Karlene Young Wk 3 Free Choice - A Celebration of the Arts!

On April 16th, Coral Canyon Elementary had a Celebration of the Arts after regular school hours on a Friday afternoon. It was 90 minutes long, and was an amazing day. A big majority of the student body of 620 came back with their parents to participate. We estimated probably 400 students and another 300 parents and family members attended. We had the teachers display a large amount of the student’s artwork. Some were from class projects, and some from Mrs. Dodge’s Art class. They do amazing work. The district brought us eight art display boards that we filled as well. The student body had all made butterflies as a tribute to one of our first grade teachers that just passed away with cancer. We called it our “Butterfly Garden.” It filled our lobby and went down the halls. We had many strung on fishing line across the ceiling as well. It was beautiful.
I made some nice frames from mat board, and printed about 40 photos from my Film Techies’ work. I had 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 prints. The display also had a poster explaining the different shots we learned in shot composition, with examples of each. It looked very professional. I had each print labeled with who took the photo and tried to include each student that was in the classes.
The choir (not under my direction) performed to start off, and later fifth grade performed a waltz and then had their parents come out and waltz with them. I taught all of fourth grade the Virginia Reel, our state dance. We only had about 15 of the 100 fourth grade students not show up and dance. For an after school program, that was outstanding! They were totally wonderful! It seems no matter how rough the rehearsals go, they always seem to pull it off with flying colors when they have an audience to perform for. We also had six of our school storytelling winners retell their stories in the library where people could come in and listen.
Third and second grades have done two rounds of Reader’s Theatre in my drama classes. The teachers chose two groups that they wanted to perform, and they performed in their own classrooms for their parents. They did a great job. They are very expressive and love to perform. I make sure they all have some sort of mask or hat or other small costume piece, and they feel like a movie star.
Then first grade did a whole grade reenactment in the gym of a book entitled “Giraffes Can’t Dance,” by Giles Andreae. I have enough costumes from past plays that I was able to get costumes or masks on all 115 students. We had learned it as separate classes, and then the teachers let them choose which animal they wanted to be, and each group of animals came out to do a dance. The jungle dance at the first featured a jungle band with African drums and other rhythm instruments. The whole grade got out there and boogied. Then the Warthogs waltzed, the Rhinos Rock and Rolled, the Lions tangoed, etc. We did easy little instructions for each separate dance and they mainly just acted! It’s a great book; I would recommend it to any teacher looking for a fun story to act out. They were very cute, and the parents loved the performance.
The afternoon ended with a screening of this semester’s Film Techies films and stop-motion. Everyone seemed to love them. We also aired them on the news again this week. It was an enormous amount of work, but well worth it. The parents love to see their children perform. It is a requirement of the BTS grant program I teach under, and I look forward to an even better celebration in the future.

Karlene Young Wk 2 – Response to Laura Rebecca’s Blog post

Laura Rebecca’s Blog post:
Week 2--reflection: more on The Art of Possibility

I find I'm really enjoying this book; interestingly, some of the books I've read in this program that I've enjoyed most are those written by musicians. :) Much like the "Giving an A" chapter, the fourth chapter, "Making a Contribution" spoke to me on a deep level, both personally and professionally. Many times during the chapter, I reflected on my own life--the decisions that have driven me professionally, the conversations I had with my parents when they were alive--and it became so clear to me how easily we set ourselves up for disappointment when our only goal is "achievement". Having a goal of "making a contribution" sounds so much more reasonable, so much more attainable, and ultimately, so much more valuable (not to imply that value is necessarily a goal either).

In "Leading from Any Chair", I saw some of the philosophical practices that I have always used for many years reinforced. I've often been asked by colleagues--in a tone that implies that I must be somewhat out of my mind--why I would trust my senior students in my Theater classes to direct their own plays. When we give others an opportunity to lead, it doesn't mean that we are surrendering our own power (making the students our 'peers', for example), but rather sharing it in a meaningful and purposeful way. This chapter reminded me the importance of giving others the opportunity to 'be the conductor'.

As for the chapter entitled, "Rule Number 6", I think it should be required reading for anyone in management! I intend on trying the application of 'Rule Number 6' in my classes. I'll let you know how that goes!



My response:
Karlene Young Wk 2 Response to Laura Rebecca’s Week 2--reflection: more on The Art of Possibility

Laura, I too have been so impressed with Zander’s book! Over and over, my thoughts are parallel to his. I loved the statement you made when you said, “When we give others an opportunity to lead, it doesn't mean that we are surrendering our own power… but rather sharing it in a meaningful and purposeful way.”
I love to think about passing on a legacy of loving the arts! How can we purposefully teach the arts without making our students love and appreciate them? We are in the business of “creating” the arts. How could we ever teach without teaching them to create also? Every time we do a role in a play, we are creating a character, very unique, personal, and completely different from other actors, even if we do the same role in the same play. We must always share our knowledge, and not think of it as power. A director does have power over the outcome of his or her play, but it is only in inspiring those we have cast to create their own individual masterpieces. Then we help mold the characters together in the story to create the magic. I love drama!

Get some DRAMA into your life!

Hey, bloggers, welcome to my site I've created to connect with the world. I am hoping my fellow classmates in my master's program at Full Sail University will join me, as well as my students, former and present, and their parents. I love teaching the arts! How many of you have good memories of programs or plays that you were involved in during your grade school (or higher) years?

It is my contention that those memories are some of the most lasting, and happy ones that we cherish. Whether or not you consider yourself and actor/actress or singer, you probably felt like a movie star in those special programs that your family came and watched. It's such a great self-esteem builder. :) Tell me about your experiences! Former students, what do you remember about a production you did with me?