I must take some time and extend a grand "Bravo!" to one of my classes this semester. Dramatic Activities in the Elementary School Classroom, taught by the lovely Desiree Hamburger, is unique in many ways and I feel as though it deserves some extra attention (especially in light of some of the other classes I'm taking at the moment...)
The course title explains it all. Dramatic Activities meets once a week and focuses on the development and importance of drama as a tool in the classroom. The reason why I am inspired to write about Desiree's class this week is due to the "Teacher's Resource Day" she's arranged for us this coming Thursday. Instead of our usually agenda of warm ups, insanely creative lessons (thanks to Desiree) and reflections, she has decided to let us spend the class time sharing all of the teaching resources we have collected so far. Perhaps if you are not involved in education in anyway you do not understand the absolute thrill in obtaining new teaching material, but I assure you it's like Christmas come early!
We've been encouraged to send our own lesson plans, useful book titles, activities, warm ups readings etc to Desiree all of which will be copied and available for us to put into our own "Processfolios". Basically we'll walk around, discuss what we've found and pick and choose what we feel would be beneficial to keep in our own records.
Okay, now that I'm in the midst of this post I realize you may think that I am a little over enthused about an opportunity such as this. Please understand that sometimes teacher's get teacher's block! Especially in the Ed. Theater program we're always trying to approach our students in insightful, creative and inspirational ways and in every subject. To be honest, always trying to find that new effective way of presenting material can be really hard to do on a consistent basis. Sometimes, you need is a "spark" to get your creative lesson ideas flowing. Fellow students are always sharing tactics; you love them, hate them, take them, mold them and use them as your own. No, it's not stealing...it's collaboration.
This is why I feel Desiree's class is so vital to our education here at NYU. There are not many classes in which such pure collaboration is encourage, let alone required! In a community of so many talented individuals, why not take advantage and learn from each other? Desiree has certainly gotten this idea right. I only wish more professors would be so insightful.
Looking forward to Thursday...Enjoy!