Since I’ve joined the Faculty of Education I have absorbed so much information. I am more involved in the world of social networking online as I build up my PLN and learn ways to integrate technology into my future classroom. The whole experience is surreal! But, every now and again I miss being part of the faculty of fine arts with all my crazy peers and professors and I even miss my studio classes (even though I never got to wear nice clothes). Don’t get me wrong, I would not give this experience up for the world but honestly, I just miss the familiarity of it all. When I heard we were going to have a workshop called “teachers as performers” I was so excited. I walked down the familiar halls and past classmates with a new found confidence.
John combined the two things I love most in life, teaching and performing. I have always thought teaching and acting go hand-in-hand but I have never been able to seamlessly fuse the two together as John had demonstrated. Being an effective teacher is like being a good actor and always being aware of your stage presence. John showed us how to carry ourselves in a professional manner and to be aware of the effect it has on others and yourself. My voice and my body are very connected; when I am grounded physically my voice does not shake and it carries confidence. I create an illusion for students as well as myself. No matter how nervous or frustrated I am on the inside, taking a deep breath and composing myself has a profound effect on the way I feel.
After John’s workshop, my peers mentioned to me how unnatural it felt to stand so straight and keep their hands at their sides; many of them like to talk with their hands. While I agree with them, I also think that John gave us that stance as a starting point, not the final destination. What I mean is, if you’re talking and your feet are planted and you use your hands to support what you are saying it’s okay as long as you aren’t flailing your arms pointlessly. It’s all about giving our movements purpose. The main take away from John’s lesson was, always be aware of the effect you have on students and how everything can build bonds with students or break them.
John combined the two things I love most in life, teaching and performing. I have always thought teaching and acting go hand-in-hand but I have never been able to seamlessly fuse the two together as John had demonstrated. Being an effective teacher is like being a good actor and always being aware of your stage presence. John showed us how to carry ourselves in a professional manner and to be aware of the effect it has on others and yourself. My voice and my body are very connected; when I am grounded physically my voice does not shake and it carries confidence. I create an illusion for students as well as myself. No matter how nervous or frustrated I am on the inside, taking a deep breath and composing myself has a profound effect on the way I feel.
After John’s workshop, my peers mentioned to me how unnatural it felt to stand so straight and keep their hands at their sides; many of them like to talk with their hands. While I agree with them, I also think that John gave us that stance as a starting point, not the final destination. What I mean is, if you’re talking and your feet are planted and you use your hands to support what you are saying it’s okay as long as you aren’t flailing your arms pointlessly. It’s all about giving our movements purpose. The main take away from John’s lesson was, always be aware of the effect you have on students and how everything can build bonds with students or break them.