Born and raised in New York City, Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld has been teaching people of all ages and backgrounds for her whole teaching life—through programs such as Headstart and Upward Bound—from early childhood programs to senior communities, from prisons to hospitals, elementary schools, high schools, and higher education institutions. She has presented programs in creative education in 45 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Great Britain. She has written numerous poems, stories, articles, and books. Her children’s novel, The House At 12 Rose Street, was adapted for a TV special and nominated for an Emmy. Her education books include such titles as Teaching in the Key of Life, Teaching By Heart, Celebrating Young Children and Their Teachers, Creative Experiences For Young Children, Teaching Language Arts Creatively, and Still Teaching In The Key of Life. She wrote a regular column for Columbus Parent Magazine. One of Mimi’s favorite quotes is “nothing without joy” (Reggio Emilia).

Mimi believes the arts are for everyone and has been fortunate to be able to share her love for the arts and their connections to all curriculum areas with people of all ages for many years. She began teaching fourth grade in New York state and has worked since then with Headstart; preschools; and elementary, middle, high school, college, and community groups. Mimi believes the arts have a central role in every educational setting. The arts are the connective tissue of the human spirit and enrich every subject matter. Her original courses, “playing with the arts” and “arts across the curriculum,” have now been taught for years at Otterbein University and Columbus State Community College. Her theme in teaching university and community college students and in-service teachers is “teaching in the ‘key of life,’” and Mimi believes the arts are a vital component of that key!

RECENT PROJECTS: TeachArtsOhio residency- Highland Middle School- (Marengo) – Integrated arts experiences with all 6th – 8th graders.

Weekly sessions incorporating music, movement, and story with Columbus Jewish Center Early Childhood program (infants to Pre K).

Creative Writing sessions for adults at Bexley Library and Cultural Arts Center.

Availability

As I have some regularly scheduled programs, my residencies have to be worked on with the requesting organization.