Special needs education has come a long way at Laurel Elementary School of Arts and Technology in Fort Collins. Last week over 20 kids joined their teachers and aides on a trip to Denver to d
Special needs education has come a long way at Laurel Elementary School of Arts and Technology in Fort Collins. Last week over 20 kids joined their teachers and aides on a trip to Denver to demonstrate their drumming talent. With ages running 7-11, their excitement in performing at the Colorado Chapter of the International Reading Association’s annual conference, was hard to miss. Ms. Nancy Brauhn-Curnes, their drumming teacher, has incorporated drumming with learning to encourage enthusiasm in learning. Their drumming techniques were taught as a part of their continent of Africa study in social studies.
The best part was, when asked if they liked drumming and if they learned from drumming, the answer was always a resounding “yes”. “They learn so much about coordination and collaborating with each other,” says Tommi Cox, the school’s principal. These kids taught the adults at the conference that enthusiasm goes a long way in teaching.
