Storyteller Engages Brophy Kindergarteners

Kindergarten students at Brophy Elementary School, thanks to a generous grant provided by the Framingham Education Foundation, were visited by  
Andrea Lovett, an artist from Young Massachusetts Audiences.
 
Lovett held an interactive workshop with kindergarten students on storytelling. They learned about the elements of story structure and delighted in the discovery of their own storytelling skills. 

The culminating story they created will be made into a book for the students to read throughout the year.

Brophy teachers were interested in the workshop because the activities Ms. Lovett uses to engage the students are well aligned with the curricula and are of high interest to a diverse group of students. 

“We are mindful about creating opportunities that reach all of our children. We try to offer experiences that can further build a sense of community 
and unity, while also empowering them as individuals and motivated learners,"  said Brophy kindergarten teacher Andrea Baer.

 Lovett’s philosophy about the groups she serves in schools is: the more diverse, the better. 

“We each build our stories on what we have to offer, and that’s what makes them so rich and interesting," she said. “Today a child suggested the setting of our story be ‘a house in Santo Domingo - full of music’. What a beautiful mental image to contribute.” 

The grant awarded to Brophy Elementary included funding to purchase drama kits to use in creating play during free choice time. Students can dress in costumes and use props to act out a classroom story and bring the story to life. 

This will allow the students to continue to build on this literacy rich experience for their rest of their kindergarten year - making this Framingham Education Foundation grant a true gift that keeps on giving, said Baer. 

The grant was awarded to the Brophy kindergarten team, with the support of Sara Hamerla, ELL Coach for Framingham Schools.