by Miss Cathy Clur The most common concern I hear from new Speak Up Studio parents is, “My child is full of confidence at home, but as soon as she is in front of people she doesn’t know, she becomes quiet and shy.” Parents hope that by...
What did you want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to be *many* things. The first I can remember was a florist. When I was older it was a composer, and then a conductor. I do remember my grandmother telling me I’d...
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...
Are you 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...
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...
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...