We have seen a variety of parenting styles here at Speak Up over the years. We see so many examples of truly outstanding parenting - parents who pave the way for their child, parents who communicate compassionately and clearly and parents who empower their children...
by Miss Cathy Clur 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...
by Miss Cathy “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...
Quite often, parents come to us asking how to build self-confidence in a child. For shy kids, finding confidence or courage might be about being able to put your hand up in class, sharing your ideas in a group, or trying a new activity. Improved...
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...
One of our main areas of focus at Speak Up Studio is to ensure we create positive drama performances for our students. We want to show them how magical it can be, so that they fall in love with performing in front of an audience. There...
When Speak Up students, small and tall Got up on stage in the concert hall Their mums and dads looked on with pride. What a wonder! What a day! They cried. To see them standing on the stage So brave, and strong and unafraid. Confidence and talent in equal measure, It makes...
Your child loves to act and sing or dance. You've asked what they would like to be when they grow up. They stand proudly, and confidently declare, "I'm going to be an actor!" Eek. You gasp. What are you going to do to help them achieve...
Does practice make perfect or does practice make progress? As we reflect on the year, we thought it would be lovely to share a video of some of our long term students talking about the progress they have made over the years. There is enormous...
1. Schools are under more pressure than ever to deliver academic results With Naplan and increased standardised testing, schools and teachers are under pressure to deliver academic results. Unfortunately, this often impacts the way schools approach the curriculum, and subjects like drama, music and art sometimes receive less attention. We meet students...