The Teacher As Actor Part Two: Listen, Process, React

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Episode 68: The Teacher As Actor with Jane Cox

The Teacher As Actor Part One: Plan Tight but Hang Loose

The video above talks about communication being the focus for actors. I found this video when I was searching for videos about how actors prepare/rehearse compared to how teachers prepare/rehearse. Although I am annoyed by the typo in the quote during the video, I think this video does a good job of succinctly communicating the message it intended. Listen, process, react. Don’t memorize what you are going to say to the point where you are not reacting to others or to the point where there is no interest in what you are saying.

“The punctuation is the writer’s; you must make your own.”

Milton Justice, I Don’t Need An Acting Class

Framework Vs. Scripted Curriculum

As I read and watched videos for this post, I was reminded of all the different curriculums I have been handed by districts throughout my years of teaching. Some literally had scripts in them and many wanted you to follow that script, especially in my early years of teaching. From day one, I rebelled against this.

When I was placed for student teaching, I was relieved to get the teacher I got. The other teacher was a fan of the basal and never veered. My pre-practicum classroom teacher, had the same philosophy as I did. Who are my students? What do they need? Pull from the materials to meet them where they are and make it interesting for them with real books in their hands. Now, this was fourth grade and at that point most of the students were reading to learn. I understand the need for systematic phonics instruction in the earlier grades but also feel strongly that there needs to be a balance in the school day and they need real books in their hands to read at their level every day.

So, when my district just recently adopted a math and reading/writing program, I was anxious to see the philosophy behind it. As a professional teacher, I enjoy a framework, not a scripted program. It helps me see what I need to teach and when and provides options for the how. It gives the professional the respect to make those decisions for the students who are in front of them.

In my opinion, a framework is communication and a scripted program for an entire class of students is not. I understand that when doing interventions one on one or small group, scripted programs make sense. Again, balance is important and that should be a small part of a student’s school day.

“Certainly, teachers can use evaluations and tests to judge our effectiveness over the long run, but I want you to share the actor’s desire to know how it is going moment to moment. It is not difficult to learn how to use SPLIT FOCUS, and the technique is invaluable.”

Burns and Woods, Teacher As Actor

A couple of days ago I was teaching a math lesson and the class was just not with me. I was prepared, I knew every move of my lesson and I just couldn’t keep their attention. I noticed this and adjusted my plan for the lesson accordingly. I listened to them and watched their reactions and was in the moment with them. I buried the lead…there was a thunderstorm happening during my lesson. How was I going to compete with the pounding of the rain on the roof of the school, the flashes of light right outside our window, and then the booming thunder that shook our classroom? We don’t have a lot of flexibility in our schedule so I had to stay in the math lesson, but my pacing changed and I stopped for a teachable moment about vibrations and sound waves when the thunder hit. I then chose to jump to the students getting around the room to work on the math and skip the frontal teaching all together. That worked and the storm subsided as the students were deep in the math work around the room.

The concept of split focus allowed me to notice the students were understandably distracted from what I was teacher, math, and I chose to change my plans according to the students’ reactions. Being too scripted and not even noticing if your “audience” is paying attention or understanding what you are saying is just bad teaching. Teachers, like actors, must live in the moment and be flexible.