I put into it and my lessons they go very well.”

Kendra Griffith
“The kids they love it I am sure.”

Desiree Flowers
“Yes, they love it very, very much.”

Marcella Meighan
“Friday afternoons we have dance clubs, drama, music and so it is very much incorporated into what we already have existing along with the academics.”

Karima Kelly Liu, Teacher, Hattieville Govt. School
“They just don’t learn by reading. We get across our lessons through different ways and means, like for example through drama, through singing. Our classes aren’t only based on that chalk and talk story any more.”

Vicky Heredia
“We learnt how to deal with different levels of children, beginners up to standard six how to deal with them. Nevertheless, like Ms. Rosita mentioned, we need to continue with the class, to continue learning more. We have not learnt enough yet. This is just the start, we need to continue.”

Kendra Griffith
“You’re gonna stick with it?”

Vicky Heredia
“Definitely.”

Stage two of the expressive arts workshop has been scheduled for January. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

Facilitators for the workshop were Rosita Baltazar for dance, Joseph Belisle for music, while Leroy Green taught drama.