Participate in the "Beat the Odds" drum facilitator training in Los Angeles and study with a local trained drum facilitator to blend drumming and counseling techniques that will help students deal with trauma and emotional/behavioral issues such as inattention, depression, and PTSD.
At the Beat the Odds Drumming training I learned to integrate counseling techniques into a drum circle. The students in my school and district are minoritized and at-risk, often suffering from trauma. This training will allow me to bring therapeutic drum circles to my school and to help these students in need. I have always integrated drumming into music class, and this training helped fill the gaps and to help me learn the counseling side as well.
This year, we plan to implement "Beat the Odds" drum circles into school, in small groups, and in the general music classroom. The training, curriculum, and drums purchased through this grant will allow us to reach many students both this year and beyond! I will now be able to add Beat the Odds strategies into my classroom. Beyond the curriculum, we learned cool down techniques and responsive classroom techniques to improve classroom management.
An unexpected outcome is that my new school wants to implement this program throughout the year! I am beyond excited to bring this curriculum to my students through our counseling program at IPS Butler Lab 55.
Students will benefit from the multitude of new drumming games and activities learned at this training. They will benefit from the therapeutic side of these drumming lessons and if results are the same at our school as they have been at other schools, student achievement and behavior will improve as a result of this program implementation.
We will be implementing Beat the Odds drumming sessions at school through our school counseling program as well as through the general music classroom! Students will do drumming activities and spoken corresponding activities to help them deal with stress, anxiety, and other issues which hinder them at school.
It is my hope to also offer a Drum Circle at a school event, or to showcase our drum circle techniques and activities at a school or community event!
On a macro level, it was amazing to work together with counselors and other social workers all learning drumming together for the benefit of our youth. To feel that I could be part of the change renewed my energy in teaching and made me look forward to the next school year.
Students benefit because they will have an energetic teacher who has been given a wonderful gift of travel and education, renewing their spirits and joy of teaching. When teachers are happy and refreshed, so will be their teaching, which trickles down to students!
I would tell any teacher- this fellowship changed the scope of my teaching forever. What a wonderful program for teachers and thus for students. If teachers want to keep learning and to keep their focus and energy, dream of somewhere you maybe never thought you could go, and make the effort! I will never forget my time in California and look forward to implementing this project and to the memories and imprint I will be making on young people and to my teaching career.
FUND FOR TEACHERS ©