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Teaching Hispanic Heritage Through Music, Movement, and Culture with TeachRock
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Presented by Stephanie Arnell, Teacher, Caroline G. Atkinson School (NY); and Gina Machado, Former New York City Public School Teacher, Current Director of Programs and Partnerships, TeachRock
Sponsored by TeachRock
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
South America is home to a rich and diverse musical landscape, with each country offering unique rhythms, instruments, and dance forms that reflect its Hispanic heritage. From the rhythmic cumbia of Colombia to the communal ciranda of Brazil, the region’s music and dance are deeply intertwined with history, community, and celebration.
Join TeachRock and award-winning music educator Stephanie Arnell for this edWebinar to explore effective methods for introducing students to the vibrant music, dance, and culture of South America by teaching them to sing, dance, and perform the traditional rhythms of selected musical styles from Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil.
This session prepares teachers to bring the rich cultural heritage of South America into the classroom, helping students connect with diverse musical traditions and fostering an appreciation for movement, music, and community during Hispanic Heritage Month and all year long. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders.
View all of the recent TeachRock edWebinars.
About the Presenters
Stephanie Arnell has been inspiring young musicians at Atkinson School in the Freeport School District since 2002, where she teaches classroom music and chorus for grades PreK-5. A graduate of SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, she holds a BA in music and special education, a master’s in music therapy from the University of Kansas, and a TESOL certificate from St. John’s University. Her award-winning choral ensembles have earned superior ratings at festivals and a collaboration with composer Jim Papoulis for their annual Peace Concert.
A passionate clinician, Stephanie has presented workshops at NYSSMA, TeachRock, and local conferences, sharing her expertise in integrating arts into classrooms. She has authored lessons for TeachRock, earning the 2020 Star Teacher Award and Teacher of the Month recognition by the Long Island Nets. As a TeachRock Ambassador, Stephanie trains educators to enhance student engagement through music and arts integration, fostering joy, growth, and creativity in learning environments.
Gina Machado is the Director of Programs and Partnerships at TeachRock. Beginning her career as a classroom teacher in The Bronx, New York, she now designs arts-integrated education materials for TeachRock and leads professional development sessions across the United States, working alongside teachers to implement the TeachRock curriculum. An educator at heart, Gina’s true passion lies in creating new and innovative ways to reach students of all levels, always aiming to foster the student-teacher relationship.
Join the Inspire Learning & Engagement community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Launched by Stevie Van Zandt and the Founders Board of Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Springsteen, TeachRock.org provides free, standards-aligned resources that use music to help K-12 students succeed in science, math, social studies, language arts, and more.
