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B a c k t o S c h o o l / M u S i c & D a n c e - S u p p l e M e n t t o t h e W i n n i p e g F r e e p r e S S - S a t u r D a y , a u g u S t 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 3 Celebrating38Years ofUkrainianDance! Comedancewithusinthe 2014-2015Season 2014-2015Season Ages3andup Formoreinformationemail rossdaledancers@gmail.com www.rossdaledancers.ca Registrationis Thursday,September4 Thursday,September4 at6:30pmatRossdale Hall,537DonaldRd., St.Andrews ClassesstartMonday September8, St.AndrewsSchool THE BEST IN VIOLIN LESSONS! BOHDANNA'S SOUNDS OF MUSIC STUDIO OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, AUGUST 31st 5:30 - 7:30PM bohdanna.net|204-290-6789 GymnasticsClasses Offers: •Classesforgirlages3&up •Recreationaland Competitiveprograms Location: R.F.MorrisonSchool 25MorrisonSt. Formoreinformationcontact Lauraat204-582-0736or silhouettesgymclub@gmail.com SilhouettesGymnasticsClub •creativemovement•jazz• •modern•tap•ballet• •stottpilates•yoga• •martialdance• •performancetroupes• CLASSES&WORKSHOPSFOR CHILDREN,YOUTH&ADULTS breath~center~calm~strengthen~explore~stretch~stabilize enrich~embody~sense~soar~release~celebrate~enjoy •cr osbornestreetdance@gmail.com 204-452-9417 109PulfordSt. Students take part in a Math Camp at the Oxford Learning Centre. Photo by Darcy Finley By Jim Timlick For the Free Press i f you are a parent, odds are you've heard your child utter the phrase "I don't want to do my homework" more than once. While the occasional complaint about homework is hardly cause for concern, frequent complaints may be, says Alexis Yildir, a former school teacher and director of the Oxford Learning Centre in Winnipeg. Yildir says repeated complaints about homework, a failure to do homework and a general difficulty with attending school may be a sign that a young learner is struggling in class. Such behaviour could mean it's time to check out a learning centre where your youngster can get the additional academic help they need to feel good about learning and succeed in the classroom, she says. "Just think of your own personal experience. Don't you feel pleased when you learn more? Human beings are made to learn," she said. Louise Carson, a certified reading clinician and owner of Partners for Learning, says learning centres are another tool in the educational toolbox. By providing one-on-one attention that school teachers often can't, learning centres enhance the lessons being taught in the classroom and promote a better understanding of the materials, she said. "Students in a class may be at Level 8 but one student may only understand at a Level 6. If that student can't do Step 8 they are frustrated and don't feel good about themselves," Carson said. "What we do is go back to that stage and say 'let's look at that again.' We help them with it and then move on. Students need to be immersed in success and to succeed regularly." Carson says parents should be active participants in the process. In addition to checking with teachers about what areas their child may need additional help in, they can share that information with learning centre instructors and act as an educationally valuable resource in the home. "By and large parents are thrilled to be involved. They all want what's the very best for their child," she said. Yildir says that one of the added benefits of boosting a student's ability to learn is that it can have a spillover effect outside of school. When youngsters are more confident in the classroom they tend to have more confidence in the other parts of their life too, she says. "If you have a kid who's scared they can't meet the standards that others can … their confidence tends to be down. But if you give them the help they need to succeed it tends to give them more confidence across the board," she said. While the benefits of attending a learning centre may seem obvious to parents, the same doesn't necessarily hold true for students. Carson says some students may be reluctant to attend a learning centre because they don't want to admit they need help. That's especially true with older students, she says, and suggests that parents should talk it over with their child rather than engage in a power struggle. "You can't just drag them in. They have to be part of the solution and they have to want to be part of the solution," she said. "You need to have them see this is something that will benefit them." Yildir says one of the first things Oxford does with new learners is conduct an assessment to determine exactly what areas they need help in. Instructors then develop a learning plan aimed at building a solid foundation for the student with an emphasis on good work habits such as the ability to read critically, proper study habits and good time management skills. With all of the distractions that are available today, from cellphones to tablet computers and gaming consoles, Yildir says time management is more important now than it ever has been for students. "When I went to school we had homework each day. A lot of times now kids don't need to