#elizam

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am a teaching-artist with an immense passion for sharing the magic of music, theater, song and imagination with kids all over NYC. After years of childcare experience for families all over the city and Brooklyn, I decided to blend my love of working with kids and my fine arts education from New York University's Tisch School of The Arts. I am currently teaching the brand new ukulele performance course at Jalopy School of Music in Cobble Hill. I am also extremely excited to be starting up a brand new volunteer songwriting and recording program for the youth community of Red Hook. I believe every child should have the opportunity to be a rock star!  

What is your philosophy on and approach to behavioral management? Every skill, be it coloring or learning an instrument starts with the basics: respect and safety. Every child will explore pushing boundaries and testing the limits. It is our job as educators to encourage positive exploration and ensure the safety of all students and cultivate a safe environment for every student to learn. If and when a child tests these limits in the classroom, I believe in calm and compassionate communication with the child. Rules and guidelines for the classroom are imperative to maximizing fun, and should be clear and understandable for every child.

Who was your favorite teacher and why? My favorite teacher was my theater arts professor in high school, Mr.McCallum. This incredible man was able to walk into a room of teenagers, and through his own overwhelming love of the arts, inspire complete magic in his students. He respected every single person he came in contact with and immediately was able to see their best qualities and encourage them. Students truly felt at home in his presence, and felt comfortable and safe enough to take risks and forge huge accomplishments.