Bear Paw Creek Meets La Puerta Abierta
Back in January of this year, I received an email from Paula Jordan about possibly donating or giving a discount on a stretchy band. She volunteer’s at a school in Guatemala and was traveling there again.
Because of that email, I sent a large stretchy band her way and was able to learn about this great organization.
La Puerta Abierta began as a library for children with one part time librarian, a few tables and chairs and a large collection of books. A sign was hung from the roof of the building and not long after, children began to flow into the center.
Meet the Band
Doesn’t that make you wonder what band you’re going to meet? I got a kick out of the play on words that La Puerta Abierta wrote on their blog about how they met “the band.”
Here is what they wrote on their blog: “When children’s yoga/nature/music teacher and friend of La Puerta Abierta, Paula Jordan, mentioned that she had received a donated “band” for our center, we had a difficult time imagining what she would pack in her suitcase for us to use in her music classes at La Puerta Abierta. We had images of giant rubber bands, or a bag of musical instruments to form a music band of sorts.
The band referred to an ingenious invention created by Janet of Bear Paw Creek, a company that equips teachers, therapists, and parents as they seek to enrich the lives of others through music and motion.
Paula had first encountered the band while working with pre-school music programs in the Boston area.
The stretchy band can help educators achieve a wide range of skills for their students including motor skills, spatial awareness and spacial concepts, social skills, basic concepts (colors, body parts), creativity, team building, trust and boundary issues.”
We used the stretchy band in a circle to practice body movement, rhythm and motion, and music. La Puerta Abierta Share on X
Thanks for the Stretchy Band Connection
I contacted Janet about donating this band to a school I volunteer with in Guatemala. She very generously sent it overnight so I could have it before I left. Off it went to be to used in a school and community library program in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. It was put to use immediately. The teachers, parents and children loved it! As a former Music Together teacher I have used a lot of classroom props, and give this one high props. It is well sewn, sturdy and put together. It was used for music classes, yoga and circle activities. Thank you so much for your generosity! Gracias. Thank You. Maltiox.
I loved this story! Brought a smile to my face.