In celebration of Filipino American History Month, Columbia Elementary students recently dove into a lively cultural experience: learning Tinikling, a traditional folk dance from the Philippines.
The lesson was part of music class taught by music teacher Wendy Rentz, whose energetic style encourages students to learn by doing.
Sixth grade student Libby said, “In music class, we’re learning a dance from the Philippines. It helps us connect and move with each other.”
Sixth grade student Benton added, “It’s fun. It makes me feel excited for the rest of the day.”
Rentz says the response to the activity has been remarkable. “They jumped in with their whole hearts, sweating, laughing, participating,” she said.
She leads by example, stepping out from behind her desk and into the dance routines to support students.
Fifth grader Itzel said, “Music class is like recess to me because she makes it really fun. She’s really sweet and treats everybody the same. Music and dance make me feel really happy and like all my shyness gets out.”
Beyond dance, the class incorporates drumming, ukuleles, bucket percussion, and more, with an emphasis on movement, rhythm, and global cultural awareness. By inviting students into embodied learning, Rentz says she hopes "My students gain a love for music they look forward to each day.”