PROJECT RESPECT FOR DISTRICT 75 (an anti-bullying course for grades K-8)

Originally developed at the request of the DOE’s Region 7 Office of Youth Development, this program heightens student awareness of bullying and aggressive behaviors; it also fosters self esteem in each student and encourages the classroom to be a unique, artistic community.  Through creative movement and theater exercises, students become more aware of their own and one another’s feelings and develop listening and communication skills.  The teaching artist uses age-appropriate children’s books that deal with the topics of bullying, friendship, and feelings and then, if appropriate, leads a discussion about the themes within the books, seeking to encourage empathy and alternatives to aggression.  Movement and drama exercises emphasize spatial awareness (differentiating personal and shared space), deepen the strength and flexibility of the body’s range of motion, encourage verbal expression of one’s emotions, and introduce compositional tools for movement and drama projects.  The principle that all students in the classroom community are unique individuals who are important to their community is reiterated constantly throughout the residency.

Students learn to communicate with kindness and empathy, both physically and verbally, as well as learn what their movements (body language) and words may suggest emotionally to a listener or an audience.  Students experience compositional skills in stories, scenes, and dances, and understand how varying a sequence changes the overall story conveyed. The class becomes versed in creating movement, discussing feelings, and participating actively in collaborative, artistic efforts.