Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:18:22 -0800
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] workshops


Right on Liz!

Bruce Chessé (The "Spongees" man will be demonstrating much of what  
you and Mark talk about at Atlanta)




On Jan 25, 2009, at 7:02 AM, Liz Evans wrote:

> 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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