Author: riseeducation_dev

Yoga for Children

Whenever I tell someone I teach children’s yoga, they look at me in surprise and say something like, “Why do kids need to do yoga? They’re already flexible!” I’m pretty sure they are also trying to imagine toddlers quietly sitting in a lotus position, eyes closed, hands in a mudra, with a look of zen on their chubby little faces as they chant “Ommmmmm…” to the aroma of incense wafting by.

Well, they got the “Ommmmmm…” part right!

Kids’ yoga is NOT the same as grown-up yoga — in our classes, you can find us dancing for the sun, shaking our downward doggie tails, practicing our breathing with “hot chocolate breath”, and yes, making a flower with our hands while we smell some soothing lavender or wild orange essential oils to help us feel calm and happy. We play games, sing songs, use flashcards for our yoga challenges, act out storybooks, and sometimes dance it out with rainbow streamers, colorful scarves or small percussion instruments.

What the kiddos may not realize is that all the while, we are learning fine motor skills, balance, sharing, spatial awareness, social interaction, energy management, listening, language, stress relief and more.

I started teaching children’s (and infants’) yoga because someone asked me to! And it was a perfect fit because I can blend my 10+ years of experience teaching yoga and meditation with my background in theater and music and my love for tiny humans and the way their brains work into one beautiful, sometimes chaotic, playful experience of peaceful practices.

What I love the most about what I do is seeing the looks of curiosity, mischief, pride and bliss on their faces throughout class and the excuse it gives me to be really silly for a few minutes out of my day!

February 8, 2023
RISE Education Expands and Offers Free Classes to Language Stars Families

Youth Mandarin Class Student Wearing Traditional Lion Dance Head in School
Chinese New Year is always an exciting time for us at RISE Education. We like to engage all of our language learning programs in the festivities, and this year was no exception! We had traditional lion dances, Mandarin storytelling, special songs and instruments, and more! You can check out our Facebook and Instagram for photos of our celebrations.
At the RISE Education offices, Chinese New Year kicked off normally enough, but by President’s Day, we were flooded with phone calls and emails from distressed families and schools all across Chicagoland who were impacted from the sudden unexpected closure of Language Stars. For the families that were affected, we hope to reconnect them with teachers they worked with before, many of whom have reached out to us both here in Chicago and in the D.C. Metro area.
In an effort to minimize the disruption to students’ language learning, RISE Education will offer 5 FREE CLASSES to families who were financially affected by the Language Stars closure. These families should fill out this brief form to be contacted by our Director of Academy Programs about redeeming these free classes. We are working to add additional Academy Classes and Summer Camps in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for updates!
For the past year, RISE Education has experienced dramatic growth, and we had been considering expanding to a new city. Given the sudden closure of Language Stars in Washington, D.C., we are speeding up our timeline and have officially expanded our service area to include Maryland, Virginia, and the D.C. Metro region. Our administrative offices opened there just last week, and we successfully started our first school program there today!
We welcome our new staff and teachers both in Chicago and in Washington, D.C. and are excited to continue to bring fun, high-quality Language, Music, and Movement (Yoga/PE) programs to schools and families across our new service areas. If your school program was affected by the Language Stars closure and you would like more information about RISE Education’s in-school programs, please contact Max Weiss at (773) 609-5492 or max@littlelinguistsarts.com.
I, along with my team, work to ensure that our immersive, play-based curriculum is engaging and effective, and that our teachers are well-resourced and able to provide a high quality learning experience to our students.
Again, if your family was financially affected by the Language Stars closure, please fill out this brief form and you will be contacted by our Director of Academy Programs about your 5 free classes with us. We hope that you will give us an opportunity to turn your young learners into Little Linguists!
祝你狗年吉祥
(Wishing you good luck for this Year of Dog)
– Angel Li
Founder & CEO, Little Linguists Arts Academy

February 8, 2023
Celebrating Lunar New year

Lunar New Year holds a special place in my heart. Initially, I celebrated it for myself, recognizing its significance as the biggest holiday in Taiwan and a time when I deeply miss home.

However, with the arrival of my children, my perspective shifted. Now, I celebrate to create cherished memories and share my culture with them.

When I started teaching Chinese, celebrating Lunar New Year became a communal affair where I was able to share this holiday with my students and community. Reflecting on the journey, I invite you to watch a video from a decade ago, capturing our early celebrations.

Traditional Lion Dance

Over the years, our school has flourished, and so has our Lunar New Year party. Our festivities include storytelling, exploring the significance behind Lunar New Year, and learning the joyous Lion Dance.

We also create crafts including making 春聯 (Chun Lian), the lucky decoration that keeps evil spirits away and brings in good fortune.

