It was a rough week. It was a hard week. It was a fun week.
This past week, I taught the 8-12 year olds, and we did a play from the Spiderwick Chronicles series (the movie is actually pretty good btw). The kids were challenging. The boys, which there about 14 of them, liked to hit each other and "practice" stage combat. Most of the kids never listened. We made 2 major mistakes casting the show. Blocking was a nightmare because the kids just liked to wander the minute you turned away from them. In the sharing (our final production at the end of the week) in our big dragon vs. griffin fight scene, the griffin actually did punch the dragon in the face.
I just had to keep reminding myself this week that they were kids. I have to lower my expectations and encourage them that their best is always going to be amazing. We had a really good show. We had a really good time. My favorite part of the week was when me and my co-teacher, Scott, dressed up like professors to do a process drama. I took on a British accent and we explored the magical creatures of Spiderwick and had them each come up with a creature. It was great.
It was rough, but it made me more aware of what I need to do in the future, which is what this whole experience is about. I wonder if the kids realize how much I really do learn from them.
Today (on a totally different note) I went to the Pride Festival. It was amazing to see how active their GLBT community really is. There was an amazing amount of people gathered on this beautiful day all for one cause. It was just such a happy place. I just had this moment of inner contentment that I can't really explain. :)
I get to play with the 4 and 5 year olds again. I'm really excited. I am with 2 other co-teachers, and we are teaching Sleeping Beauty and Where the Wild Things are. Yes... I am pumped. I feel more prepared then last time. That is a very good feeling.
I get tired. I miss home a lot. I miss the people the most. I've having major withdrawals, but for the most part, I really do like it here. I'm learning more and more about teaching, myself, and how the two may fit together one day.
For now, love. :)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
You can't stop the Beat!
You may be wondering right now why the title for my blog is You can't stop the beat. Well, I'm going to tell you. This week, I am co-teaching the musical theatre review class. I am really excited. Tomorrow for the first time ever, my co-teacher, Sarah and I are teaching a music theory class. Scarey but awesome.
Today we auditioned and casted all 20 of the kids (ages 10-15), making sure each got their own singing, dancing, or acting part, depending on their own preference. It was really hard to cast. We had some amazingly strong singers, so it was more difficult then we anticipated. But now we've gotten past the casting, we can start all the fun stuff.
They have 7 songs that we have put in order while they are going to come up with a script to relate them all and make them flow. That's a challenge. The songs are random. I'm excited to see what their creative little minds come up with.
I get to eat lunch at the park every day (weather permitting), and we are actually in a nice dance studio with big mirrors, meaning I get to look at myself all day.... so I guess that means I have to wear make up. :)
So this week is a big change from last week. Last week was iddy-biddys and their short attention spans and big imaginations. This week, it's kids closer to my age which is awesome. I really did enjoy working with the 4 and 5 year olds and was really happy to work with them while still shadowing a teacher. But this is even more exciting. We still have a lot to learn from Amie, who is modeling the class for us a lot because this is the first Musical theatre Review of the summer, and she is an amazing teacher and mentor and knows what she is doing. But we do have a lot more independence and it is definitely a collaborative effort.
I get to choreograph a number....... Weird, right? ;)
Well I am exhausted and a little bit on the hungry side, so I am going to try and scrounge up something frozen and or some form of pasta for dinner. Love.
Today we auditioned and casted all 20 of the kids (ages 10-15), making sure each got their own singing, dancing, or acting part, depending on their own preference. It was really hard to cast. We had some amazingly strong singers, so it was more difficult then we anticipated. But now we've gotten past the casting, we can start all the fun stuff.
They have 7 songs that we have put in order while they are going to come up with a script to relate them all and make them flow. That's a challenge. The songs are random. I'm excited to see what their creative little minds come up with.
I get to eat lunch at the park every day (weather permitting), and we are actually in a nice dance studio with big mirrors, meaning I get to look at myself all day.... so I guess that means I have to wear make up. :)
So this week is a big change from last week. Last week was iddy-biddys and their short attention spans and big imaginations. This week, it's kids closer to my age which is awesome. I really did enjoy working with the 4 and 5 year olds and was really happy to work with them while still shadowing a teacher. But this is even more exciting. We still have a lot to learn from Amie, who is modeling the class for us a lot because this is the first Musical theatre Review of the summer, and she is an amazing teacher and mentor and knows what she is doing. But we do have a lot more independence and it is definitely a collaborative effort.
I get to choreograph a number....... Weird, right? ;)
Well I am exhausted and a little bit on the hungry side, so I am going to try and scrounge up something frozen and or some form of pasta for dinner. Love.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My summer Job
I am starting this blog for all the people I would like to keep updated with my summer job. As most of you know, I am working in Kentucky this summer as an Education Intern for a theatre school. Since the Wednesday before last, we have gone through orientation, and yesterday we finally started theatre school. This week, we will be shadowing a teacher, and I am lucky enough to actually be working with 2 other co-teachers while teaching the 4-5 year olds (First Stage Players).
Now, we have a morning (101 Dalmations) and afternoon (How I became a Pirate) FSP with about 14 3-5 year olds each (yes we do have one 3 year old.). Understatement: Things get a little crazy. I've never really worked with this age group before. I worked at a mother's day out with toddlers and last summer I worked with some awesome high school kids. I have never been so challenged before and not listened to. It's not all of them. I just remember that I was such a quiet kid when I was younger. Most of these kids are great and energetic and some crazy! lol I am worn out. But they are funny.
I feel challenged. Not defeated. I don't feel like I am presented with a problem. Just something that I can overcome and keep going with. The different classes present their own unique challenges that are totally different and have to be solved in different ways. This age group and their sometimes small attention spans are hard, difficult. I am so grateful for the amount of help and guidance offered by the staff and even my fellow interns. It is awesome, and we will have fun this week.
Some top moments that I will always remember.
1. During Warm-ups: Teacher: Okay kids, let's go over the three tools that an actor needs to warm up. ((we were looking for voice, body, and imagination))
Kid 1: uhhh... Wrenches!!!
Kid 2: Bones...
Kid 3: Astronaut Bones!
2. Teacher: alright, what am I using right now? ((pointing to our throat and wanting them to say voice))
Kid1: Your throat!
Teacher: Yes, but what is in our throat?
Kid 2: CHHHEEESSE!!!!!!
3. Watching a little worn out boy pass out on the bench because he was exhausted from playing. :)
4. Doing object transformation and watching a Little Boy roll the tape and say it was the boulder that chases Indiana Jones.
5. One kid saying (after repeatedly getting in trouble) "I wish I didn't talk so much."
6. One boy telling me that I was his favorite. :) (I know, selfish moment. lol)
Now, we have a morning (101 Dalmations) and afternoon (How I became a Pirate) FSP with about 14 3-5 year olds each (yes we do have one 3 year old.). Understatement: Things get a little crazy. I've never really worked with this age group before. I worked at a mother's day out with toddlers and last summer I worked with some awesome high school kids. I have never been so challenged before and not listened to. It's not all of them. I just remember that I was such a quiet kid when I was younger. Most of these kids are great and energetic and some crazy! lol I am worn out. But they are funny.
I feel challenged. Not defeated. I don't feel like I am presented with a problem. Just something that I can overcome and keep going with. The different classes present their own unique challenges that are totally different and have to be solved in different ways. This age group and their sometimes small attention spans are hard, difficult. I am so grateful for the amount of help and guidance offered by the staff and even my fellow interns. It is awesome, and we will have fun this week.
Some top moments that I will always remember.
1. During Warm-ups: Teacher: Okay kids, let's go over the three tools that an actor needs to warm up. ((we were looking for voice, body, and imagination))
Kid 1: uhhh... Wrenches!!!
Kid 2: Bones...
Kid 3: Astronaut Bones!
2. Teacher: alright, what am I using right now? ((pointing to our throat and wanting them to say voice))
Kid1: Your throat!
Teacher: Yes, but what is in our throat?
Kid 2: CHHHEEESSE!!!!!!
3. Watching a little worn out boy pass out on the bench because he was exhausted from playing. :)
4. Doing object transformation and watching a Little Boy roll the tape and say it was the boulder that chases Indiana Jones.
5. One kid saying (after repeatedly getting in trouble) "I wish I didn't talk so much."
6. One boy telling me that I was his favorite. :) (I know, selfish moment. lol)
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