SAINT CLAIR - Kindergarten students at Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School received a lesson in theater Thursday afternoon as Janet Bixler, a drama specialist and experienced teacher, taught the class about literature, participation and respect for others through an interactive workshop.
"I use theater to meet curriculum objectives, in this case English, while allowing them to use their creativity," Bixler said. "Kindergarten is when children start to learn literacy skills, predictability and other important skills they all need to develop. All children want to play and to teach them through drama and putting on plays, it gets them to better understand, design, create and think."
Bixler is the owner and operator of U-Cre8, a theater-based business that works with everyone from ages 5 to 85, focusing on the creative process. She received her master's degree in theater education at Emerson College.
In addition to teaching and drama classes, she also hosts bully prevention workshops for students and training for teachers.
Her lesson with the kindergarten students Thursday ended with an anti-bullying message as students were asked to create their own ending to the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale.
"They are giving power to the victim," Bixler said. "Even though they are young, they need to know how to empower themselves."
Even though the classroom had 52 kindergarten students from three separate classes, Bixler said they were patient and respectful and she looks forward to returning to the elementary school.
"It's been a great partnership and we look forward for it to continue," school Principal Jason Bendle said Thursday. "I've heard nothing but positive things and people say they have been impacted personally by the program."
Bendle said this was the second year Bixler came in to talk with the students. Last year, she held anti-bullying programs with the seventh- and eighth-grade classes that focused on establishing boundaries and improving self-esteem as they prepare for high school.
"We try to hit all the academic and social needs of all our students and this just fits right in with our curriculum," Bendle said. "We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying here and try to be very proactive."
Martina Kull, one of the kindergarten teachers, said the school likes to do a lot of projects and activities to get the students more involved.
"This is something that many of the students have never seen," Kull said. "Some of the students have never been a part of an audience before and it teaches them to listen, take turns and respect others."
She also said it was important for children to be made aware of bullying.
"Most of them don't even know what the term 'bully' means yet, so it's good to make them aware of it," Kull said.
For more information about U-Cre8, email Janet Bixler at bixler.janet@yahoo.com or call 717-379-6278.
