PHYSICAL DISTANCE TEACHING
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This pandemic has made first year teachers of us all!
Everything is experimental.
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Many teachers are, justifiably, feeling isolated,
frustrated and overwhelmed.
We are all in an unfamiliar and sometimes
traumatizing environment
- and in need of as much support as possible.
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So we have stepped up our game to find ways to inspire and engage students even more than in person classes.
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"We teachers determine the energy in the classroom,
so, if we can find ways to relax and uplift our own spirits,
we can bring our class with us on this new and exciting journey.
To start off this weird school year, I firmly believe that
the HOW is just as important as the WHAT.
If we can begin with a sparkling smile, a twinkle in our eye
and something surprising, different & "out of the box",
it will go a long way to getting our classes (and ourselves) energized.
Instead of expecting to be bored with the "same old", they'll
always be excited for our classes and wondering
what we're going to bring to the class each day.
This "surprise" will shift to a positive energy (in ourselves and in them).
Happy, energized pupils will accept even the most "boring" topics
all because of the reward we gave them at the start."
From one of our Teacher Workbooks: "How to Make Lessons Fun"
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For example, a short spurt of MUSIC and DRAMA
inserted into any subject, introduces normalcy
and fun that goes a long way in healing
everyone's stress by taking us all
out of our isolated quarantine situation
and getting everyone inspired, engaged
and enthusiastic about a project.
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"Just because, in most schools, we have to be physically distant,
doesn’t mean also having to be “socially” distant.
In fact, socialization and a sense of normality
is what we all crave at this time."
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Some first steps in our healing process is to feel part
of our community again and find intention.
Since many classrooms are not physically together,
we're finding ways to bridge the "distanced" gap by introducing elements to connect teachers with students
– and students with each other so they, once again,
can feel part of a unified group.
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For example, "Music &/or personalized "chatting" in a lesson can
inject fun and break monotony some antsy students feel."
"Mounting a performance can bring students together
to get excited about a shared goal.
Working together on a play makes
them still feel connected - even when distanced."
For Drama & Theatre teachers, we have easy-to-produce
plays and musicals that we continue adapting
for remote production. These shows give students
a chance to develop a variety of skills, to socialize,
and, most especially, to give remote actors opportunities
to still work with other actors on their scenes, rather than
only performing monologues, that still keep everyone isolated.
We also provide engaging music with lesson plans
to help all teachers make their classes appealing and fun
by adding music as a stimulus for discussion and learning.
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We trust that our material helps and inspires
theatre directors, drama - and all teachers -
by providing some ideas to uplift and engage everyone.
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We welcome questions, comments and requests, as we are always updating.