– Spring Classes Start March 18
– Bring your classes to our Times Square NYC Theater for field trips
– Bring these programs to your school – shows, workshops, residencies and professional development for teachers

This was recently sent to me by one of our student’s parents. After reading this document she thought of our classes and her son’s growth as a result of studying Improv and Stand-Up Comedy and the relationships built with fellow students.

Introduction to Social Emotional Learning: 4 Competencies Overview

Success in school and in life depends on more than academic ability alone. Rigorous longitudinal research has demonstrated that specific competencies—such as growth mindset, self-efficacy, self-management, and social awareness—have a significant impact on students’ academic performance and persistence in school as well as their broader life success, as measured by a variety of health, wealth, and well-being indicators in adulthood. These interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies predict grades throughout K- 12 as strongly as IQ does, and they predict performance in the workforce more strongly than IQ does. U.S. News and World Report indicates that skills such as social awareness, emotional intelligence, and self- efficacy are in particularly high demand by employers. Further, studies have demonstrated that strength in these areas is correlated with such long-term outcomes as higher employment rates and wages, as well as lower risk of substance abuse, obesity, and criminal activity.
MORE VIA Introduction_to_SEL_4Competencies

Since 2004 we have presented shows for K-12 audiences. Improv 4 Kids was born when a Farmington CT School teacher reached out asking if we could perform for a grade school audience. In the spirit of entrepreneurship we said OF COURSE. Those first first few shows were all about paying the bills with more gigs. But over the years we learned the real value of our work.

Since 2004 we have presented over 5000 shows for K-12 and family audiences. We have worked with thousands of kids and teens in workshops. A few hundred have taken our extended classes via public programs or residencies at schools, camps and community centers.

After 2008, budgets we severely cut and we had to justify every show as educational. We started talking about creativity, community and leadership skills. We spoke of Cultural Arts, Language Arts, and Character Building. We teach public speaking, story telling, creative writing, critical thinking, self respect, self confidence, team skills, listening, focus, etc etc etc

We later learned about the benefits of laughter itself.

http://www.eightimprov.biz/cclscience

A Scientific Case For Laughter

Humor and creativity work in similar ways, says humor guru William Fry, M.D., of Stanford University–by creating relationships between two disconnected items, you engage the whole brain.

For years we were all about being the most fun a school ever had on a field trip or at an assembly. Then in recent years, thanks to feedback from teachers and parents, we realized we offered so much more inspiring and teaching creativity, community and leadership. But now science tells us that perhaps our greatest gift to the students is the laughter! What can laughter do?: Here are just some benefits for mental, physical and social health

• Lower blood pressure
• Increase vascular blood flow and oxygenation of the blood
• Give a workout to the diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles
• Reduce certain stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline •Increase the response of tumor- and disease-killing cells such as Gamma-interferon and T-cells
• Defend against respiratory infections–reducing the frequency of colds–by immunoglobulon in saliva.
• Increase memory and learning; in a study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, humor during instruction led to increased test scores
• Improve alertness, creativity, and memory

FROM http://www.laughteryogaamerica.com/services/laughter-education-733.php

In children social play is critical to the development of social skills and emotional intelligence. Restricted play results in deficient social skills which can lead to life-long physical, mental, emotional and social problems. Laughter promotes childlike playful behavior. New research shows that playful adults continue to learn social skills and improve their emotional intelligence. Learning requires that one lower what linguists call the “affective barrier.” You can’t be uptight and learn much. You have to ease up and laugh to create.

Spring Classes Start March 18
COMEDY 4 TEENS Saturdays 10am
COMEDY 4 KIDS Saturdays Noon
CLICK HERE for DISCOUNT REGISTRATION

Bring your classes to our Times Square NYC Theater for field trips
Come check us out just Off Broadway NYC.
Morning and after schools shows, and workshop
We host students groups from schools, camps and community centers daily.

Bring these programs to your school
shows, workshops, residencies and professional development for teachers