"These things are fun and fun is good"
Dr. Seuss
In addition to taking photographs, I teach three drama classes during the school year. Two of the classes are 3 - 6 year olds and one is 7 - 12 year olds. This past week, my classes had their final performances in front of family and friends. They performed interpretations of "The Little Engine That Could" and "Charlotte's Web".
Teaching was not something I sought out - it was an opportunity that came to me - and I'm so glad I was smart enough to embrace it.
I'll be honest, there can be a lot of challenges with a room full of energetic and excited kids, but the rewards all around are bountiful.
Just a few for the kids...
- they discover, in their largely technological world, that ordinary objects like a wooden spoon can become any number of things with creativity
- they become better audience members
- they learn some of the "language" of acting - and then teach their parents :-)
- some of them move from timidity in front of people into self confidence in expressing themselves
- some of them find moments of focus in their excitement - sometimes even more than moments
Mostly, I am grateful for what I learn when I remember to open myself up to listening to them...
- it is important to take breaks and let off steam
- work can be fun and playful and doesn't need to be perfect
- spontaneous creativity can be genius
- sometimes you have to express the unedited thought
I really could go on and on...
I'm so proud of ALL my students for their courage and willingness to learn new things - and while I'm happy to have a break this summer from teaching - I'm already looking forward to the fall!
Lisa
