We started MCAS today. Ugh!
I am so thankful Theatre is not a subject tested in MCAS. I am so thankful Theatre is something students look forward to BECAUSE it is not a subject tested in MCAS.
But that doesn't make MCAS week any easier on a non-MCAS subject teacher!
7th grade had their "Long Composition" this morning, I had them last block. CRAAAAZY! We got nothing accomplished. Thursday, Friday and next Monday all the kids are testing. I dread it so much. Last year they rioted throughout MCAS week. One teacher got trampled, there were a variety of injuries; teachers and students alike. Please, MCAS Gods! make this week easier than last year!
Pantomime...
The Pantomime Final has been nothing short of awesome for all my classes so far. My 8th graders really kicked some butt and I hope the kids this week can get something out of it.
While viewing them today, one 8th grader gave me an idea. He said, we should get to redo these and improve upon all the mistakes we made. That made me think: this year I'm going to try to give the kids a "semester final." What IF I let one of the options be to go back and take a previous performance and improve upon it?
I love the idea of doing this, because it encourages kids to focus on the process, but will they just get up there and do the exact same thing again (because they're lazy or don't really care)?
How can I make it seem challenging?
Moments like that one make teaching really really worth it---because I'm learning from them too.
Students...
On a side note, I have a few students I'm so worried about on a personal level. I feel helpless. More on this maybe, I don't know how much I can say without causing a problem. There is so much at school I feel like I can't discuss because it could come back and hurt me. I've heard enough blogging horror stories to know better.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Part 1: Man oh man!
In a previous blog I described part 1 of my 2 part pantomime unit as "ok."
This week, my students proved me wrong. Man oh man did they EVER! I would like to be able to post a video of some of the scenes. Maybe I'll figure that out some time.
The scenes are not particularly deep, there is no greater understanding of mankind revealed, but their willingness to trust one another, trust their classmates and try something so creative WAS revealed.
And I am thankful to be the teacher who gets to witness the unveiling.
Next week I am starting part 2 and am a little nervous now. How can we improve after doing so damn well?!
The students are getting grouped randomly too, based on a music selection. Which...I don't think they'll be too pleased with, but they need to get used to working in a variety of groupings.
Anyway, I've settled on the following musical selections:
Carmina Burana, Carl Orff
Bleeding Love, The Vitamin Quartet
Rescued! Silent Movie piano piece
Ride of the Valkyries, Wagner
Dawn of the Dead, can't remember the title!
This is Halloween, Marilyn Manson
and maybe...
Around the World, Daft Punk (it would replace one of the above songs)
If you know of any other great songs (preferably without words) that would accommodate story telling, please let me know! I'd love to have a repertoire of songs I can turn to.
This week, my students proved me wrong. Man oh man did they EVER! I would like to be able to post a video of some of the scenes. Maybe I'll figure that out some time.
The scenes are not particularly deep, there is no greater understanding of mankind revealed, but their willingness to trust one another, trust their classmates and try something so creative WAS revealed.
And I am thankful to be the teacher who gets to witness the unveiling.
Next week I am starting part 2 and am a little nervous now. How can we improve after doing so damn well?!
The students are getting grouped randomly too, based on a music selection. Which...I don't think they'll be too pleased with, but they need to get used to working in a variety of groupings.
Anyway, I've settled on the following musical selections:
Carmina Burana, Carl Orff
Bleeding Love, The Vitamin Quartet
Rescued! Silent Movie piano piece
Ride of the Valkyries, Wagner
Dawn of the Dead, can't remember the title!
This is Halloween, Marilyn Manson
and maybe...
Around the World, Daft Punk (it would replace one of the above songs)
If you know of any other great songs (preferably without words) that would accommodate story telling, please let me know! I'd love to have a repertoire of songs I can turn to.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Rule 5: No drugs/alcohol, violence or swearing in scenes!
Before I became a teacher I didn't even think to make that a classroom rule.
But, after my 1st year of discouraging lightly and my 2nd year of discouraging strongly I finally made it a rule last year.
To this day, it is a struggle I have with students who want to have guns or fights, pantomime smoking or drinking, or add "harmless" swear words into their scenes.
I know I'm right in enforcing my policy. And certainly there are exceptions to every rule. But I am tired of it! Every class, kids manipulating the rule: "but fighting isn't violence," or "what if we do this..."
I'm trying to teach them creativity and all they want to do is recreate the violence and drugs they see on tv, in the movies, on the streets, in their own homes.
When a group comes up with a scene that doesn't break Rule 5...man it is good! I wish they could see for themselves how sloppy and silly they look trying to create a fighting scene. Then, compare that to a clever and creative scene that follows the rules. Only time will show that...and thus the battle rages on!
I would love to get suggestions and advice to help deal with this!!!
But, after my 1st year of discouraging lightly and my 2nd year of discouraging strongly I finally made it a rule last year.
To this day, it is a struggle I have with students who want to have guns or fights, pantomime smoking or drinking, or add "harmless" swear words into their scenes.
I know I'm right in enforcing my policy. And certainly there are exceptions to every rule. But I am tired of it! Every class, kids manipulating the rule: "but fighting isn't violence," or "what if we do this..."
I'm trying to teach them creativity and all they want to do is recreate the violence and drugs they see on tv, in the movies, on the streets, in their own homes.
When a group comes up with a scene that doesn't break Rule 5...man it is good! I wish they could see for themselves how sloppy and silly they look trying to create a fighting scene. Then, compare that to a clever and creative scene that follows the rules. Only time will show that...and thus the battle rages on!
I would love to get suggestions and advice to help deal with this!!!
Friday, March 6, 2009
There is no place for hate in our schools.
I just received this from a PFLAG employee. I know I'll be there!
Show your support for Reading and Canton HS Performances of the Laramie Project!
The Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church has announced protests for the March 13 performance of the Laramie Project at Reading HS and the March 20 performance of the Laramie Project at Canton HS. Please show your support for GLBT students, allies and the drama club performers by attending the performances in Reading and Canton!
The most powerful thing for the performers, students and faculty in the schools to see are Sold Out shows filled with supporters!
The Reading Memorial High School Drama Club Laramie Project is at 7:30 pm on March 12, 13, and 14.
Tickets are reserved seating, available only by advance purchase. Send a check made out to RMHS Drama for $10 for adults, or $7 for students or seniors, to RMHS Drama, PO Box 432, Reading, MA 01867. Enclose a stamped, self addressed envelope to have your tickets mailed to you. Specify performance date and number of tickets, and include a phone number. Reading Memorial High School is located at 62 Oakland Rd., near Route 28, in Reading, MA.
The Canton High School Drama Club Laramie Project is
The Laramie Project, based on true events, tells the story of a young gay man who was beaten and killed in a hate crime, and the aftermath of the murder and its effects on the community of Laramie, Wyoming. The play was created from interviews of many residents of the town and explores issues of "bigotry and tolerance, fear and courage, hate and hope."
Friday, March 20th @ 7pm at the Canton HS auditorium and Saturday, March 21st @ 7pm at the Canton HS auditorium
Adult tickets are $10
Adult tickets are $10
Student tickets are $8
Tickets will be sold at the door only.
We can send a powerful message to Rev. Phelps -- that Massachusetts is no place for hate! Show your support for these courageous and talented youth by going to their shows!
Next: acting! Finally!
I am soooooo excited...our next unit is pantomime; possibly my favorite unit of the year outside of improvisation.
What I love about improv is that, besides being the last unit we cover, a lot of kids who before were still in their shell finally crack out and really shine. Seeing these folks suddenly "come out of their shell" is an awesome bookend to the class. The kids really notice it too, which is what matters most, of course.
But pantomime! If only I could pantomime this entire blog entry I would!!!
What I love about pantomime is WHERE the kids have to go to communicate their story. Finally, after all the game playing we've been doing in class, being a goofball and exaggerating their bodies, minds and faces starts to PAY OFF.
Part I is ok: the kids work in groups of 1, 2 or 3 and choose one of a handful of scenes I have available to them. Then, they create a beginning, middle and end to their scene with a conflict and resolution. I think that's fun for them, but a lot of times they have a hard time figuring out what their conflict is. Needless to say, I'm often the resource for that! Maybe I'll come up with an alternative this year.
Part II rocks: The kids listen to 5 different selections of music then they choose one to create a story, just like in Part I, but the story and the music have to go together. Now, if I had my way and were in a wealthier school district with lots of resources, I'd give each group a cd player and a cd of the music and they could choreograph it perfectly. Not so in Boston. So, I do the best I can. Often music is streaming all class long.
My song choices I haven't totally decided on for these groups. Maybe Carmina Burana, maybe something from a cartoon like the Road Runner, with lots of action. There's a Vitamin Quartet version of Bleeding Love that could be great or a dud.
It's all a work in progress! Someday, I'll look back at my fourth year of teaching and say, thank goodness I'm not a fourth year teacher anymore, but right now, I feel like I'm starting to hit my groove.
What I love about improv is that, besides being the last unit we cover, a lot of kids who before were still in their shell finally crack out and really shine. Seeing these folks suddenly "come out of their shell" is an awesome bookend to the class. The kids really notice it too, which is what matters most, of course.
But pantomime! If only I could pantomime this entire blog entry I would!!!
What I love about pantomime is WHERE the kids have to go to communicate their story. Finally, after all the game playing we've been doing in class, being a goofball and exaggerating their bodies, minds and faces starts to PAY OFF.
Part I is ok: the kids work in groups of 1, 2 or 3 and choose one of a handful of scenes I have available to them. Then, they create a beginning, middle and end to their scene with a conflict and resolution. I think that's fun for them, but a lot of times they have a hard time figuring out what their conflict is. Needless to say, I'm often the resource for that! Maybe I'll come up with an alternative this year.
Part II rocks: The kids listen to 5 different selections of music then they choose one to create a story, just like in Part I, but the story and the music have to go together. Now, if I had my way and were in a wealthier school district with lots of resources, I'd give each group a cd player and a cd of the music and they could choreograph it perfectly. Not so in Boston. So, I do the best I can. Often music is streaming all class long.
My song choices I haven't totally decided on for these groups. Maybe Carmina Burana, maybe something from a cartoon like the Road Runner, with lots of action. There's a Vitamin Quartet version of Bleeding Love that could be great or a dud.
It's all a work in progress! Someday, I'll look back at my fourth year of teaching and say, thank goodness I'm not a fourth year teacher anymore, but right now, I feel like I'm starting to hit my groove.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Retrospective...
I heard an interview on NPR this morning in the car. I was making a mad dash to the grocery before this supposed big storm hits New England. There was a time when I was excited for a snow day. That feeling is long gone, seeing that if we miss tomorrow we'll be in school an extra 5 days at the end of June.
Ugh.
So I'm in the car listening to an interview with Neko Case regarding her new album due out on Tuesday.
A song lyric of hers came up that I think really nicely and neatly packages the experience of putting on my first major school play: I try my best but I'm made of mistakes.
What a wonderful thing. And I'm so thankful that after all those mistakes, my students STILL love me!
Ugh.
So I'm in the car listening to an interview with Neko Case regarding her new album due out on Tuesday.
A song lyric of hers came up that I think really nicely and neatly packages the experience of putting on my first major school play: I try my best but I'm made of mistakes.
What a wonderful thing. And I'm so thankful that after all those mistakes, my students STILL love me!
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