Today we did a lot of discussion on the project that Dr Jane has assigned us to Juying Secondary. Within 6 weeks we had to come up with a performance, which is possible with much effort put into it (provided if the students cooperate). The classes we deal with are from normal students but it does not really matter if they are the last few classes of the whole of sec twos. What matters is the heart to learn and a heart to create a passion in those kids to love drama and theatre. Every little thing we do has an impact on our students.
Theatre for the Young
What does this mean?
- A platform for them explore freely, think creatively and to imagine. Addresses Youth/ Social issues.
- Allows them to be spontaneous.
- Discovering Self.
- Interaction: Ensemble and audience
- Experimentation
- Build personal character (confidence, self-esteem, etc.)
- Self awareness
- A safe space
- Teambuilding skills, able to collaborate with each other and working towards the same goals. Builds trust between one another.
Problems that we will encounter in class
- Arguments, disagreements.
- Too much fun and therefore not taking it seriously.
- Attention Seekers in Class that may disrupt lessons.
- Absentees and lack of commitment.
- Insufficient time.
- Delinquents.
- Students who like to delay time.
Who are we? What are we?
Jane says its important that we think about these two questions so that we know our identity(s) when we walk into the classroom. How we see about ourselves bring out the character and essence of it because we believe and have faith of our identities.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"(Heb.11:1)
When we hope for our students for the best outcome, we must also have faith in the identities that we decide to take on and then carry them out with confidence and passion.
So then am I a ...
Teacher?
Artist?
Pedagogist?
Therapist?
Actor?
Dramatist?
We could take on multiple roles. Some roles are used at different periods of time, so that students learn the most and is provided the best learning environment.
What is Pedagogy then?
To find a variety of teaching strategies that propels onwards or aids students in their course of their journey towards their goal(s). It could be a small impact, whether is it happening in the natural or supernatural, inside or outside, physical or mentally, visible or invisible realms.
Most importantly, Jane told us that there is one thing that we all need in our teaching and that is having empathy for the kids, not sympathy. Sympathy brings us down and will get us affected by pitied feelings, therefore we won't be able to help the kids. But empathy is make an effort to understand or at least try to understand our kids' situations, and from there help them to bring them out of their circumstances. And this kind of understanding needs love and compassion, accompanied with strength, for the kids. We should always see each and every kid's problems as something to crack or work with. Never see a kid a nuisance.
No comments:
Post a Comment