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art_in_the_kitchen [2018-04-04 07:35] – 192.156.110.202art_in_the_kitchen [2018-04-05 11:51] – rasa
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 **How to be a teacher** **How to be a teacher**
  
--__Don't be a teacher__. Remember you are standing in front of the class or group only because you want to share something that you __might__ know better. Keep in mind there are children that can be even better in something than you are or know more about something than you do. You can't make someone learn things. You can only invite them to observe and try out. You can hope they get inspired and will continue searching for ways to satisfy their curiosity. Sharing your knowledge rather then teaching is always more rewarding. I always think that i only propose some tasks or framework and let the participants to fill in the content. This way i get surprised by different input and ideas, and develop my methods further. +-__Don't be a teacher__. Remember you are standing in front of the class or group only because you want to share something that you __might__ know better. Keep in mind there are children that can be even better in something than you are or know more about something than you do. And it's your responsibility to notice it and encourage it. You can't make someone learn things. You can only invite them to observe and try out. You can hope they get inspired and will continue searching for ways to satisfy their curiosity. Sharing your knowledge rather then teaching is a lot more rewarding. I always think that i only propose some tasks or framework and let the participants to fill in the content. This way i get surprised by different input and ideas, and develop my methods further. 
  
--__Be prepared.__ Make sure you have all the material and enough of it for every participant. Display needed objects before children enter the class. Hide anything that is not needed to keep the concentration only on the activity. If material to be shared by several participants make sure they know where it is and it is reachable (some children are smaller than others and might feel left behind if they cant reach one or the other thing). If you are trying some new techniek or activity, try i out for your self before hand. This way you will know where the difficulties lyes and estimate better the duration of the activity.+-__Be prepared.__ Make sure you have all the material and enough of it for every participant. Display needed objects before children enter the class. Hide anything that is not needed to keep the concentration only on the activity. If material to be shared by several participants make sure they know where it is and it is reachable (some children are smaller than others and might feel left behind if they cant reach one or the other thing). If you are trying some new technique or activity, try i out for your self before hand. This way you will know where the difficulties lyes and estimate better the duration of the activity.
  
--__Explain the task in a simple and precise way.__ I usually start with some story behind to "paint" the bigger picture about what are we going to investigate. Then explain the task per step. Some activities are more complicated therefor it makes sense to do one stap at the time. Show the steps if needed. (I'm a little reluctant to show how it has to be done. I find a lot more intriguing when children have to find their own way around. However sometimes showing the examples are needed.) Ask someone from the group repeat what the task and steps are. If they can't  you will know what els you have to explain.+-__Explain the task in a simple and precise way.__ I usually start with some story behind to "paint" the bigger picture about what are we going to investigate. Then explain the task per step. Some activities are more complicated therefor it makes sense to proceed one step at the time. Show the steps if needed. (I'm a little reluctant to show what the result has to be and concentrate more on how it can be done. I find a lot more intriguing when children have to find their own way around. However sometimes showing the examples are needed.) Ask someone from the group repeat what the task and steps are. If they can't  you will know what els you have to explain.
  
--__Trust the method.__And trust the universe. You know the outcome you are looking for and you know how to get there. Even if you need to take detour keep kalm and have trust that at the end everything will be how it should be. If things become confusing and children feel stuck remind your self and them why are you doing this activity and what the bigger "picture/story" behind it is. Also ask what steps kan be skipped or added.  +-__Trust the method.__And trust the universe. You know the outcome you are looking for and you know how to get there. Even if you need to take detour keep kalm and have trust that at the end everything will be how it should be. If things become confusing and children feel stuck remind your self and them why are you doing this activity and what the bigger "picture/story" behind it is. Also ask what steps kan be skipped or added. the participants might come out with even better solution.  
  
 -__Embrace the failures.__Sometimes even with the activities that you know work well things get out of hands and take a different unexpected turn. Embrace those moments. Because they teach you more than an easy process. Talk to kids about it. Tell them how different this time was, how unexpected results became and how it made you feel or think. (penis story) -__Embrace the failures.__Sometimes even with the activities that you know work well things get out of hands and take a different unexpected turn. Embrace those moments. Because they teach you more than an easy process. Talk to kids about it. Tell them how different this time was, how unexpected results became and how it made you feel or think. (penis story)
  
--__Don't fall asleep on things that you've done over and over again.__ I am an artist.I like to invent things and be spontaneous. However during the teaching trajectory i have to repeat some of the activities over and over again. It is dangerous to become too comfortable. Therefor i'm always on a look out for the new things to try, new techniques to include and new stories to tell. If you do have to repeat some of the tasks, look at it for a different angle every time. This way it will become richer and still intriguing for you.+-__Don't fall asleep on things that you've done over and over again.__ I am an artist. I like to invent things and be spontaneous. However during the teaching trajectory sometimes i have to repeat some of the activities over and over again. It is dangerous to become too comfortable. Therefor i'm always on a look out for the new things to try, new techniques to include and new stories to tell. If you do have to repeat some of the tasks, look at it for a different angle every time. This way it will become richer and still intriguing for you.
  
--__Look at the results together.__Talking about what you see is as important as making something.+-__Look at the results together.__Talking about what you see is as important as making something. When the works are ready i gather kids around each work and ask what do they see, how it makes them feel, how this work is different than the others, what title would suit it best. In these conversations i try to encourage positive feedback. Instead of saying what didn't work or failed i invite everyone to think what could have be done better or different to achieve even more interesting result. I also find important to balance group dynamics during the conversation. Some kids are louder and like to talk a lot, others very timid and silent. I try to include all by asking the questions directly and making sure the rest of the class gives time and space for more quiet children to answer. 
  
 -__Be not afraid of wildness.__ Sitting still and quiet for children often feels like a punishment. When you invite them to explore and create be aware of the level of excitement in the group. Mostly it is really fun to create! Therefor you can't expect kids to be quiet and passive. It helps to make an agreement at the beginning of the class on how much noice we can all make/tolerate without making losing the respect for each other and disturbing the building. Playing fun but soft music ( this is my personal favourite and works very well in the class https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/thetoyboats )is another great way of creating amiable atmosphere and keeping shouting away. -__Be not afraid of wildness.__ Sitting still and quiet for children often feels like a punishment. When you invite them to explore and create be aware of the level of excitement in the group. Mostly it is really fun to create! Therefor you can't expect kids to be quiet and passive. It helps to make an agreement at the beginning of the class on how much noice we can all make/tolerate without making losing the respect for each other and disturbing the building. Playing fun but soft music ( this is my personal favourite and works very well in the class https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/thetoyboats )is another great way of creating amiable atmosphere and keeping shouting away.
  
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 +-__Have sufficient amount of cleaning materials.__ Being busy with any kind of crafts and art activities it is always important to keep in mind that things get messy, dirty and accidents do happen. It is a good idea to have a set of rubbish bags+tape for protecting tables, paper towels for quick absorption of liquids and a broom or cloth to clean the floor. It is also a good idea to remind kids not to wear their best clothes for the workshops.
  
  
  • art_in_the_kitchen.txt
  • Last modified: 2019-01-09 15:45
  • by rasa