I'm not sure how to even start to write about my drama class's play. I couldn't have wished for a better experience... Everything came together at the last minute in the way that it often seems to do in theatre and we presented a fabulous show to the school and the public, but that's not what was amazing about it. The wonderful part, for me, was watching the kids learning the process and slowly understanding how to work collaboratively.
I have been trying to formulate this post in my mind ever since.
Part of the reason this production was so amazing was that the kids were central to the process. It was my mandate from the beginning, but it's like everything else, it is so easy to step in and do things yourself instead of insisting that they work on it themselves. I remember getting my girls to "help" me in the kitchen when they were small... it was about four times the amount of work when we started, but slowly, as they learned what to do, they began to do things on their own. It was similar with the drama class... Throughout the process I had a vision of what should happen, but I tried to interfere as little as possible, while maintaining a schedule in my head and guiding the creativity.
As I mentioned earlier, Radio Canada did a short piece about the play (they interviewed some of the kids and taped a little bit of our rehearsal). It helped to generate an audience for our evening performance, but it also helped the kids understand the process of publicity. I also had a group of students who were not in my drama class, who, together with some excellent adult volunteers worked on the technical aspects of the show up to and including a wonderful video of it, which I will try and post at some point. For those who are curious, the Radio Canada piece is online here: Radio Canada
I will really miss my drama class. This was their final project and when the semester ends I will have a music class instead. I can only hope that I will be able to create some meaningful experiences in music for them too.
John Dewey Lives!
ReplyDeleteHe said that kids need a real enterprise, one that has real consequences. These situations give kids membership in a group where their unique contribution is necessary and valued and where they learn to value the contributions of others. I have no doubt you and your music students will find an equally fruitful enterprise because you trust your students and show them the respect they need to try their wings and make their contributions.
Bravo! and (that was no SMALL victory)
Thanks Mom. You would have enjoyed our last class today... The kids were talking about the fact that we had become a "team" and how proud they were of the play. They said they were sad to be leaving the class, but I know that it's time to move on, which is a good feeling. I can say "my work here is done", in a way. There was a lot of laughter over our improv games... I can hardly believe these are the same kids who started out the year with me. they were all jumping in and participating. It was cool.
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