In the 6 months that Rachel Smith has been in Australia, she's already begun contributing to her new community with her business The Boogie Brain Academy, which provides kids drama programs. Based on educational principles, her classes teach babies and pre-schoolers about all kinds of self-expression (and they cost just $5 a class!). Here's our chat.
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Tell us a little about yourselfI’m originally from England and married to Garry. We have two children, Morgan 12 and Leah 10. Last September we moved from Ireland to Torquay. It was a big move but a job opportunity for my husband came up and made it possible. We thought it would be a great life for our children and a wonderful place to live - we have no regrets.
What is the story of your career?
I started teaching in 1994 after doing a Bachelor of Education degree at Sheffield University. I worked as a primary school teacher in Liverpool, Maidenhead and Canada, and in Ireland I worked with children with special needs. After having children I put teaching on hold to focus on raising them, but once my eldest started school I wanted to get back into it. I decided to set up a club in Ireland using a drama program I had used previously. The children really loved it and we always had a great time acting out stories, role-playing, moving to music and bringing their imagination to life.
Tell us about your classes
I started the Boogie Brain Academy company to run educational drama-based programs for babies and pre-school children. I run the Jelly Bean Drama program for 3 – 5 year olds and Sign and Sing program for babies.
Jelly Bean Drama focuses on igniting the imagination and helps children explore and make sense of the world in which they live. During each session the children experience new and imaginary scenarios based on educational cross-curricular topics. The children learn to act out events, become different characters and create simple dramas. Typical topics are Autumn Harvest, Space and the Moon, Jack and the Beanstalk, Time, Pirates, Aesop's Fables, Patterns, Creatures of the Rain Forest, Under the Sea, In the City and The Circus.
During the sessions children are presented with opportunities to develop social skills by being encouraged to share ideas and to cooperate by working together. In my experience I have learned that role-playing in this way gives children confidence and it’s great to see when children, who are reserved at the start of the term, lose a little bit of self-consciousness each week and start to express themselves. They also have the added benefit of learning something new and different which adds to their own knowledge.
Jelly Bean Drama caters for pre-schools ages and therefore supports key learning outcomes of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework. We start with warm-up activities followed by movement games based on the theme of the topic and follow on with the drama program. We end the session with either parachute games or quiet meditation. Children receive certificates at the end of each topic or theme to show what they have learned and what skills they have achieved.
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The Baby Sign and Sing class is for children aged six months to two years. It introduces the very young to signing nursery rhymes and songs. During the thirty minutes every child gets the opportunity to sign, sing and learn other basic signs that can be used at home. The aim is to delight, entertain and teach babies and toddlers how to sign in a fun and stimulating environment. It can help children express themselves and their wishes earlier than they could otherwise by learning everyday words as signs. Parents will go home with information sheets of the signs that they had learned that day.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I find it really rewarding when I see a child who is shy begin to develop the confidence to express themselves in the activities and contribute ideas during the sessions. I love observing children coming out of their shells, losing themselves in the story and music. I am so happy when parents tell me that after a few weeks of attending the club they can see a difference in their child’s self-confidence or that their social skills have improved. Plus I have to confess I’m a total kid at heart and it’s so liberating to be able to join in with the fun alongside the children and to become a part of their magical world.
Where do you hope to take your business this year?
Well, I have just started running the program here in Torquay and I'm delighted that in April I'll be running it in the new Ocean Grove Neighbourhood Centre too. Once I have found my feet I would love to run the program in kindergartens because children are so imaginative at that age.
What are your rates?
First session is always free and children can start any time. Sessions are run and paid for termly and you can start at any time during the term.
Price: $50 for ten weeks
Locations for Jelly Bean Drama
Spring Creek Community House, 14 Price Street, Torquay
Mondays: 10.30am - 11.10am
Ocean Grove Neighbourhood Centre
Fridays: 9.20 - 10.00 Starting April 24th
Boorai Centre, 4-50 Shell Road
Thursdays 11.00 - 11.40 Starting 16th April
Locations for Baby Sign and Sing
Ocean Grove Neighbourhood Centre
Fridays: 10.10 - 10.40 Starting April 24th
What are your contact details?
Mobile Phone: 0410728238
Website: boogiebrainacademy.com
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