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Teaching Artist Tales: Lessons from Students That Will Make You a Better Grownup

5/11/2017

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By Kaitlyn McQuin 

​Teaching is a special kind of career, one that requires patience, adaptability, and a whole lot of coffee. Fellow teachers, can I get an amen?!

As teaching artists, our job, on top of actually teaching, is to inspire our students to be the best version of themselves that they can be through the art form in which we’re trained, such as theater or creative writing.

So what exactly is a teaching artist? Like educators, we’re trained in a specific field of study. For me, it’s theater and film. However, unlike most educators, our qualifications to teach come not only from our education but also from our experience working professionally in our specific field. For example, we may not have a degree in elementary education in order to teach drama to elementary aged students.
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Photo credit: CARE Actor Summer Camps
​Having worked alongside traditional educators in the school system, I’ve noticed that my teaching style is far from traditional. I walk into the first day of class with a plan that allows for ample adaptability according to the needs of those I’m teaching, a teaching style I picked up from acting and directing. When directing a scene in one of our camps, I can use words that I, as an actor, relate to in hopes our students relate to them too. For example:

“When you say your line, say it as if you’ve stubbed your toe.” 

Most people, especially energetic children, know exactly what it’s like to run around, hit your toe, and cry out in agony. That phrase “as if” is a a tactic that works for me as an actor.  When I apply this technique in my classroom, I see how well it works, yielding the right results.

In my classroom, not only are the students actors, but I am too. 

Because we relate to our students on a creative level we can teach them intricacies and practical aspects of the craft. Plus, our real life stories of going on auditions, getting jobs, and shaking out opening night jitters can inspire  our students to pursue the arts. 
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Photo credit: CARE Actor Summer Camps
Oftentimes, though we are there to inspire students, it’s the students who do the inspiring and teaching. 

In all of the little minds I have encountered over the years, more often than not, they’re the ones who are armed with the lesson plans and knowledge that’s ready to be dropped.

When we take a moment to listen to the kids we teach, we notice that, despite (or perhaps because of their youth), our students have important lessons to share. ​

  1. Laughter is important. Children always seem to be laughing, don’t they? I love that. It’s true when they say kids say the darndest things, and laughter is the best medicine. There’s no better feeling than laughing with my students, and it allows me to leave class feeling refreshed and happy.
  2. Our hopes and dreams are never out of reach. If you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, and they say Ant Man, the passion in their eyes and fervor in their voices makes me believe they will grow up to be Ant Man. Children are pure dreamers and rely on their imaginations for play. Somewhere in the midst of growing up, we forget how to do that. When I watch my students learn through theater, I see their imaginations soaring and it leads me to believe (and remember) that all things are possible if you just believe that you can.
  3. It’s fun to find joy in the little things. Small things are important, even if we forget it sometimes. Children cause you to slow down and enjoy the little things, like a ladybug that landed on your shirt or a silly face a classmate made.
  4. Always accept and support your classmates. Children encourage each other and support their fellow classmates so naturally. We adults should follow their lead in our daily lives. How much nicer it is to uplift someone instead of put them down? Hearing a child encourage a friend by saying, “You can do it,” or “I can help you,” is a wonderful reminder of the joy and value of community.
  5. Exploring stuff outside your comfort zone is cool. Kids aren’t afraid to be silly. If you ask students to act like their favorite animal, they go all out without a care in the world. When I’m teaching and witness students taking risks and growing – it reminds me that staying within my comfort zone doesn’t get me  anywhere. In the words of one of my students, playing it safe is “boring with a capital B.” 

​As teachers and teaching artists, we’re immersed in what we should be teaching them, and sometimes we overlook lessons that our students can share with us. 
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Photo credit: CARE Actor Summer Camps
As Teacher Appreciation Week draws to a close, we at CARE Actor are recognizing all teachers: for the long hours they’ve worked, the number of clothes now covered in chalk dust, and lunch breaks that aren’t really breaks at all. We are also shining a light on our students, because sometimes they are the best teachers!

 Question of the Day! 

Do you have any funny or inspiring stories learned from a kid? Perhaps your kiddo has dropped some wisdom at the dinner table, in the car, or on the playground? We’d love to hear it! 

Share your stories with us in the comments section of this post or on our CARE Actor Community page on Facebook! 

Use hashtag #CAREActorKids in your comment or post, and your story may be featured on our social channels. Sign up for our free e-newsletter HERE.
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    Authors

    Pooja Chawla
    CEO & Founder
    Actress, playwright, entrepreneur, & student of life

    ​

    Elena Hruska
    Program Manager
    Proud storyteller and lover of art.


    Rachel Jones
    Program Assistant
    Actress, Artist, and general creative type. 


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