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Sandy Run students show talent at Brandywine
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Students and residents watch the talent show at Dresher Estates. Photo by Andy Stettler
“I’m not going to speak anymore because this isn’t my show,” Barbara Karlin, sixth-grade social studies teacher at Sandy Run Middle School said as her sixth-graders waited eagerly in the other room for the talent show they had prepared for the residents of Brandywine Senior Living to begin.
The visit was a follow-up to the class visit in December when the students came to decorate the hallways for the holidays and meet the residents for juice, cookies and conversation.
“It’s kind of a meeting of the minds, which gives added respect on both sides,” Karlin said. “It gives the kids the chance to shine and they should be given that chance.”
When the talent show began Karlin’s students provided a wide variety of entertainment for the seniors, including a classical piano performance, a poetry reading and even a quick magic show. For sixth-graders, the performers seem barely timid.
“I’m sure they will be talking about it all afternoon,” Tracy Murphy, director of arts and entertainment, said about the senior residents. “They will tell you who is good and is who was not. They are a tough crowd.”
On this day, the silence in the room during the performance of a classical piano canon signaled that the seniors would be talking for quite a while, but with compliments, not criticisms.
“Even this morning during dress rehearsal, more kids were saying, ‘Well, I wanna join, I wanna do this.’ ”
Karlin held auditions for the show because one year a child had stage-fright and froze during a piano performance. This year, a few of the performances involved groups of students in an effort to harness any cold feet. For Karlin, it was more of an opportunity for students to have fun in a performance setting, rather than feel pressured.
However, it seemed that with such a large number of performers, almost three classes of students, these young talents were comfortable with Brandywine’s residents. That is exactly what Karlin was looking for. Continued...
The visit was a follow-up to the class visit in December when the students came to decorate the hallways for the holidays and meet the residents for juice, cookies and conversation.
“It’s kind of a meeting of the minds, which gives added respect on both sides,” Karlin said. “It gives the kids the chance to shine and they should be given that chance.”
When the talent show began Karlin’s students provided a wide variety of entertainment for the seniors, including a classical piano performance, a poetry reading and even a quick magic show. For sixth-graders, the performers seem barely timid.
“I’m sure they will be talking about it all afternoon,” Tracy Murphy, director of arts and entertainment, said about the senior residents. “They will tell you who is good and is who was not. They are a tough crowd.”
On this day, the silence in the room during the performance of a classical piano canon signaled that the seniors would be talking for quite a while, but with compliments, not criticisms.
“Even this morning during dress rehearsal, more kids were saying, ‘Well, I wanna join, I wanna do this.’ ”
Karlin held auditions for the show because one year a child had stage-fright and froze during a piano performance. This year, a few of the performances involved groups of students in an effort to harness any cold feet. For Karlin, it was more of an opportunity for students to have fun in a performance setting, rather than feel pressured.
However, it seemed that with such a large number of performers, almost three classes of students, these young talents were comfortable with Brandywine’s residents. That is exactly what Karlin was looking for. Continued...
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“I think this gives people a chance to share what it’s like to be a 12-year-old when they’re so far removed from it and just bring a little joy into their lives,” Karlin said, “but on both ends.”
Next year, Karlin plans to take her students to Brandywine more often. She would like to use more event-style gatherings like the talent show to encourage the students and the seniors to engage in conversation.
“There is a lot more to education than just books and tests. It is all about becoming a person living in the world and giving back to others,” she said. “Sharing your talents, listening, being respectful and kind — with tools like that the kids can do anything, so I’m privileged to be their teacher.”
Next year, Karlin plans to take her students to Brandywine more often. She would like to use more event-style gatherings like the talent show to encourage the students and the seniors to engage in conversation.
“There is a lot more to education than just books and tests. It is all about becoming a person living in the world and giving back to others,” she said. “Sharing your talents, listening, being respectful and kind — with tools like that the kids can do anything, so I’m privileged to be their teacher.”
