₿HS034: WOW Factory with Bridgette Johnson

SHOW TOPICS:  

Bridgette brings the receipts.  It’s passion, not a teaching degree, that unlocks education.  She creatively meets kids where they are, e.g., dealing with developmentally delayed, non-verbal, traumatized, beaten, autistic, et al.  She is a grandmother entrepreneur!  She is starting her own preschool based on how kids really learn, not based on fiat curriculums.  

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• Mother of five decided to go back into the workforce
• Went back to college at 45
• Using a keyboard to make jingles was one of her early creative ways to reach children
• The “five senses” is one of the favorites with the kids
• She became DJ BJ the rapping school teacher
• She was encouraged to record her songs in a studio after which she wrote a book to go along with each
• She started a business, Creatively Invented, which produces catchy, hip hop educational products for home and school
• Bridgette calls this “edutainment”
• The principal began sending her all the problem kids
• Another popular book was her “Use Your Manners” which features two kids as superheroes, “Suprepreneurs” 
• She picked things the kids like but is not in the curriculum, e.g., microphones, robots, marble trees, pencils with themes like Ninja Turtles, shaving cream, marsh mellows, giant rain sticks, magnets,
• In one particular challenge case, she let the kid lead the class
• In another case a kid went from nonverbal to talking
• There’s not just one way to teach kids
• Large rooms help a lot 
• She also would get dressed up in different costumes
• For some, teaching is a paycheck.  For some like Bridgette, teaching is a passion.
• Bridgette strongly recommends getting involved with the community, do research, talk to people, learn what extra curriculum activities are available
• Social emotional piece is critical to reaching kids
• She is launching a preschool, WOW Factory Academy, Inc.  WOW stands for “wonders of the world”.  No time limits, edutainment, invention-education, manners, performing arts, creative art, financial literacy, engineering, other “wow” experiences.
• Superpreneur Project is for pre-school to 3rd grade, teaches money principles and how to start their own business, includes a journal and flashcards

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

• Bridgette’s resources on Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01JDV02KE
• Bridgette’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgette-johnson-bb143656/
• Bridgette’s website https://creativelyinvented.com
• Second Step https://www.secondstep.org
• Conscious Discipline https://consciousdiscipline.com
• School of Tomorrow https://www.aceschooloftomorrow.com

HAPPY TO HELP:

Tali's Twitter @OrangeHatterPod

Scott's Twitter @ScottLindberg93

Scott's nostr npub19jkuyl0wgrj8kccqzh2vnseeql9v98ptrx407ca9qjsrr4x5j9tsnxx0q6

Free Market Kids' Twitter @FreeMarketKids

Free Market Kids' games including HODL UP at