take homework home … [and] they don't learn how to organize a project. People need to learn the 'dinner before dessert' rule," she said. Carson says the number of learning centres in Manitoba has grown considerably during the past couple of decades, due in large part to increasing demands being made on schools to meet the needs of today's students. So how do you know which learning centre is right for your young learner? Carson suggests parents talk to other families whose children have attended one and ask them to provide a reference. You should also talk to centre staff to ensure everyone is on the same page as far as what the educational goals for your child are and to ensure instructors are certified and have a full understanding of the Manitoba curriculum. By Jim Timlick For the Free Press K ent Suss says one of the most common misconceptions people have about theatre programs for young people is that there's no place for shy kids. "Shyness is not a bad thing," said Suss, director of the Theatre School at Manitoba Theatre for Young People. "A lot of performers I know are shy and the stage is a place where they can feel courageous. "Shy kids don't lose an important part of their personality [being in theatre], they just lose that shyness. Even shy people want to express themselves. There's a real magic to it for a shy kid being on stage." Even if a child never does lose that shyness, Suss says most youth theatre programs offer youngsters other outlets to express themselves artistically such as designing sets, controlling lighting and overseeing music and audio production. Spenser Payne studied theatre at Prairie Theatre Exchange as a child and has since come full circle, having worked as an instructor with a number of PTE youth programs over the past few years. Payne says her experiences as a theatre student provided her with a "creative spark" that followed her to her classroom. "For me, I was a student who had no interest in science, but once I figured out I could study in a creative way I flourished," she recalled. "It really encourages you to think outside the box and solve problems in a different manner and think on your feet more." A study conducted by UCLA backs up Payne's claim. The study concluded that students involved in arts programs tend to have higher academic performances and better standardized test scores. Not only did her own experience as a theatre student improve her academic performance, Payne says it provided a much- needed boost to her self-confidence. "It allowed me to have a voice I didn't have for a long time," she said. "I was an awkward kid and I was picked on in school. "When I came to PTE I had a safe place to create and I found a lot of serenity. I also found my confidence and that was so important for me." Another valuable life lesson theatre classes can provide is a better understanding of the value of teamwork, says Suss. Everyone from the most junior stagehand to a lead actor has to work together when it comes to staging a production. "When you put on a production you are part of a team and there's a sense of teamwork which helps you realize what you can achieve when you work together," he said. Regardless of what their job is, Payne says the theatre is a great place for a young person to develop their own sense of artistic expression. "I think that's super important. Our imagination is one of the best tools we have," she said. "As adults it's something we tend to ignore. Kids are not afraid to express that. Hopefully they will keep that up or develop it even more when they get older." While it may not improve classroom performance, Suss says another important take-away for theatre students is the sense of empathy it can instil. "Learning to look at things from another person's point of view is a big part of theatre. You've got to find empathy for that character in yourself," he said. "That's terribly valuable in a school setting." So how do you choose the right theatre program for your child from the myriad that are available? Suss says the first thing parents should find out is who the instructors are. One of the benefits of choosing a professional theatre company is most of their classes are taught by professionally-trained actors and instructors. He also cautions families to know exactly what they are getting before they sign their child up for a program. Payne adds that parents should do their research and talk to other families about their child's theatre experience before choosing a program. She also recommends checking out where a program is based and asking for a tour of the facilities. And if your child happens to be one of the quiet ones tell them this – some of Hollywood's biggest stars where shy as children too. Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, Nicole Kidman and even Jim Carrey were all reportedly shy before they made it big in Tinsel Town. A student takes part in a Junior Company class at PTE. Photo by Dave McKnight. Theatre classes a great artistic outlet for kids One-on-one instruction can enhance classroom learning

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