Professional Development Synopsis

Name of Organization: This is Where I Live

Art form: Music

Teacher Grade level: K-3__x___ 4-5___x__ 6-8__x___ 9-12_____

Goals & Purpose of Professional Development Opportunity:

This is Where I Live Professional Development is designed to inspire and empower teachers to bring singing into daily classroom activities It helps them to get comfortable with music and have fun singing while successfully teaching their students life skills in a way that will stay with them. A character building music kit is provided. Singing and learning a song about core values enables a child to internalize, own, and engage in the values themselves while enhancing the brain’s ability to learn and commit information to long-term memory.

1. Alignment with state standards in the arts and district arts initiatives:

This program supports the California State Standards in Charter Education, Visual and Performing Arts, English-Language Arts, English Language Development, Mathematics and History-Social Science. It is also in alignment with the LAUSD Arts Evidence Guide.

2. Classroom Teacher arts subject mastery or skill description:

Teachers will learn how to:

• Get comfortable with music and have fun singing.
• Choose and teach a song
• Use simple singing skills
• Keep basic rhythm
• Use hand and body movements with music
• Create their own kinesthetic movements to music
• Get in touch with the impact music has in their life

3. Improvement in student access to the arts curriculum or experiences:

This program will empower teachers and open students to other artistic experiences. It is every student’s birthright to sing. Singing is an objective gateway to music and the arts, enabling everyone to participate as an artist.

4. Meets the needs of special education, English language learners and culturally relevant and responsive education:

Singing is universal. It gives special ed. students an opportunity for integration with their fellow schoolmates. Singing also unifies and builds community by releasing stress and opening minds to learn while feeling good. Low performing readers also benefit by using music to find success in Language Arts. They are able to memorize lyrics (otherwise known as poetry). English language learners also develop pronunciation and comprehension of English words through repeated practice of choral reading and singing, thus building vocabulary. These songs help teachers teach social responsibility and acceptance of change and diversity while developing citizenship and community building skills. The songs include a vast repertoire of various musical styles from diverse cultures.

5. Short- or Long-term professional development plan:

Our long term plan will cover a three year period. One Professional Development per year will build on the previous year with new techniques and new resource material.

6. Number and type of participants recommended:

This is Where I Live Professional Development is designed to serve 25 teachers in one school. We can also accommodate up to 100 teachers if the space is provided.

7. Access to special opportunities unique to the organization:

The music that is offered with this program has been written and recorded by the founder, Jennifer Russell. As the creator of the program, Jennifer is available to educators who are looking for specific musical teaching tools tailored to their needs. Spanish teaching tools are also available.

8. Options/choices within the Professional Development Opportunity:

Increase the number of participants up to 100 teachers

Description: