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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.  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.  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.
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.  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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by Norah Vawter What is IMPROV? Improvisational theater is the art of coming up with something out of nothing. No script. No direction. Maybe a prop if you’re lucky. You stay in the moment, and you don’t overthink. Starting with a blank canvas, you add to the scene as you go along – using your body, voice, and imagination to paint the scene. You can be silly, even ridiculous! At CARE Actor, we’ve found that improv helps kids to open up and helps parents to find fresh ways to interact with their families. It also aids problem solving and team building. This is why we developed Family Improv Events, where parents and kids can learn and laugh together! Video credit: CARE Actor Family Improv What are the benefits of learning the art of improv? Here are seven ways improv helps families be families: 1. “Yes, And...” is the first rule of improv and the basis for many improv exercises. What's the big deal and how does it apply to parenting? It's an alternative to saying a straight yes or a straight no. When you say yes, and ... you validate your child's feelings without giving in to unreasonable requests. This parent gives a great example of how to use improv lingo when faced with a stubborn kid. Want to learn how to play “Yes, Let's”? Check out our recent blog post on friendship. 2. Families who improv together collaborate together, in so many ways. This article from Second City, aimed at teachers, applies to families as well. “Improv teaches participants to step up when another idea is needed (taking the focus) and to cede the floor when another student wants to share (giving the focus).”  Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv 3. Comic Mike Birbiglia agrees that improv is key to teamwork, collaboration, and getting stuff done as a group. “The rules of improv, I believe, are so profound because they apply to almost any kind of collaboration. ... Number one: Say yes. Two: It's all about the group. And three: Don't think.” 4. Keep yourselves sane during road trips! Second City has a list of suggested games for the whole family to play when stuck in a car for a long drive. Go beyond counting license plates by getting silly and creative with activities like “One Word at a Time” and “1001 Mermaids Go Into a Juice Bar.”  Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv 5. It's a powerful tool for helping all kids get in touch with their emotions, regardless of what makes a particular kid special. Researchers at Indiana University are even working with children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, to help them share emotions and understand others' feelings. According to one researcher, Jim Ansaldo, “What improv really does is create a safe and fun and authentic environment in which to practice, where mistakes really don't matter.” We think lessons like these apply to all of us. 6. Want to help your kids trust themselves? Alan Alda, who co-founded the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University in New York, believes improv is a tool for building trust. He says [improv]'s humor “is not a jokey kind of humor. It’s the pleasure of spontaneity. So that if something occurs to you in that split second, it’s free to come out. You trust it, you trust yourself.”  Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv 7. Improv teaches us to stay in the moment. This mom talks about improv teaching her to not overthink, but to be in the present. She says, “[practicing being in the moment when on stage] is highly valuable for anyone who has been dragged down a five-year-old’s rabbit hole of ‘...at my next birthday party, I’m gonna....’ Being in the moment short-circuits your lingering work angst and inspires you to yell, 'Today IS your birthday!' and print out a bunch of cupcake toppers just for the heck of it.” This month at CARE Actor, we're gearing up for new Family Improv Events, on April 21 and April 22. We'd love to see you there! In these events, we’ll even introduce activities you can do at home. Browse our blog for more at-home improv, such as One Word at a Time, Walking Blind, Mirror, and more.  Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv
If you've participated in Family Improv in the past, or seen your kids transformed by improv in classes or camps, sound off in the comments below! Have you found that improv, or other creative pursuits, helps your family's group dynamic? Share tips and tricks on social media, and be sure to use hashtags #careactorkids and #CAREaboutfamilyimprov. Your idea may even be featured! Want to keep up to date with all things CARE Actor? Sign up here for our fun E-Newsletter! by Norah Vawter Earlier this week, we celebrated National Craft Day, but at CARE Actor, we're still thinking about fun arts and crafts ideas. We think every day is a day to do art, and that National Craft Day was just an awesome reminder of this! You might wonder what art has to do with theater. We feature a lot of crafts and art projects on this blog and in classes. Our Dramatic Kids and Theatrical Teens write their own original scripts and create costumes, sets, and props.  Photo credit: CARE Actor's Dramatic Kids Summer Campers performing their original play, complete with DIY set and costumes. We include art and writing intentionally because we love to nourish kids' love of art, and to witness them creating beautiful artwork, whether they're performing a play, improvising silly characters on the spot, writing scripts, or making costumes, sets, and props Theater is a fluid blending of performing arts, visual arts, and written expression. In many of our camps and classes, we also integrate fun art projects that relate to our theme of the day. Sometimes we create art about non-typical dragons who just want to be themselves. Sometimes it's brave birds learning to read while they fly, because the world is full of amazing things to see and learn. Sometimes we make clouds out of shaving cream and wonder.  Photo credit: CARE Actor's Act It Out campers showing off their awesome art project of the day. As teaching artists, we believe, with all our hearts, that theater has the power to transform children's minds and imaginations, because it's more than one art form. It's acting, and writing, and drawing, and molding. It's how we move our bodies, how our gestures and body language can speak for us. It's music and dance. It's the rhythm of imagination. Theater is . . . creativity. Theater is . . . connection. Theater is . . . listening to each other.  Photo credit: CARE Actor kid-made set backdrop demonstrates how the visual arts blend naturally into the performing arts. Theater is . . . a safe space to express yourself. Theater is . . . collaboration.  Photo credit: CARE Actor Dramatic Kids performance coming together in perfect imperfection. Theater is . . . teamwork. Theater is . . . community.  Photo credit: CARE Actor's community of family and friends enjoys another rousing performance by our talented kiddos. In honor of the recent National Craft Day, read on for a project you can do with your kids, at home, which incorporates all the arts of theater. And if you haven't signed your kiddo up for summer camp, spring break camp, or spring classes, registration is open across Northern Virginia and Maryland! A Book (and Skit) of Your Own This is an opportunity for your child to write a story, illustrate it in his or her own little book, and then act it out. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, you might want to add a leprechaun or tidbit of Irish history to the story. We like to put a focus on the process rather than the product, so even if your child isn't old enough to read on their own or write yet, turn this project into a family affair and transcribe their words for them! Older kiddos may still need some help, or maybe just encouragement. We're more interested in what our students create than the product being perfect. No need to fret about spelling or handwriting. After all, theater is never complete! I like to tell my students: A little rough around the edges feel will make it feel uniquely you!  Photo credit: CARE Actor Materials -Lined paper and/or white printer paper -Construction paper -Scissors -Hole punch and yarn OR stapler -Pencil -Crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Instructions 1. Optional -- If you have a kiddo who wants to get the story written "just so," tell him or her to write a draft of the story on paper before making the final book. 2. For a full-sized book, choose two pieces of construction paper for the cover, and lined or blank white printer paper for the inner pages. For a half-sized book, fold one piece of construction paper and the blank/lined paper for pages in half and cut in half. 3. Punch two or three holes along the edge of your pages. Weave yarn through the holes and tie for binding. Alternative: Staple edges together for binding. 4. Write title on cover. Write out story on inner pages. I love to go along on the journey with my kids, and so I'm always having fun listening to and reading their stories. It's so inspiring to see the way a child's imagination works! 5. Illustrate the story. Younger kiddos will have books full of illustrations with a few words. Older kiddos may have more words and fewer illustrations (though some may be more visually inclined and therefore illustrate their books intensively). 6. Act out the story! Now it's time for the whole family to join in the fun of creating a skit from your kiddo's story. Need ideas for DIY costumes and props? Check out our Halloween blog post where we wrote about costume and pretend play ideas for all-year-round. When acting out the skit, remember that if you look or feel silly on stage, you're doing it right! Looking for more craft ideas? Check out our previous blog posts for projects where your kids experiment with color, make a wacky self-portrait and get into the winter spirit with messy ice-paint, the whole family makes an abstract family-portrait, and more!  Photo credit: CARE Actor's Theatrical Teens deep into creative collaboration.
We would love to hear about your experiences making art at home! If you make a book or try out any of our projects, please let us know how they turn out for you. And definitely share your own ideas! We're always looking to learn new stuff. Sound off in the comments section below. Share your tips and tricks on social media, and use hashtags #careactorkids and #createwithCARE. Your idea might just be featured! Happy creating! by Norah Vawter Spring is almost here, and at CARE Actor we're really excited. All these new possibilities in the air! Registration is open for spring classes, as well as spring break and summer camps, so we're definitely looking forward to the new season. As always, we're inspired by what our kiddos are getting up to in class. Our theme of the month is TEAMWORK/COOPERATION, and we see a lot of that happening spontaneously in class. It’s not difficult to find improv games that highlight teamwork. In fact, I can’t think of a game that doesn’t require teamwork, cooperation, or collaboration. I just read this great article on the value of acting classes for both kids and adults, and was reminded that "the first rule of improvisation is 'yes, and,' meaning that anyone’s contribution to the group discussion is accepted without judgment." In the words of a student quoted in this article: “When you’re performing, it’s not competitive . . . . Improv helps you change on the inside.” If this girl wasn’t doing improv? “I would be a more scared and quiet person. . . . I wouldn’t be the same person.”  Photo credit: CARE Actor Recently I wrote about an improv game called “Walking Blind,” where one student is blindfolded and led around the room by a partner. The partners can’t talk, communicating by touch alone. I wasn’t counting on my kids being so good at communicating without talking, or so thoughtful to each other. One boy came up with an elaborate system, tapping his partner’s right shoulder to turn right, his left to turn left, pulling back to stop his partner. His partner figured it out almost immediately. They were almost giddy in their excitement to explain how it had worked. A pair of girls looked disappointed, saying they’d done nothing that “cool.” But I’d seen them turning right, left, stopping, just like the boys. After discussing the game some more, they realized they’d communicated just as effectively, though their “system” was more intuitive. Getting in the Mood to Collaborate You may already have plans for projects to do as a family as the weather warms up. Spring cleaning, anyone? Maybe a garden you’ll plant together? Maybe you’ve hoping to not drive each other crazy on that eight-hour road trip? We know. We’ve been there. Whatever the project, we wish you well. And, we’ve got some artistic collaborations that might help you find your groove. This time we’re sharing four variations on one basic idea. Creating art together. Whether you produce a drawing, collage, or story, talk about how it felt to collaborate. Was it hard or frustrating to see someone taking your idea and changing it? Or freeing? Were you surprised how the drawings/collages/stories turned out? Was anyone leading? What was it like to mesh different artistic or storytelling styles together? Could you have created this by yourself?  Photo credit: CARE Actor Creative Collaboration: Drawing Supplies:
Directions
Creative Collaborations: Collage Supplies
 Photo credit: CARE Actor
Creative Collaborations: Improv Game “One Word at a Time” Supplies – Just your group and their imaginations
Creative Collaborations: Writing Stories Supplies
We would love to hear about your experiences with collaboration at home! If you try out any of these projects, please let us know how they turn out for you. And definitely share your own ideas and things that have worked for you. Sound off in the comments section below. Share your tips and tricks with us on social media and use hashtags #careactorkids and #collaboratewithcare! Your idea just might be featured! Happy collaborating! by Norah Vawter This month, our theme in classes and on this blog is FRIENDSHIP. We have all kinds of kiddos in our classes – different races, nationalities, backgrounds, language skills, and ability levels. Some are differently abled and need extra support in class. All are welcome. We love diverse classes because differences teach us so much. CARE Actor classes are a fantastic place for kids to make friends because of the way improv creates a safe space for kids to let loose. We also strive to make our classes feel warm and welcome places. There’s a special magic that happens when we play improv games or act out skits, taking on a new character’s identity. Kids who are ordinarily shy, reserved, or serious can fall apart with silliness on stage or during a game. They can’t stop laughing! The improv games we use in classes help kids find common ground and bond through play and laughter. When we work together to create cool stuff with our imaginations, we learn to support each other. This forges a special bond, because we’re having fun together.  CARE Actor Dramatic Kids playing an improv game. “Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” - Albert Camus It’s often the small moments that make me see how this is working. For example, my class was playing an intense game of “Zip Zap Zop.” One of the girls goofed, got eliminated from the game, and was confused about what had happened. An older boy, who’s outspoken, started laughing at her. I was afraid he was being unkind. I was about to step in when I heard the girl’s delighted laughter. She knew he wasn’t being mean! He was treating her like one of the gang. And it was okay to make a mistake. This was a little moment, but it’s exactly what CARE Actor strives for – to create a safe space where kids can become more confident and support each other through creative expression. Read on for two fun activities you can do at home!  Lots of laughter during CARE Actor's Family Improv Yes, Let’s! This classic theater improv game is a great way to practice supporting each other and going with the flow. No props or materials needed! Directions
A Handful of Compliments This deceptively simple activity encourages the participants to recognize what they appreciate about one another.  Photo Credit: Pexels Stock Images
Materials:
Directions
Recently I saw my Dramatic Kids class create and act out a skit. Totally off the cuff. It took about fifteen minutes for us to come up with an idea, sketch out a possible storyline, and perform it. There was a king, a queen, a couple princesses, a pirate, and a magic owl. Within their story several wars took place where alliances kept changing. Time froze. It was a little crazy, and it didn’t make that much sense. The kiddos loved it. So did I. Acting gives us the opportunity to be ourselves, to be free, to be silly, even ridiculous. And while we’re “on stage” (whether it’s a real stage or not) we get to feel things. Happiness. Sadness. Disappointment. Anger. Relief. Giddiness. Without all that real-life baggage. It’s a safe space to be who you are. The best thing about tapping into your feelings while acting out a skit or playing an improv game? You don’t have to think about it. You just do it. You simply are.  Photo credit: CARE Actor Dramatic Kids class There’s a lot of great research about the impact arts education and pretend play has on kids’ social and emotional development. Here’s one article we found particularly interesting because it shares findings from several different studies. Want to get creative at home? Read on for a fun improv game you can play with your family and a list of five feeling-centered books.  Photo credit: CARE Actor Dramatic Kids class Walking Blind In the classroom, we use this super simple improv game to build trust. It’s also a good one for empathy because it asks participants to be aware of each other’s experience and comfort level. Since you don’t need any props, this is a great exercise to do at home.
Five books about feelings Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman  Image credit: Amazon.com “Grace was a girl who loved stories. She didn’t mind if they were read to her or told to her or made up in her own head. She didn’t care if they were in books or movies or out of Nana’s long memory. Grace just loved stories.” Carry Me! by Rosemary Wells  Image credit: Amazon.com “Sing me a winter song/ I’ll sing you right along/ The old song we know/ About the Wild Winter Wizard/ With his beard full of blizzard/ And his bags full of snow.” Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes  “Chrysanthemum wilted. She did not think her name was absolutely perfect. She thought it was absolutely dreadful.” A Sick Day for Amos McGee, by Phillip C. Stead, Illustrated by Erin E. Stead  Image credit: Amazon.com “Amos had a lot to do at the zoo, but he always made time to visit his good friends. He would play chess with the elephant (who thought and thought before making a move).” Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon  Image credit: Amazon.com
“ ‘And how can we feel so different and be so much alike?’ wondered Pip. ‘I think this is quite a mystery,’ Flap chirped. ‘I agree,” said Stellaluna. ‘But we’re friends. And that’s a fact.’ ” What about you? What do you think is the impact of storytelling and pretend play? Share your experiences in the comments below! As the new year begins in earnest, I’m excited about the possibilities for 2017. Our winter classes are starting up, and we’re also looking forward to spring break and summer camps. Every time I teach, I’m reminded of possibility and potential awesomeness. Why? Because the kiddos bring all of that and more. They inspire us with their creativity and their kindness. This week, two girls ran into my Act It Out classroom, giggling and playing like they’d known each other for years. Sisters or best friends? Nope! They’d met two minutes earlier. I thought: adults can learn so much from kiddos.  Photo credit: CARE Actor students taking a class with our founder, Pooja Chawla How’s 2017 going for you? Have you made any resolutions? Are you tackling a new challenge? Here at CARE Actor, our primary goal is to awaken kids’ creativity and, in the process, help them become their best selves. We’re always striving to do more. What’s new with us in 2017? Each month we’ll focus on a different value in classes and highlight it on this blog. January’s value is EMPATHY, defined by Merriam’s Webster’s kids dictionary as “being aware of and sharing another person's feelings, experiences, and emotions.” Since Martin Luther King Day is right around the corner, empathy is especially relevant this month! Looking for a concrete way to celebrate kindness with your kids? Check out this great list of Martin Luther King Day activities in the DC area for Monday, January 16. I know empathy can seem like a hard vocab word, and a heavy concept to introduce to kids. But we’re actually having a ton of fun! It’s not about vocab: it’s about slowing down, listening to others, and being aware. For us, it’s a cool challenge to find fun, heart-centered activities to share with you. Read on for three such activities . . . Mirror Mirror on my friend When thinking about how other people might be feeling, try this classic acting exercise at home. It’s called “Mirror.” You don’t need any supplies other than your bodies!  Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv class Mirror Improv Game Directions
“You are very much like me,” says the ant. One book we’re reading in classes this winter is Hey, Little Ant, by Phillip and Hannah Hoose (a father and daughter creative team). It started out as a song that Hannah and her dad wrote when she was just nine years old! You can listen to Phillip and Hannah sing the song here.  Photo credit: Amazon.com
On the surface, Hey, Little Ant is a book about whether a kid should squish an ant. But if you pay closer attention, it’s a book about compassion and empathy because it encourages kids to think about others’ feelings and even concepts like bullying, when the ant explains its point of view to the curious kid. “But you are a giant and giants can’t know how it feels to be an ant," says this eloquent insect. "Come down close. I think you’ll see that you are very much like me.” Too often those who really need our help can't ask for it, or are not listened to. This book is wonderful reminder to slow down and listen. What are they feeling? Since it’s so cold out, you’re probably spending extra time inside, reading books, or going to movies and plays. All this time with fictional characters gives us a great chance to talk about feelings. What are those characters feeling or thinking about? And why? Could a character be mad and sad at the same time? What about feeling several emotions at once? You can also point out places where characters are acting with empathy (or without it). Is it a big gesture, or are the moments of empathy small and simple? If you want more ideas for helping kids be kinder in real life, check out this great article from the Washington Post. So, what do you think? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below! Have you found ways to help kiddos be more aware and more empathetic? We’re listening! And Happy New Year! Happy Holidays from all of us at CARE Actor! If you’re at home with the kids or need some holiday fun -- don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Try out some of these ideas for creative play and arts enrichment around the D.C. metro area: 1. Show off your colorful personality with Wacky Self-Portraits Celebrate all things whimsical, CARE Actor style. The whole family can enjoy this Wacky Self-Portrait art project.  Photo credit: CARE Actor student Wacky Self Portraits Supplies: - Paper - Crayons, markers, or paint - Creativity Encourage your family members to be expressive with their Wacky Self-Portraits and to incorporate some of their favorite things into their drawing (ex. chocolate chip cookies for eyes). Use our photo -- of CARE Actor student Wacky Self-Portraits -- as inspiration for your masterpiece(s)! 2. Explore the arts by seeing a live show KidFriendly DC has a pretty exhaustive list of plays, live music, and other live entertainment in the D.C area. If you are busy or out of town during the holidays, you can still find some great stuff to do in January, February, and March. 3. Go out . . . on an indoor adventure Also from KidFriendly DC, here’s a great list of indoor outings throughout our region, for those days when you have to get out of the house but it’s too cold for outdoor activities. From museums to nature centers to indoor playgrounds and pools, our area has a lot of indoor fun to offer.  Photo credit: Smithsonian Archives Aerial Photograph of National Mall during William J. Clinton Presidential Inauguration (depicting Smithsonian Castle and National Museum of Natural History), 1993, by Carl Hansen, Ektachrome print, ID# 2003-0102, Smithsonian Institution Archives. 4. Get messy with winter art: Icy Salt Paint We love this winter art project from Hands on as We Grow because it’s so simple yet so fun. Make “icy paint” by combining epsom salt and glue! You might have both on hand already. This project is labeled a toddler project on the website, but we tried it out and think older kids will like it too. Playing with the goopy, salty, gluey paint is also a great sensory exercise.  Photo credit: CARE Actor
5. Indulge your sweet tooth with super simple recipes Our mouths are already watering as we read Kid Activities Blog’s list of 25 cookie recipes that feature three ingredients or less. Yes, please! What about you? Do you have cool ideas for winter fun? Please share in the comments! You know, that moment when it feels like a light switches on? When you have an idea that can help you do something special. Something new. The origins of CARE Actor: A story from our CEO, Pooja Chawla While working with a Conflict Resolution Theater (CRT) team – AmeriCorps’ City Year in Philadelphia program – I saw first-hand the transformative power of theater. One day, my team and I were extremely late heading up North on the SEPTA bus. We were supposed to perform our improv show for an assembly hall of over 200 kids. Our frantic director and all those kids were waiting. No one was sure what to do. Without time to think, our director did what improv actors are known for: she winged it. Instead of waiting for, she invited the sixth grade students up to the stage and taught them the scenes on the spot. These students performed our show for their peers. When my team arrived we apologized profusely, but we also noticed that something magical had occurred. It was unexpected, yet so worthwhile. These students had blossomed into actors. Video by Madhavi Reddi for CARE Actor
CRT is an interactive theater production that involves role playing and audience participation. My team of six Corps Members and our director spent an entire month training, learning how to create scenes in the moment, how to follow our instincts, listen to one another, and incorporate audience feedback into the scenes. These sixth graders figured it out in a matter of seconds. Afterwards, these budding young actors were asked to journal about their experiences. Brimming with newfound confidence, they said things like, “I didn’t think I could do this, but I did!” And to this day, I will never forget a young girl who wrote, "I never knew how funny I am." This moment changed the trajectory of my life. Before this, I’d planned to find a “real job.” But now, for the first time, I understood that theater and acting could make children come alive. Of course – deep inside, I already knew this, because theater had done the exact same thing for me. As a painfully shy child, I learned how to express myself through theater. As an adult, I could help other children do the same. My personal mission became helping kids like myself gain self-confidence, in a theater setting. I’m not sure exactly how it works. Perhaps it's because acting allows us to explore aspects of ourselves that we otherwise wouldn't. Perhaps it’s because when you perform there is a witness to your transformation. Regardless, I have come to understand that if you awaken a child’s creativity, you can help that child become his or her best self. Creativity and performance are just the tip of the iceberg, bringing them closer to their own greatness. And that is how the idea of CARE Actor was born. What about you? Have you noticed a relationship between creativity and character development? What about your children's experience with the arts has suprised you? Sound off in the comments below! One of the coolest parts of my job is reading books to kids. Some of our books are funny. Some are serious. All relate to the core values of CARE Actor: Confidence, Courage, and Character. You hear about kids not wanting to read. Well, the kids in our classes love stories. In my last class, I actually had to hide the books so the kids wouldn’t start reading before story time! And when I asked about their favorite stories and characters, they wouldn’t stop talking. That’s the power of storytelling, whether it’s for the page, stage, or screen. My favorite kind of story shares a compelling message, but is also fun to read. It’s great to learn and laugh at the same time. With this in mind, we’re sharing a list of 10 picture books (many of which we read and act out classes) that illustrate our core values of confidence, courage and character. 1. Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andrea Confidence and Individuality  Image credit: Amazon.com Gerald the Giraffe wants to dance at the annual Jungle Dance, but he is intimidated by the other animals’ dancing abilities. The other animals laugh him off the stage. But he learns to find his own music and his own style. “ ‘We can all dance,’ he said. ‘When we find music that we love.’ ” 2. Mirette on the High Wire, by Emily Arnold McCully Courage and Friendship  Image credit: Amazon.com A young girl in early 20th century Paris befriends a tight rope walker who has retired because he is afraid of failing. As he trains her in the art of tight rope walking, the girl inspires him to try his art again. When he almost fails in his comeback, she joins him on the tight rope. “ ‘Once you have fear on the wire, it never leaves,’ Bellini said. “But you must make it leave!’ Mirette insisted.” 3. Odd Velvet, by Mary E. Whitcomb. Illustrated by Tara Callahan King Individuality, Confidence, and Tolerance  Image credit: Amazon.com The kids at school think Velvet is “odd,” but when they get to know her, they learn these differences aren’t bad at all. Velvet is unique, and she isn’t afraid to be herself. She ends up inspiring the other kids to try new things. “Little by little, the things that Velvet said, and the things that Velvet did, began to make sense.” 4. The Sandwich Swap, by Kelly DiPucchio. Illustrated by Tricia Tusa Friendship and Diversity  Image credit: Amazon.com Two friends from different cultural backgrounds learn to celebrate their differences rather than judge each other or be afraid of things that seem strange or wrong. “Finally, Lily got up the courage to speak. ‘Would you like to try a bite of my peanut butter and jelly?' " 5. Flight School, by Lita Judge Confidence and Inspiration  Image credit: Amazon.com A penguin who believes he has the soul of an eagle learns to fly because he is confident, determined, and inspires friends to find an ingenious solution. “Penguin was right. He did have the soul of an eagle.” 6. The Brave Beast, by Chris Judge Courage and Tolerance  Image credit: Amazon.com When a group of islanders are terrified of a “monster,” they ask a Beast to help them get rid of the monster. The Beast overcomes his own fears and learns that the monster isn’t scary or bad after all. “The Beast felt very scared. But he decided to be brave and help the islanders.” 7. Dream Something Big, by Dianna Hutts Aston. Collages by Susan L. Roth Creativity, Hard Work, and Individuality  Image credit: Amazon.com The true story of Simon Rodia, known to friends and neighbors as Uncle Sam. He spent 34 years collecting “jewels” that other people viewed as trash. Using basic tools, he assembled his jewels into fountains, a ship, towers over six stories high, and more. The Watts Towers are now recognized as a National Landmark. “People no longer call Simon Rodia foolish and crazy. They call him a man of genius who built ‘a gigantic flower of folk art.’ ” 8. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes, by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein The Beauty of Imperfection  Image credit: Amazon.com Beatrice Bottomwell is so determined to be perfect that she’s known in town as the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes. This all changes when her talent show performance goes terribly wrong and she learns to embrace imperfection. “Now, people no longer call her the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes. They just call her Beatrice.” 9. Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein, by Don Brown Confidence and Ingenuity  Image credit: Amazon.com This is the true story of physicist Albert Einstein’s youth. Most people discounted Einstein when he was young, because he was different and not a model student. But he believed in his intellect and his unique mind, becoming one of our greatest scientists. “For the world, Einstein comes to mean not fat baby, or angry child, or odd boy, but great thinker.” 10. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown Individuality, Courage, and Acceptance  Image credit: Amazon.com
All the animals in town are very proper, but Mr. Tiger feels wild. He flees to the wilderness, but he misses his friends. When he returns, he discovers that his friends are ready to accept his differences. “Now Mr. Tiger felt free to be himself. And so did everyone else.” |
