Push through the treacherous winter lull of the school year with stories that inspire students and invigorate teaching and learning. With a playful process at the forefront, these stories will encourage students to work together and strengthen their community, all while singing, saying, dancing, and playing. Participants will work with colleagues for a morning of activity that is sure to bring fresh ideas ready to explore on Monday.
Matthew Stensrud is an award-winning elementary music and movement teacher who currently teaches music and movement to students from prekindergarten through fourth grade at Sidwell Friends Lower School in Washington, DC. He grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, and received degrees from George Mason University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Stensrud is an Orff Schulwerk–approved teacher educator of movement and teaches movement for Orff certification courses in New Jersey and Oregon. He is also on the Orff Echo editorial board and was a key content contributor to the book Responsive Classroom for Music, Art, PE, and Other Special Areas. He is well known on social media as @MisterSOrff and offers newsletters, mentoring, lesson plans, and more through his website MisterSOrff.com.