Join us as we celebrate the richness of Chinese culture and create lasting memories together.

January 8, 2019
Embracing the Magic of the Moon Festival

The Moon Festival holds a special place in my heart. It’s a time when I craft pomelo-hats with care, bake delicious mooncakes, and gather with loved ones for family barbeques. This cherished celebration, occurring on the 15th of the 8th lunar month, is known as the Mid-Autumn Festival and is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture.
Much like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is steeped in tradition and significance. It’s a time when families come together to honor legends and create lasting memories.
One such legend tells the story of the moon lady, who ascended to the moon where she resides to this day. During the festival, it’s said that she dances among the stars, casting her ethereal glow upon the Earth below. This mystical tale adds to the enchantment of the occasion.
Family reunions take center stage as the full moon graces the night sky. We gather to gaze upon its luminous beauty, indulging in delectable mooncakes and reciting moon-inspired poetry. In these moments, surrounded by loved ones and enveloped in the moon’s gentle glow, it truly feels like we inhabit a perfect world.
Yet, the Moon Festival is not only a time for family bonds but also for romance. Picture-perfect nights, marked by clear skies and a gentle sea breeze, set the stage for lovers to share intimate moments under the moon’s watchful gaze. Whether together or apart, couples find solace in knowing they share the same moonlit sky, united in spirit if not in person.
Countless poems have been penned in homage to this romantic tradition, each capturing the essence of love and longing that permeates the festival. As I reflect on these sentiments, I’m filled with hope that the Moon Festival will bring joy and happiness to all who celebrate its magic.
In the midst of life’s hustle and bustle, the Moon Festival serves as a reminder to cherish the bonds we share and the moments we hold dear. May this enchanting celebration illuminate your life with love, laughter, and endless memories.
Below are some Chinese vocabulary around the Moon Festival:
月餅 moon cake yuè bǐng
烤肉 barbeque kǎo ròu
月亮 moon yuè liàng
滿月 full moon mǎn yuè
野餐 picnic yě cān
公園 park gōng yuán
中秋節 Mid Autumn festival zhōng qiū jie
煙火 fire works yān hu

October 8, 2017
Teach Spotlight: Why I Love Teaching Spanish to Children

As a 23-year-old, I couldn’t be more content with where my life is now. Growing up I always knew I wanted to contribute to a greater change in our world. Now that I find myself working with children, I know that is exactly what I want to do with my life. Working with kids has been such a great experience! I love the innocent spirit they carry, the charisma they all have, and how the energy levels are never dull. There is no such thing as a bad day when you get to empower and teach a future teacher, doctor, entrepreneur etc.
It would be a mistake to think that I am the only one capable of teaching in the classroom because everyday I learn something new from these wonderful children. In every school and program I have taught at I also become a student. Sometimes as busy parents we get caught up in our day to day lives and forget that out children can teach us valuable lessons in life as well.
Teaching Spanish has allowed me to construct a warm environment to learn about and accept different cultures. Aside from Spanish, I try to teach children to get along with each other, and to embrace their cultural backgrounds even if it might be different from their classmates. We live in a world that can certainly use a sprinkle of love, peace, and knowledge. Working with children has allowed me to guide our future in that direction.
Mejor Juntos
A los 23 años de edad, no podría estar más contenta por donde se encuentra mi vida ahorita. Creciendo siempre supe que quería contribuir a un cambio mayor en nuestro mundo. Ahora que trabajo con niños, nuestras pequeñitas mentes futuras sé que es exactamente lo que quiero hacer con mi vida. ¡Trabajar con niños ha sido una gran experiencia! Me encanta el espíritu inocente que llevan, la carisma que todos tienen, sus niveles de energía nunca son aburridos. No hay ningun día malo cuando se llega a potenciar y enseñar a un futuro profesor, médico, empresario, etc.
Será un gran error pensar que soy la única capaz de enseñar en el salon porque todos los días aprendo algo nuevo de estos maravillosos niños. En cada escuela y programa que he enseñado también soy estudiante. A veces, como padres ocupados nos dejamos atrapar en nuestra vida cotidiana y olvidamos que los niños pueden enseñarnos valiosas lecciones en la vida también.
La enseñanza del Español me ha permitido construir una cálida bienvenida a las diferentes culturas y la aceptación a toda variedad de diversidades. Trato de enseñar a los niños aparte del Español a llevarse bien entre ellos y ah aceptar y amar sus antecedentes culturales, incluso al ser diferente de sus propios compañeros de clase. Vivimos en un mundo que sin duda puede utilizar una pizca de amor, paz y conocimiento. Trabajar con niños me ha permitido guiar nuestro futuro en esa dirección.

July 8, 2017