Mover Monday | A Sudden Display of Vulnerability

Happy Monday, MTDubberz! This week's Mover Monday features three great PeaceMovers and their classroom experiences. Take a snapshot look into three different classrooms spread out across the east coast! Enjoy!   

PeaceMover Paula Olson has a successful Share Out with her third and fourth graders at Center City PCS, Shaw Campus! 

Before the Share Out, my students came to me very nervous to perform in front of their peers and families. A normally seemingly overconfident group, I was taken aback by their sudden display of vulnerability. My students normally take any opportunity in class to "rush their youth" by expressing actualities or opinions beyond their years. This reminded me that indeed they were all still children, going through periods in which they question their self-confidence. It also reminded me why I choose to do this, reinforcing the importance of Move This World and the need to foster this sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem in children while creating opportunities for kids to be kids.  Before the performance began, I was able to speak to my students and encourage them to be confident in themselves. They decided they were able to do their speaking parts, and they ended up performing amazingly. I was really proud of the students and ended the semester on a great note.

PeaceMover Alejandra Paucar reflects on her experiences working with seventh and eighth graders at New World Prep Charter School in New York.

The boys were really killing it today with the dances! We were going over the hub dances and after a while of running those dances, they asked if we could do some free-style dancing. When I put on a favorite song, they all got in a circle and started to take turns dancing. Some of the boys were incredible, and all boys were confident in their abilities. All of them cheered on and laughed with each other, regardless of skill level. It was a really great session. 

PeaceMover Tim Webster finds a way to make an impact on his students' everyday actions. Check out these kindergarteners and first graders of Staten Island Community Charter School applying MTW concepts beyond their MTW sessions!  

Several weeks ago I introduced a "time-out" gesture as a way for one student to stop another from talking to him or her at an inappropriate time.  It is a way of saying, "I'm not ignoring you, but let's talk later." The teacher of this class said the students were using the gesture last week during their state testing.  It's nice to hear that what we do is branching out beyond our sessions.

Thumpin' Thursday | We Are Young

Hey MTDubberz! Hope everyone has been having a wonderful week! Here's a few songs that keep us upbeat all week long! Hopefully these bumpin' tunes brighten your day :) What songs make you smile? We would love to hear what songs you groove to and add them to our playlist!

Fall Out Boy - Save Rock and Roll 

PUT3SKA - Manila Girl

Fun. - We Are Young 

Mover Monday | Self-Awareness

Hey MTDubberz! Today's Mover Monday features PeaceMover, Alejandra Paucar and her experiences with our talented and passionate group of Junior PeaceMovers. With the help of Alejandra, these Junior PeaceMovers are on their way to make powerful impacts on their communities! 

One of my students, Sara, expressed how she understood the importance of empathy, but she also believed that people who are empathetic and seek to understand others can sometimes unintentionally make excuses for others in the event of unfavorable behavior. By making these excuses, this unfavorable behavior becomes a continuous cycle. She used a romantic relationship as an example: "Oh, he is probably stressed because of work" or "Oh, he is acting this way because he is under a lot of pressure.” She described empathy as a "slippery slope" that can end up hurting both parties.  

I was taken aback by her insight. It was a great point to explore as a group. I asked what the rest of the group thought and they agreed. I then asked the group what they thought was the purpose of empathy. They described empathy as the means to strengthen a community by putting yourself in one another's shoes and seeking to understand where the other person is coming from. I then added that empathy should not only be seen as a way to strengthen a community through compassion but also as a way to strengthen an individual through self-awareness. Empathy empowers a community to work together harmoniously and individuals to express themselves considerately - including speaking up for yourself if you feel your feelings are not being acknowledged even after you seek to understand another's feelings and circumstances. I was so happy that Sara shared her insight because it seemed to be an unspoken topic that all the girls had in mind.

Thumpin' Thursday | Bella Luna

Happy Thursday, MTDubberz! Hope everyone's week is going well. Who's looking forward to the weekend!? Here's what we've been listening to to keep us going! How about you? What songs get you thumpin' in the office?

SBTRKT- Wildfire 

Jason Mraz - Bella Luna 

Thundercat - Walkin'

Justin Bieber - All Around The World

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - Same Love 

Wham - The Edge of Heaven 

Thumpin' Thursday | Give a Little Love

Welcome back to another Thumpin' Thursday! Here's what we've been jamming to in the MTW offices this week!

Max Surban - Bunga sa akong Damgo (Fruit of My Dreams)

Noah and the Whale - Give a Little Love

10cc - Dreadlock Holiday

4 Non Blondes - What's Up

Gloria Estefan - Rhythm is Gonna Get You

Lewis Watson - Into the Wild

What have you been thumpin' wherever you are? Let us know in the comments! And don't forget that you can keep up with our blog posts by clicking "Join this site" on the sidebar!