Celebration Rhythm

About:

I would like to acknowledge the folks at the Horizon's at Greens Farm Academy for teaching this to me.

The purpose of this lesson:

Celebrate rhythm is specific practice to continually develop a postive 'time in'.

The celebration rhythm brings energy to those experiences that we want to acknowledge, enhance, anchor and spot weld.

At the end of successful processes name specifically name what went well then energize that with playing the celebration rhythm. This an ideal way to teach the rules and the reinforce the rules that were not broken! Often rules are most often addressed when they have just been broken. At that moment often the student is in some state of anxiety, fear, shame or anger. Teacher are also often in more fear shame or anger. In such state ability to learn is reduced.
Using the celebration rhythm gives a moment to note what went well.
Specifically, name the rules that weren't broken and then anchor this experience with an energetic synchronous expression.

As it is a rhythm, it organizes a group in a way that applause doesn't. Applause has energy and movement but it is chaotic.

The celebration rhythm is short, rhythmic and energetic; playing it help re sync up a group. It also be adds a predictable sense of form and order the the flow of the class.

The celebration rhythm is brief.

The 'Yeah' is an organized structure to get an emotive vocalization.

At the end of successful processes, name specifically what went well. Then energize that with playing the celebration rhythm.

Example: "I love how everyone ended right on time together and was silent afterwards-'Cel- E -Bra-tion Rhy-thm!'

If each student is doing an exercise, by ending that turn with the Celebration Rhythm, you set up a predictable sense of order.

This can be learned and practiced with the group before you have students play the drums.

This can work well with some chaotic groups as it helps bring energy to greater order.

Students can start calling the 'celebration rhythm themselves' They practice giving positive acknowledgment to themselves others and the group.

Prerequisites:

The Celebration Rhythm can be done as soon as you notice a good thing happening such as class members give good attention at the beginning of class. Class does a good 'Stop' (even if a majority of members get it. It's not necessary to have each student give a good response. Celebrate the positive behavior that some of the students did. By energizing that, you help move the rest of the class in that direction.

Directions:

The Celebration Rhythm can be done with the hands, with shakers, with drums.

As a way to celebrate what we just did (name the action while doing it)

"Top, Top, Side Side, Sticks Sticks, Yeah" with the Yeah point to the person or people that you are celebrating.

This can be done without drums by going "lap lap, clap clap, snap snap, YEAH!"

If snaps are too much of a problems, use "lap lap, clap clap, rub your hands, YEAH!"

Also if students have seats that let their feet touch the floor- "Stomp Stomp, Lap Lap, Clap Clap YEAH!"

About snaps-many kids can't snap their fingers []

Encourage students celebrate each other and their moments of success.

Glitches:

Student starts to Call a Celebration Rhythm incessantly.

Take over the problem. Specifically address how it feels to be incessantly asked to do something. "What is it like for Cow puppet when Dragon puppet calls a Celebration Rhythm over and over and over?"

Needs Met:

Safety: []

Neuroscience and Psycho-physiology Basis:

Nurtured Heart Approach - Student will generally more towards what you give energy to. [add link]
Davidson - people have one prefrontal lobe dominated. Right prefrontal with support fear and avoidance behaviors. Left Prefrontal with support engagement and approach behaviors. Acknowledging what is going well helps to shift engage the left prefrontal engagement and approach behaviors.[]
When students are leaning into their fight flight system, if the teachers face is neutral, they will percieve the neutral as negative. Naming what went well and doing the active celebration rhythm, can help get through this negative bias and invoke the Social Engagement State or at least not increase the Sympathetic System tone. Polyvagal Theory.

Extensions:

Group members can create their own celebration rhythm and teach it to the group.

The rhythm can also be altered into 16th note grooves on to "Top" and "Side"

An other way of celebrating and anchoring the current actions is the Happy Dance