Mike Winburn, known as “Coach Mike” to all the WINKIDS children and parents in Flower Mound, is excited to announce the addition of Creative Dramatics classes to the already well-rounded sports and learning curriculum.
His new teachers are seasoned, veteran, drama teachers and bring a wealth of experience and a genuine love of working with children to WINKIDS.
Both teachers, Carol Marrs and Laurie Gruenloh, come to WINKIDS from the Lewisville Independent School District.
Marrs announced retirement from public school teaching after 28 years of teaching experience. A Creative Dramatics teacher for LISD for the past 14 years, Marrs said, “I am not really retiring. I plan to keep teaching, just in a different capacity. The WINKIDS opportunity is perfect. They already offer so many fun classes for kids. Now, they will have drama featured as, “STAR KIDS”!
Gruenloh recently left LISD after 16 years at Old Settlers Elementary as the Creative Dramatics teacher, to allow herself more time with her two young boys. Gruenloh said, “I can spend quality time with my boys and continue to do what I love, teaching children to grow and develop through theatre.”
In addition to being fine arts co-workers in the district, Marrs and Gruenloh, have been co-directors of their company, LITTLE BIT OF BROADWAY, providing opportunities for young people to gain experience performing. Together, they have directed over 13 summer productions through Little Bit of Broadway. Their company will have a chance to expand under the umbrella of WINKIDS, offering classes during the school day to pre-schoolers and home-schoolers, as well as several after school classes.
Why drama? These dedicated teachers believe that the arts and in particular drama/theater can change children’s lives. They’ve seen it happen! They’ve seen it with pre-schoolers discovering the world around them and the wonderful world inside them. They’ve seen it with elementary school children, where every child gets excited about sharing and performing. They’ve seen it with pre-teenagers who, through drama, discover talents and interests, and therefore a sense of self-worth through expression, exploration and interaction.
The goal of creative dramatics is to address the whole child through multisensory learning in an informal improvisational and imaginative way. The emphasis is on the process; development of higher level thinking, problem solving, exploration of movement, feelings, and self-expression. This type of drama strengthens the integration of creativity, thought, action, and language. Simply put, it enhances all thinking processes and provides far reaching benefits for the child.
For more information on the classes that WIN KIDS has to offer, stop by 3000 Waketon Road in Flower Mound and pick up a fall schedule of classes, check out their website at www.winkids.net, e-mail [email protected] or call 972-355-9988.
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