Arts Integrated Residencies:

For each residency that is one week or more, each school will receive a Document of Student Learning. During my residency, the classroom teacher will take photos (with my camera) capturing learning as it takes place. Upon completion of the residency, I will put together a book documenting the learning through narrative, photos, reflections, the applicable state standards, and students work. This document can be used by the school to share and articulate the benefits of integrating the arts with administrators, board members, PTA, Back to school night, and the school community at large.

My Favorite Story: An Exploration Through Puppetry (Grades K-5)

Students discover the joy of manipulating and bringing to life a character from their favorite Fable, Fairy, or Folk tale.  Puppetry skills of voice, movement, and character development will be emphasized as well as the Language Arts standards of story structure, retelling, and comprehension.

Marvelous Me: My Puppet Self (Grades 3-5)

Students will explore the self portrait and construct a moving mouth self portrait puppet. Students will write an "acrostic" poem based on their name and what is most important to them. Students will learn the puppetry skills of manipulation and vocal expression to present their poems. English/ Language Arts Standards addressed.

Poetry and Puppetry (Grades K-5)

Poetry should be spoken out loud.  Puppets provide the perfect vehicle to help students work on fluency (expression).  Students will receive an ingenious puppet that will provide the catalyst for creative writing.  Puppetry skills will be addressed with an emphasis on creating new voices.  A “clerihew” poem will provide the structure for writing about our puppets.  English/Language Arts Standards addressed.

Enhance Writing & Creativity Through Works of Art (grades 3-8)

Strengthen creative writing in the classroom through great works of art! Hand sculpted puppets of Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh, Kahlo, and Dali will be the catalyst for critical thinking and creative writing. Selected works of art have also been transformed into puppets and will be the jumping off point for writing a story. Puppetry performance skills of vocal expression and movement will be explored. Students will perform their stories using the appropriate artist puppet/work of art puppet. Emphasis will be placed on writing skills such as characterization, plot development, setting, and dialogue.

From the Page to the Stage: Playwriting & Puppetry (grades K-8)

K-3
Teachers learn how to choose the most appropriate books for puppet plays, encourage character development and dialogue, conduct an environmental orchestra, and change narrative into dialogue. You can do all of this without writing a word! Bring puppet plays into your classroom to enhance language arts or reading classes with an emphasis on re-telling, sequencing, and fluency.

4-8
Students learn how to write a script including setting, character, development of conflict, and resolution. Working in small groups, a simple fairy tale is re-written as a puppet play. Roles are assigned and then performed with an emphasis on appropriate humor, supporting details, and vocal expression.

Recent Residencies:

June 15-19, 2009:  Young Scholars, Franklin, TN

Feb. 9-20, 2009:  Covington Integrated Arts Academy, Covington, TN

March - April 2009: Wolf Trap Residency, Nashville, TN

Feb. 9-20, 2009:  Bradley Academy, Murfreesboro, TN
Enhanced Writing & Creativity through Works of Art

Jan. 11-16, 2009:  Mooreland Heights Elementary, Knoxville, TN
From the Page to the Stage: Playwriting & Puppetry

Nov. 17-19, 2009:  Dickson Elementary, Dickson, TN
My Favorite Story: An Exploration Through Puppetry

Oct. 19-31, 2008:  Oak Grove Elementary, Cleveland, TN
My Favorite Story: An Exploration Through Puppetry

October - December 2008: Wolf Trap Residency, Nashville, TN