Event Blog: Hair

The production of the musical Hair was an extremely entertaining show and was very well done. It was clear that the cast had spent a large amount of time researching their characters and rehearsing in order to present the best production possible. The show would not have been a success without the cooperation and teamwork of the cast. Much of the interpretive dancing was done with a partner or a group, and the interaction of the characters is what gave the production life. The message of the play was about liberty, freedom and the rights of the people. This production, topped off with an incredible amount of energy was very entertaining, informative, and fun to watch.

Many of the skills seen in the production of Hair could be used in the classroom. Just like researching and understanding a character in a play, it is very important to understand the information being taught in the classroom, become an expert on it, and rehearse it thoroughly before presenting it in front of a class. The teacher should always remember to work with students, listen to them, and not resort to a complete dictatorship in the classroom. Interaction will bring the most success to students and to oneself. Just as the play was about values and rights, the classroom should also be a place where students and the teacher have set, defined rights. This will help with effective classroom management and respect in the classroom. Lastly, the classrooms should be a place full of energy. Energy that motivates, excites, and assists in learning.

Event Blog: Ethnic Arts Festival

The Ethnic Arts Festival was an incredible presentation of diversity, culture, and life. Since the cultural tables in the CFL were set up by people who were either from other countries or had recently visited those countries, they were very well informed on the place they represented and did a wonderful job with presenting and answering questions. They had artifacts on the tables, flags, photos and maps to help one better understand the culture.

Many of the tools the presenters used in teaching about their country could be applied to the classroom. First of all, it was very obvious that the presenters were passionate about their topic/country. They got excited about answering questions and had a big smiles on their faces. I helped work the Mexico table, and between being there for a month and loving every minute of it, I found it was extremely easy and fun to answer the questions people had for me. I found that being well informed and excited about a topic makes presenting come almost naturally. Teachers should use a number of tools in their teaching, which could include: visual aids, power points, shapes or symbols, just to name a few. Lastly, the importance of diversity and the acceptance of other cultures should also be present in the classroom as well.

Event Blog: Vagina Monologues

The Vagina Monologues had a number of very effective presenters. The women that participated had clearly rehearsed their parts various times before the performance. They were also extremely entertaining and engaging. Each girl was able to get in character to represent their monologue in the most effective manner. Each monologue was clear, concise and to the point. All of these characteristics made the monologues easy to listen to and very interesting.

Many of the effective techniques used in the Vagina Monologues could be carried over to be used in the classroom. One of the greatest characteristics of an effective teacher is their ability to speak in front of a group of people. Just like the monologues, a teacher should be clear, concise, and to the point. They should be prepared with lesson plans that they have rehearsed and practiced beforehand. A teacher must also be "in character" when they are in the classroom. The culture of the classroom should be structured towards optimal classroom management in order for maximal learning to take place. This is how the skills presented in the Vagina Monologues can also be used effectively in the classroom.

Event Blog: Black History Month Tallent Show

At the Black History Month tallent show, there were a number of effective speakers and performers. I noticed that the most effective ones were clearly prepared. The MC of the tallent show clearly had a script prepared, which helped keep everything moving smoothly. The tallent show also had a wide variety of acts, displaying the diversity and different cultures present at Luther. It was an effective production, because it incorporated a variety of acts, was clearly organized, and had smooth transitions.

The content of the tallent show can be applied to my futre career as a teacher. Planning and preparation is extremely important in the classroom. While there is such a thing as having too much structure, a teacher should never enter a class period without some sort of a lesson plan. In addition to a basic lesson plan, teachers should be flexible and have a backup plan if a lesson doesn't go as planned. Just as the talent show had a variety of acts, so to should the classroom be fully diversified. Teachers should incorporate a number of teaching styles and subjects into their lessons. Lastly, the importance of performance can also be incorporated into the classroom. Being able to work with other people to effectively present or perform in front of an audience is very important to learn and can be used in everyday life. The content of the tallent show clearly connects to everyday life of a teacher.

Event Blog: Freedom Writers

Freedom Writers was a movie about an incredible young teacher, named Erin Gruwell, who dedicated her life to improving the lives of her students that attended a very rough school. The best qualities this teacher had were love and determination. When joined together, she proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Although Erin had a number of struggles most teachers may never see, the key is that she never gave up, which eventually changed the lives of every single one of her students. Erin formed lessons to fit the interests and needs of her students. She went above and beyond, getting special material approved and bought a number of the texts herself. She worked to make school interesting for her students. Erin's class was about more than just English, it was about life. Through her hard work in and outside of school time, Erin changed relationships, attitudes, and lifelong grudges.

Freedom Writers brings light to the power of education. Just like Erin, it is important to care for each and every student in the classroom. It is also important to adjust lessons to the interests and abilities of students. Erin let her students know that she cared for them by dedicating time outside of class to help them and by bringing in speakers and creating special projects that she knew her students would enjoy. Even when life seems like a disaster, we need to remember, that there is potential in every student, and it is our job to help each student find their unique gifts. It is also important to apply material presented in class to real life, just as Erin so effectively did. This is how the ideas presented in Freedom Writers apply to my future career as a teacher.