Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 10:02:27 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] workshops


Mark et all,

I have been pretty quiet the last couple months, though I do check
in periodically to see what is going on.  As Mark states he is not
a teacher, I may disagree, as I have learned many things from him,
but I am both puppeteer and teacher, and would have to agree with
most of what he has said.

I earn over half my living, with the puppet company and outside,
teaching.  I teach in center city, out in the so called privileged
areas (It is important to remember that those kids may not want for
much, but often there is little parent involvement in their lives), I
work with kids from 6 up to adults, with children and adults of special
needs and who are quote unquote "Normal".

But I would have to agree with Mark's breakdown of 4 types of student
in a workshop and with his thoughts on remembering that each group
is different.  You can teach Sock puppets to 6 different groups and
have 6 completely different results, where the only thing being shared
is puppets made from socks.

Currently I am teaching first and second grade during the day and three
evens a week I am teaching High school students.  I am doing similar
projects with each group, knitting and coil basket weaving.  But I knew
I couldn't approach the subject the same way with children who are 15-17
as I would with children who are 6-8.  Although, there were some things
that worked well with both age groups, the key to success has been in 
finding the right interest for each group.

6-8 year olds, in general, are looking to learn from and please adults 
around them, so for them the projects have been about learning process 
and getting better with each thing they do within the project and to be 
able to take things home to show Mom and Dad what they did or give them 
a present of what they have accomplished.

15-17 year olds are finding ground to call their own and separating from
parents (in general).  Learning to knit gives them a way to make 
something that is completely theirs as is the case with coil basket 
weaving. It teaches them something that allows them to create their own
special designs, as they go, for clothing, their rooms, whatever.

The point is, both of my groups are learning how to make Kitties and 
Bunnies in their knitting and learning to make Trivets in their coil 
basket weaving, but because it is presented in two different ways, each
is a successful situation.

O.K.  that was a long way to say what Mark already said, but I thought
it might be good to give a specific example of extremes and to say that
all of my teaching has been done over the last 13 years, so most of it
has been during the time that everyone is talking about as being 
"Different" than before.

There are ways around not having enough time.  When we bid to teach at a
school we give the school two or three options.  Some of them can be 
taught in one or a sequence of 45 minute periods, but some simply can't.
If they want something more than disposable puppets they have to work 
their schedule to give us 2 class periods in a row when we work with
the students.

Schools will not offer this option, you must present it and sell it. 
For the most part, we have been very successful in promoting 2 period
workshops and residencies, because we show them in advance how much 
better an experience it can be if the children are not rushed.  But
you must have the classroom educators on board.  Present your puppetry
as a tool to teach their curriculum.  If the kids are learning about
Seed germination, get on line and do a little research and figure out
what kinds of puppets might work best to tell that story, because it is
a story.  Lots of fun actually we did it with a 3rd grade science class
last year.


O.K.  way to long, sorry.  Hope it brought some good information.

Best,

Liz




K. Elizabeth Evans, President & Artistic Director
Renaissance Artist Puppet Company
http://www.RenArtPuppetCo.com
610-630-4259

Renaissance Artist Puppet Company's
mission is to promote excellence in puppetry as a
Theatrical art form and as an Educational tool by incorporating
historical and cultural diversity along with quality performance
techniques to tell our stories.
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