Giving thanks

I am a huge believer in showing appreciation for what students do.  It is particularly easy in Drama... because there is something tangible for the time they have given up.  Harder in other classes.

This year my form class was particularly awesome... 7 made the Academic Honour Roll (in a class of 20).  So I made cards, and the non-Honour Roll kiddos all signed them.  This group of signee's were pleased to celebrate the success of the rest of the class, and for some of them that have only just become senior students (NZ Seniors - Year 11, 12, 13... quite different to US Seniors).  I also made gingerbread cookies in the shape of stars for everyone in the class.... all named... and we had our own awards ceremony in class with cookies, cards... and a brain shaped eraser for extra measure.

I always buy flowers for the principal members of my cast for each show.  The florist gives me a fantastic rate for individual gerberas that she wraps up all fancy... and I make cards to tie to each one.  Before we perform, and at the end of our final group meeting, I give out the flowers.  Hugs and tears follow.  Always.

There is another activity... but it will wait.  I don't want this year's class to realise we are doing it soon. ;)  But... let's call it the "Personal Attribute Card".  This also results in tears.

Today I finished a bit of a project.  Using the photos we took backstage at our performance of "Hamlet" and Snapfish, I made a photo card montage.  They had a bit of a deal on 20 of them... so I got 20 cards... they come with envelopes and printing on both sides.  This year I went for a simple thanks on the back, and silly pictures on the front.  Today I posted these with a personal message to each of the members of the cast. 

I think it is really important to show gratitude for all the hard work.  Often it is easy to take for granted what students do, because it is what we think they should be doing.  But we all like to be acknowledged.  A letter in the post, with a photo of their friends is bound to become a fridge adornment or on a wall somewhere.  The flowers, well, I have it on good authority that kids who recieved them 4 years ago have dried them, still tie their hair with the ribbon, or kept the card.  And that to me means more than the time or effort it took to make it happen in the first place.

Shakespeare and my obsession

We all know (well, I know) that I am a Shakespeare nut.  I love him.  I love the language, the stories, the theatre.  I am obsessed and in love with Hamlet.  Easily Hamlet was my first crush.

And being a Drama teacher I get to indulge my obsession more than others. :D

What I am pleased with, other than the cast of my Hamlet scene from the regional competition this year, is that I have students willing to give it a go.  Shakespeare is hard.  But, this year they all completed their 5 minute scenes to an amazing standard.  They understood.  Part of course is my passion and they have to, or I will hurt them. (jokes).  But more than that, they are starting to see that the text is important.... and when the text is good, the performance will be exceptional when you know the text.

This post is a tribute to my students, who work hard, show up, do the readings, and indulge my obsessions with Shakespeare and David Tennant and Hamlet, and willingly put themselves on the line, and ultimately end up loving the Bard.

Smarty Pants... ;)

I like this for a couple of reasons.... but I will get to those later. ;)

The idea is that at the end of an important part of a unit, students need to show what they have learned.  They get a piece of coloured paper and scissors.  First they make a pair of pants, and then fill them with all the points they can remember.  I like to hang them on pegs above the door so that they end up reading them again as they leave.  Also, it looks cute.

I have done the same thing as "Dirty Laundry" teaching about the Russian Revolution or the Rise of Hitler.  Explaining on an item of clothing all the things the government didn't want the people to know... then airing it as dirty laundry in public.

Students get into it because they can't help but be silly... and the little tiny pegs also get them somewhat excited. 

I like it because as they start to fill the page, they end up discussing or quering or even... heaven forfend... checking back in their notes to make sure their pants are accurate.  I also get a really clear idea of who understands the topic, and who is still a little mystified.