Jump Rope For Heart Performance Team

Last week our school, Raven Stream Elementary, had the privilege of hosting a jump rope performance team from Brooklyn Park. This team works in correlation with the American Heart Association and Jump Rope For Heart. The team consisted of 13 young 5th and 6th grade students and one teacher/coach. As impressed as I was at their jump roping ability, I was even more impressed at their respect, behavior and courage. We heard lots of pleases and thank yous and they seemed very honored to perform for us. Their courage to perform in front of almost 700 people was obvious. Nothing really seemed to faze them. But possibly my favorite experience was when they asked if they could join our first grade class before their performance. Of course, we would never deny someone the opportunity to move and get exercise. So we said yes and then we told our 1st graders that they were willing to help them to learn how to long rope. From that point on, these 5th and 6th graders seemed to turn into adult teachers in a matter of seconds. My colleague and I sat back and witness kids of different ages, from different schools, with different cultural backgrounds play, communicate and work together like they have known each other forever. I was so proud of my students and the performance team for just being fun loving, cooperative and innocent kids. It really was a great teaching and learning experience!