“I’m not going to speak anymore because this isn’t my show,” Barbara Karlin, sixth-grade social studies teacher at Sandy Run Middle School said as her sixth-graders waited eagerly in the other room for the talent show they had prepared for the residents of Brandywine Senior Living to begin.
The visit was a follow-up to the class visit in December when the students came to decorate the hallways for the holidays and meet the residents for juice, cookies and conversation.
“It’s kind of a meeting of the minds, which gives added respect on both sides,” Karlin said. “It gives the kids the chance to shine and they should be given that chance.”
When the talent show began Karlin’s students provided a wide variety of entertainment for the seniors, including a classical piano performance, a poetry reading and even a quick magic show. For sixth-graders, the performers seem barely timid.
“I’m sure they will be talking about it all afternoon,” Tracy Murphy, director of arts and entertainment, said about the senior residents. “They will tell you who is good and is who was not. They are a tough crowd.”
On this day, the silence in the room during the performance of a classical piano canon signaled that the seniors would be talking for quite a while, but with compliments, not criticisms.
“Even this morning during dress rehearsal, more kids were saying, ‘Well, I wanna join, I wanna do this.’ ”
Karlin held auditions for the show because one year a child had stage-fright and froze during a piano performance. This year, a few of the performances involved groups of students in an effort to harness any cold feet. For Karlin, it was more of an opportunity for students to have fun in a performance setting, rather than feel pressured.
However, it seemed that with such a large number of performers, almost three classes of students, these young talents were comfortable with Brandywine’s residents. That is exactly what Karlin was looking for.
“I think this gives people a chance to share what it’s like to be a 12-year-old when they’re so far removed from it and just bring a little joy into their lives,” Karlin said, “but on both ends.”
Next year, Karlin plans to take her students to Brandywine more often. She would like to use more event-style gatherings like the talent show to encourage the students and the seniors to engage in conversation.
“There is a lot more to education than just books and tests. It is all about becoming a person living in the world and giving back to others,” she said. “Sharing your talents, listening, being respectful and kind — with tools like that the kids can do anything, so I’m privileged to be their teacher.”
The visit was a follow-up to the class visit in December when the students came to decorate the hallways for the holidays and meet the residents for juice, cookies and conversation.
“It’s kind of a meeting of the minds, which gives added respect on both sides,” Karlin said. “It gives the kids the chance to shine and they should be given that chance.”
When the talent show began Karlin’s students provided a wide variety of entertainment for the seniors, including a classical piano performance, a poetry reading and even a quick magic show. For sixth-graders, the performers seem barely timid.
“I’m sure they will be talking about it all afternoon,” Tracy Murphy, director of arts and entertainment, said about the senior residents. “They will tell you who is good and is who was not. They are a tough crowd.”
On this day, the silence in the room during the performance of a classical piano canon signaled that the seniors would be talking for quite a while, but with compliments, not criticisms.
“Even this morning during dress rehearsal, more kids were saying, ‘Well, I wanna join, I wanna do this.’ ”
Karlin held auditions for the show because one year a child had stage-fright and froze during a piano performance. This year, a few of the performances involved groups of students in an effort to harness any cold feet. For Karlin, it was more of an opportunity for students to have fun in a performance setting, rather than feel pressured.
However, it seemed that with such a large number of performers, almost three classes of students, these young talents were comfortable with Brandywine’s residents. That is exactly what Karlin was looking for.
“I think this gives people a chance to share what it’s like to be a 12-year-old when they’re so far removed from it and just bring a little joy into their lives,” Karlin said, “but on both ends.”
Next year, Karlin plans to take her students to Brandywine more often. She would like to use more event-style gatherings like the talent show to encourage the students and the seniors to engage in conversation.
“There is a lot more to education than just books and tests. It is all about becoming a person living in the world and giving back to others,” she said. “Sharing your talents, listening, being respectful and kind — with tools like that the kids can do anything, so I’m privileged to be their teacher.”
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