By Lorienne Beals | Development Director
Most 13-year-olds have lost their excitement for school and are "too cool" to enjoy learning. Utilizing the arts as a tool, students of every age have the chance to experience just how fun learning about math, science, history - and even grammar - can be! Story Tapestries was engaged by Montgomery County Public Schools to deliver an innovative summer program at Neelsville Middle School with the support of Family Learning Solutions and NAMI Maryland, Inc. (National Alliance on Mental Illness). The main goals were to help students overcome barriers to learning and to create a sense of pride in who they are as individuals and as a school community.
Teaching artist, Anthony Truitt, shares some first impressions:
Many educators will agree that the middle school years can be the most challenging to work with. However when you have a devoted team of staff and teachers, adequate resources and preparation along with a solid plan going into each day, it makes teaching four classes of 6th, 7th and 8th graders much easier. This has been my experience as a teacher/artist at Neelsville Middle school over the past week.
The hours of preparation leading up to the first day of the summer program have truly paid off. Part of my strategy is to never have a moment, or even the appearance of a moment, when I, as the instructor, am not prepared, either with some type of activity, game, classroom discussion or media to watch - all of these being directly related to the topics we're covering.
Make no mistake about it, they are 10, 11, 12 and 13-year-olds. There will be disruptions, silliness and lots of re-direction; however my strength in the classroom comes from preparation and not appearing like a deer in the headlights.
Above and beyond the preparation is the joy I get from being around the kids who are amazing to me, and perhaps that shows. If young people really believe that you are there for them and want to see them succeed at whatever they're doing, you've already won half the battle. Honestly these Neelsville kids are pretty adorable in their own unique ways. I've never taught at a middle school that's as ethnically diverse as Neelsville. Nearly 90 percent of my kids are 1st generation Americans. Each day I teach the children of Ghanaians, Senegalese, El Salvadorians, Mexicans and Guatemalans, to name a few, and it's an honor. I see their thirst for knowledge and it's truly gratifying to share in their daily achievements.
This September, students at Neelsville Middle School continue to work with staff from Story Tapestries, Family Learning Solutions and NAMI in a robust series of after-school programs funded by the Trawick Foundation and by donors like you.
To learn more about this program and others, Story Tapestries invites you to join us for an evening of storytelling that includes a film screening featuring Montgomery County community members, a live demo of our Digital Classroom with resources for educators and parents, and some surprises...!
Threads of Change: Connecting Our Stories
Thursday, September 27th
5:30-6:00pm refreshments and networking
6:00-7:00pm presentation and surprises!
@ Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union
12820 Wisteria Drive, Germantown, MD 20874
RSVP here to let us know if you're able to come!
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