Here are excerpts from their report:
Talking Hands Talking Feet
By Oliver Gray, Thomas Joyce, Alex Perry,
Tim Puopolo, Matt Rice, Victoria Ruff, Amanda Russo
For our project we worked with Paul and Melanie Zeir, founders of Talking Hands Talking Feet (THTF). They opened their organization in response to a major lack of arts integrated education in the national elementary school system. THTF offers a unique way of incorporating song and dance into the curriculum, covering a variety of subjects.
Elementary school teachers recognize the value in arts integrated education. The program aims to teach students self-confidence, acquire general social skills, and explore their creativity. Teachers are also anxious to find a solution to engage hyperactive students as well as others with disciplinary issues.
THTF prides itself in its efficiency and ease of use. The proposed educational package includes a song and corresponding dance that specifically fit into the nationally designated curriculum for public schools. The package also includes a visual video tutorial which shows teachers exactly how to present the material as well as how to use in conjunction with their traditional lesson plans.
Our research allowed us to better segment the market which we have concluded is public school elementary teachers for grades K-2. Of educators we spoke with, 71% stated that teachers of younger grades can implement new teaching techniques as they see fit, which creates an easier starting point for THTF to promote the program. Studies have shown that children in this age range are more receptive to a combination of kinesthetic, auditory, and visual teaching methods, all of which are utilized in these educational packages. There are approximately 875,000 public school teachers for grades K-2.
Currently, THTF is in the process of expanding to become one of the leading providers of supplementary teaching methods. They currently provide a variety of different services and products ranging from individual customized songs and twelve week programs to curriculum based arts integrated educational packages.
Talking Hands Talking Feet offers an innovative and interactive program for which there is a distinct need in a segmented market. We believe that THTF can achieve their goals and continue to become a leader among those who offer alternate education packages.