What Kids Remember From A Kindness And Inclusion School Assembly

After a school assembly, we often hear from the school. Teachers, directors, and principals email us. Teachers follow us online and send pictures from the day.

If you're on a PTA or running a school and thinking about a kindness and inclusion assembly, you're probably wondering what kids will actually take with them once the show is over. Here's what we've seen, and what we hope for when we play.

Schools Have Seen A Lot Of Assemblies

Most principals and PTA members have sat through plenty of assemblies. Kids remember some of them and forget others by lunch. Kids tend to remember the ones where they took part instead of just sitting and watching.

What schools tell us stands out about a Rockness assembly is how Michael and the band connect with kids on a real level. Kids feel the music, get excited, and feel free to sing, move, and express themselves in front of their classmates.

What We Hope Kids Take Away

With a kindness and inclusion assembly, we're hoping kids leave with three things: self-regulation, self-respect, and love for their classmates. Kids learn those best by doing things together, and music gives them a lot to do together.

A post on the National Association for Music Education blog makes the case that social-emotional learning doesn't have to take time away from music, and that it can happen through the music itself. The same author writes that music teaches self-discipline and collaboration.

Self-Regulation

When a gym full of kids is singing and dancing, they also have to listen, wait, and settle down when the song ends. Getting loud and then getting quiet again, together, is real practice in managing your own body and feelings.

Teachers know how hard it is for young kids to calm down after something exciting. An assembly gives them a chance to practice it in a setting that's fun.

Self-Respect

Some kids jump right in. Others need a minute. We want every child to feel that their voice and their moves are welcome, whether they're dancing in the aisle or singing quietly from their spot. A child clapping along from their seat is taking part too.

When kids feel free to express themselves in front of their classmates and nobody laughs at them, they learn that how they show up is okay. We think that's a big part of feeling good about yourself at school.

Love For Their Classmates

Inclusion is easier to understand when you've done it. When a whole grade sings the same song and claps the same beat, every kid is part of it. That includes the new kid and the shy kid.

Those shared moments give kids something in common to talk about on the way back to class. Teachers can come back to them later when kindness comes up in class.

Helping It Last After The Show

An assembly is one day. Here are a few ways schools keep it going:

• Talk about it the same day. Ask kids what they remember and how it felt to sing with the whole school.
• Play the songs in class. Kids love hearing music they just saw performed live. You can find the band's music on our Our Sound page.
• Connect it to your classroom rules. If your school already talks about kindness, tie the songs back to those conversations.
• Share the pictures. Put a few photos from the day in your newsletter so families can ask their kids about it at home.
• Add regular music time. For preschools, our enrichment classes bring a Rockness teacher in every week or every other week, so kids keep practicing these skills.

If you're still deciding on a theme, our post on preschool assembly ideas has more options. You can also see everything we bring to schools on our school programs page.

Booking A Kindness And Inclusion Assembly

We bring kindness and inclusion assemblies to preschools and schools across New Jersey, New York City, Brooklyn, Westchester, and Philadelphia. You can read more about our preschool shows and school assemblies, and when you have a date in mind, the next step is the booking form. We'll talk with you about your space, the ages of your kids, and your schedule.

👉 Ready to plan an assembly? Fill out our show registration form or call 732-205-1971, and we'll help you find a date that works for your school.

Thanks for reading,
The Rockness Crew
Rockness Music