Theatre Arts

Hi, my name is Ms. Benavidez and I am absolutely thrilled to be teaching Theatre Arts at Matthey Middle School. I have been involved in the local Theatre community since I was in middle school myself, and I always try to give back to my community, so that's why I decided to become a teacher. I love sharing my knowledge of Theatre with children through my classes and after school plays. In my class students are able to express themselves artistically through arts and crafts, reading and writing, and most exciting of all, performing. I try to incorporate history, english, physical education, art, and music into my lessons every day, so it can appeal to a wide variety of learners. The students' favorite class activity is something I call Music Monday, every Monday I play a song that a student has recommended, and they write a few sentences about how the song makes them feel or what they think the song is about. This is a great way for students to start their week, because it allows them the opportunity to theorize about what inspired the music, and they also evaluate the music video qualities using their newfound knowledge of film. My class is nontraditional in the sense that the students perform scenes they create for each unit instead of taking written tests, they get graded for their creativity and participation, never on their acting because the most important lesson for them to learn is how to work together as a team. Theatre kept me grounded throughout school, the stage was a safe haven for me growing up, and although I hope everyone develops an appreciation for Theatre Arts, my main priority is to make sure my students feel safe, appreciated, and valued as young adults coming into society. I look forward to learning and growing with my students every year, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my life passion for Theatre with them as well.

-Ms. Benavidez