This week I had an arts residency with playwright Saymoukda "Mooks" Vongsay. She taught students about theater collectives, character development, and writing a flash play with plot elements. I supported and team taught with Mooks for the 4 day workshop. The first day was an introduction to who she was and what theater collectives are. The second day, we helped students brainstorm a character and used improv as an avenue to open their thoughts to being creative. The third day we had students write a script using their varied characters in a flash play. The last day, we rehearsed in class using their varied scripts and asked an audience of another 6th grade class join us. We set up the room as if it were a theater and shared our hard work with our peers.
The reason for the arts residency was to incorporate creativity and collaboration in the classroom. According to Jennifer Henderson, "Creativity, ingenuity, and innovation are the keys to success in the evolving global economy." What will be required of students in the future is to solve problems that arise that we have never encountered. With creativity in the classroom, we can foster new ideas, give students tough problems to solve, learn new and interesting things which boosts creativity, and the association of self with interesting and diverse things and people.
The expectations I have of my students can certainly be higher. I have seen them do in four days what I've asked students to do in two weeks. This experience has also helped me realize that I could incorporate much more creativity in my classroom. I can also incorporate better ways for students to collaborate with each other on assessments, instead of forcing students to work on them individually. My students were impacted in that they enjoyed their time with Mooks a lot! They were engaged, synthesizing and creating enthusiastically. Also, some students were very nervous to perform, which I did not realize was going to happen. I think I am so much in my own head and way of life, that being up front and center doesn't bother me. I truly didn't think that anyone would be bothered to share their product with their peers.
What happens next week is that my last two classes will get the chance to have this wonderful experience with Mooks. Although this experience is rich with English likecharacter development and writing skills, I'd like my students to be able to tie their plays to more of our class content. The theme of the unit we are in is Movement of People, with our essential question being "What Push and Pull factors lead us to move?" I've shared with Mooks that we would like to see their plays incorporate this idea, although I also don't want to stifle their creativity.
The reason for the arts residency was to incorporate creativity and collaboration in the classroom. According to Jennifer Henderson, "Creativity, ingenuity, and innovation are the keys to success in the evolving global economy." What will be required of students in the future is to solve problems that arise that we have never encountered. With creativity in the classroom, we can foster new ideas, give students tough problems to solve, learn new and interesting things which boosts creativity, and the association of self with interesting and diverse things and people.
The expectations I have of my students can certainly be higher. I have seen them do in four days what I've asked students to do in two weeks. This experience has also helped me realize that I could incorporate much more creativity in my classroom. I can also incorporate better ways for students to collaborate with each other on assessments, instead of forcing students to work on them individually. My students were impacted in that they enjoyed their time with Mooks a lot! They were engaged, synthesizing and creating enthusiastically. Also, some students were very nervous to perform, which I did not realize was going to happen. I think I am so much in my own head and way of life, that being up front and center doesn't bother me. I truly didn't think that anyone would be bothered to share their product with their peers.
What happens next week is that my last two classes will get the chance to have this wonderful experience with Mooks. Although this experience is rich with English likecharacter development and writing skills, I'd like my students to be able to tie their plays to more of our class content. The theme of the unit we are in is Movement of People, with our essential question being "What Push and Pull factors lead us to move?" I've shared with Mooks that we would like to see their plays incorporate this idea, although I also don't want to stifle their creativity.