Our Speech and Drama teachers are all bookworms and take inspiration for their classes from a huge variety of children’s books they love. Books that inspire our teachers have wonderful characters, magical storylines and positive messages. We asked the staff at Speak Up, what books inspire them. These are inspirational books for teachers and you will see why. We think they are books every
Wondering how to help your child overcome fear and anxiety about show and tell or school oral presentations? Here are three tips for public speaking from our studio director, Miss Cathy. 1. Acknowledge your child’s fears and worries. Don’t minimise them. Public speaking is scary. It is said that humans fear speaking in public more than death! Avoid downplaying just how scary public speaking
In a past life, I worked in film and television creating costumes and dressing sets. It was such a creative and imaginative job and I LOVED it! For a while, I tried to have two careers at once; running Speak Up and working 60 hour weeks on set. Cue exhaustion and burn out. It was really hard to let go of film life. The
Trust is one of the most important building blocks in a drama classroom, or any classroom for that matter. Trust works in mysterious ways, but we very much love the way Brene Brown describes it in her book Dare To Lead. Brene uses the analogy of a marble jar to explain how trust develops over time. “We trust people who have earned marbles over
We have seen a variety of parenting styles here at Speak Up over the years. We see so many examples of truly outstanding parenting. We see parents who pave the way for their child, parents who communicate compassionately and clearly and parents who empower their children without getting in their way. Unfortunately, we also see some examples of parenting that worry us – parenting
by Miss Cathy Gender stereotypes tell kids how to behave, what to be interested in, and how they should exist in the world. Gender stereotypes are enormously powerful – they affect the friends we make, the skills we learn, the way we communicate, and the way we deal with our emotions. Gender stereotypes can limit choice, stifle creativity and negatively affect our self esteem. We
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” I don’t know how old I was when I first read this quote by Margaret Mead, but I do know how I felt – Yes. That’s what I think. That’s what I know. My small actions can make a difference. From becoming
Quite often, parents come to us asking for help in building their child’s confidence. For kids, finding self-confidence or courage might be about being able to put your hand up in class, share your ideas in a group, or try a new activity. Improved confidence allows children to make friends more easily, interact with teachers well and flourish at school. It also empowers them
Program Length 1 hour 1.5 hours Class Size 12 students 4 students Content Tailored group program with lots of improvisation, team work, plays, some focus on technique Tailored individual program with some group activities including plays, improvisation. More time to focus on technique. Exam Informal studio exam in class External AMEB exam Performances Imagination Festival Annual Concert Imagination Festival Annual Concert Fee $100 per
Do you want to know the secret to confidence? It is quite simply, knowing who you are, and being ok with whoever that is. The secret to confidence is to embrace what makes us different, and to share it with the world. Our world teaches children to compare themselves to others, to try to fit in no matter what, and that different, is wrong.