With all the testing that is required in states and schools now many schools and teachers are cutting musical programs. Or they are cutting out the big program that they used to do at the end of the year that displayed their students talents. This is extremely unfortunate because these programs provide valued memories for our children in the future.. I am “older” and “mature” and “retire” yet I have forty year old x-students that still meet me today and say “Do you remember when you made me the Santa Claus in our program?” Even though my memory is fading I usually do remember. The question that I would like to turn around and ask these x-students is “Do the remember anything that I taught in the classroom?” I’m sure their answer would be no.
We are stealing memories from our students by cutting these memorable times out of their lives. I feel the answer to this is to have plays and programs that are easy to put together and require less practice time. These plays or programs can be put together in a 2 or 3 week period with a minimal amount of practice. They require little memorizing and give ways that you can conceal a script or use a narrator with a script and just have the students act out the parts. The students still get to get on stage and take parts and display their talents.
Music could be taught by the music teacher all year long and then put in at the appropriate places. Better yet use music that is well known that the students already know.
Another way to give them these memories is to do mini programs throughout the year that require very little practice as use it as an assembly. Such as for Red Ribbon Week, Veterans Day, Presidents Day, Flag Day, Valentines Day, Constitution Day, Christmas School Sing Along Programs, and End of the year programs that include all the seasons and songs that you have already taught and just need to review. Maybe you could do a short program assembly using books for when you do a book fair. There as so many days in the year that could be celebrated with a short assembly program put on by a classroom in a school. And if there are not enough days then make up a day and have your own celebration and do a fairy tale play, a pets day play, a celebrate the world day fashion show.
The main focus is to give students a chance to use and develop their talents. As one little boy did that told me once that he wanted to be front and center on the stage, but he didn’t want his face seen. What do you do? Well, we made him the unknown comic, stuck a paper sack on his head, cut slots for his eyes and gave him a mike. He brought down the house with his jokes. He later went on to play parts without a sack on his head because he felt so good about himself.
Just don’t do away with programs and plays altogether or you will loose student memories.
Caroline Mackay is a retired teacher with 37 years experience in teaching and educating students in the elementary schools. She wrote, produced, and directed plays and programs to encourage the display of patriotism, how to stay drug free, celebrate holidays and encourage physical fitness. Being artless herself she developed some Art Starts to encourage her students to express themselves through art. Making education an exciting fun experience she developed games and learning activities to keep the students engaged in the learning experience. She is the host of www.ezeducationplays.com where you can find plays that teach and entertain children.
We are stealing memories from our students by cutting these memorable times out of their lives. I feel the answer to this is to have plays and programs that are easy to put together and require less practice time. These plays or programs can be put together in a 2 or 3 week period with a minimal amount of practice. They require little memorizing and give ways that you can conceal a script or use a narrator with a script and just have the students act out the parts. The students still get to get on stage and take parts and display their talents.
Music could be taught by the music teacher all year long and then put in at the appropriate places. Better yet use music that is well known that the students already know.
Another way to give them these memories is to do mini programs throughout the year that require very little practice as use it as an assembly. Such as for Red Ribbon Week, Veterans Day, Presidents Day, Flag Day, Valentines Day, Constitution Day, Christmas School Sing Along Programs, and End of the year programs that include all the seasons and songs that you have already taught and just need to review. Maybe you could do a short program assembly using books for when you do a book fair. There as so many days in the year that could be celebrated with a short assembly program put on by a classroom in a school. And if there are not enough days then make up a day and have your own celebration and do a fairy tale play, a pets day play, a celebrate the world day fashion show.
The main focus is to give students a chance to use and develop their talents. As one little boy did that told me once that he wanted to be front and center on the stage, but he didn’t want his face seen. What do you do? Well, we made him the unknown comic, stuck a paper sack on his head, cut slots for his eyes and gave him a mike. He brought down the house with his jokes. He later went on to play parts without a sack on his head because he felt so good about himself.
Just don’t do away with programs and plays altogether or you will loose student memories.
Caroline Mackay is a retired teacher with 37 years experience in teaching and educating students in the elementary schools. She wrote, produced, and directed plays and programs to encourage the display of patriotism, how to stay drug free, celebrate holidays and encourage physical fitness. Being artless herself she developed some Art Starts to encourage her students to express themselves through art. Making education an exciting fun experience she developed games and learning activities to keep the students engaged in the learning experience. She is the host of www.ezeducationplays.com where you can find plays that teach and entertain children.
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