Carrying On My Mom's Legacy: Embracing Thematic Teaching in Dance

On this Mother's Day, I'm filled with gratitude as I reflect on the profound influence my mom has had on my work. Her guidance and support continue to shape my dance teaching practices, and today, I celebrate her impact on my journey. Here's to you, Mom. Thank you for everything. Miss you every day.

As I reminisce about my mom's impact on my teaching practices, I recently stumbled upon one of her old lessons titled Propel Your Lessons with Dance and Movement: The Ultimate in Active Learning. It was a unit designed to encourage the implementation of dance in the elementary curriculum. As I studied the unit, I noticed her approach to the lessons looked familiar; she used themes to drive her lessons. Instantly, I felt connected to her, tears welled up in my eyes and I and then began to laugh and realized I set up my lessons like she did. Themes drive most of my lessons. 

I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I can hear her saying “I told you so” with her signature smirk.

Themes were integrated into her entire unit in various ways, always to share how to incorporate dance into the core curriculum. My mom created lessons using the who, what, why, and how format. She used songs like Getting to Know You from The King and I and The Beach Boys’ Do You Want to Dance, created surveys on why we dance, and connected dance elements to subjects like math and science. I imagine her brainstorming themes and concepts in our living room, dancing, and singing aloud. I thought it was cheesy at the time, but I get it now. She met the teachers and students where they were and incorporated her content goals in an approachable manner.

My teaching methods are deeply rooted in my mom's thematic approach, which I've incorporated with three key components: movement, choreography, and research. These elements are intricately woven into thematic lessons, creating a holistic and engaging learning experience for my students. I carry her legacy with me every day, she remains my greatest teacher and continues to inspire my approach to education.

Photo by Ron Parker
Concept and Map design by Gail Fernandez Jones