To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:17:34 GMT
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Workshops: helping too much?


Liz reminds me of a "Special Arts Day" that I participated in at Cal State University, Northridge, aimed at kids with various physical or other limitations. The aim was to expose these kids to the arts, and encourage as much participation as possible. In my shadow puppet workshop
one child had NO motor skills, but he had an active brain. So I cut the puppet out FOR him while he watched. Just seeing the process and then him getting the puppet to take home, proved to be a rewarding experience for us both.

I think I've referred to this before on puptcrit, but it seems to tie in with the current discussion.

A good teacher learns from the pupils too.
(Liz already knows that!)

ALAN COOK


-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Freeman
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 6:53 PM
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Workshops: helping too much?

As a kid who "didn't art well, " I'm not sure why I signed up for an  
art class in HS...

but I was always greatful for the art teacher to come lend a small  
dash here or there that turned my project into somethng at least  
presentable,

letting me relax and enjoy the class and not flee in horror.      No  
matter how much you try to tell a kid, his work is great ,  when they  
all get displayed on the wall,

most know who are the class artists and who should explore other  
hobbies.


As a special ed teacher, I have loved doing puppets with kids because  
they don't have to look exactly like the picture and often shouldn't.

One boy at a library workshop I was running never made his shadow  
puppet that day.  "I stayed back," he told me.

I told him to come early the next day and I'd help him make his  
puppet.  "I can't read, " he added.

"No problem,"  I told him, "you can be in charge of the scenery."    
The expression on his face, let me know I had just given him another  
anxiety attack.

But he showed up, we made the puppet.  I showed him the scenery.   He  
ended up doing both jobs!

Liz F
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