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Wolfgang's Turn to Explain Routines

9/17/2014

Alien the art room puppet has recently starred in videos about how to visit the nearest bathroom and how to wash your hands properly. I figured it was time that Wolfgang, my other puppet, was featured. And, yes, my students were requesting it anyway!

And how did it work? Well, instead of me explaining this to class after class after class after class... the video was shown, took only two minutes, and... drum roll please... the students applauded! And then- the best part is they all used the drying rack perfectly! Even the kindergarteners! It is so darn effortless for me now- after all the video work and editing- ok, I'll admit that really DID take some time and effort.

Wolfgang and I have discovered that students listen to a puppet more closely than an adult. And I bet you would too.

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Alien the Puppet Explains Hand Washing

9/15/2014

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In my last post, I explained how I had my puppet, Alien, explain how to sign out of the art room and go to the nearest bathrooms. Boy, did I have fun with this! I actually had him "walk" down the hall to show the kids which bathrooms to use. I showed that video to all my K-5 classes the first week of school and it was so effective I started thinking about other videos I could make about other classroom procedures.

The next video that I needed to show on the second day of classes was about washing your hands. Now I know that sounds really silly, but if you are an elementary school art teacher, you certainly know why instruction is needed. (I have had lots of kids, especially those cute kindergarteners, NOT know that they have to rub their hands together. And many students have asked me where the garbage can is- in June!)

How can I tell this video was effective?

I overheard a first grader reminding his friend at the sink, "No, do it this way! Don't you remember what Alien said?" All of my first grade and kindergarten classes had to wash their hands after painting and printmaking (yeah, really messy), and it went so smoothly after showing the video, I could not believe it!

Now I need a video about using the drying rack. Gotta go!

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My Amazing Teaching Discovery: Puppets + Video!

9/13/2014

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Classroom routines. Ya gotta have them, ya have to teach them. When I taught kindergarten and first grade and had the same students all day, every day, routines were relatively easy to introduce and go over as needed. When I started teaching 20 or more different groups each week, the art room routines were, let's say, a bit more challenging for the students to remember.

With all those different classes, I had to repeat myself. Yeah, I had to repeat myself...a lot! For years, I have been trying to think of a way to teach routines and procedures effectively and take up less class time doing it. Well, I think I've got it! It only took me 19 years of teaching art (and 30 years total teaching experience) to figure it out. Use video!

Yes! I could make videos of all the routines and I wouldn't have to repeat myself so much, I wouldn't forget to explain something to a class (as long as I keep a checklist!) and the students would have better retention of the information. At least that is what I have been reading: people learn better with video.

Then it dawned on me. Holy moly, I could use my classroom puppets in the videos! The elementary kiddos love them, I wanted to use them more anyway, and I would not have to be "in" the videos! Well, you know what I mean. Of course, I AM in the videos, and I am the puppet's voice... but the puppet is the "star."

So I tried this out. I had my puppet, Alien, explain how to sign out of the art room and go to the nearest bathrooms. Boy, did I have fun with this! I actually had him "walk" down the hall to show the kids which bathrooms to use. I showed this two minute video to all my K-5 classes the first week of school. They all loved it and they all giggle when he starts "walking." Of course, the kinders and first graders all had to go after they saw it, so I brought the classes down (with Alien, of course) to visit the bathrooms. The older kids wanted to know how I filmed it.

And here is the best part: now all the kids remember the procedure and which bathrooms they need to use! Awesome. No more lost time during class explaining this to students, more time for learning! Was this video effective? A week after seeing this video, a new fifth grade student had to go- but couldn't remember where they were. So I reminded him to sign out, go out the door and take a left at the main hallway. By the look on his face, I could see him remember the images in the video, and he quickly signed out, knowing right where to go.

How could you use video to save time explaining routines to your classes?

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Amy Traggianese

Visual art and arts integration with a techie twist!

I don't like disclaimers, but: none of my ideas expressed in this blog post or website are supported or endorsed in any manner by my employer or anyone else. I just write it as I see it, and that is that.

Wolfgang's Turn to Explain Routines

Alien the Puppet Explains Hand Washing

My Amazing Teaching Discovery: Puppets + Video!

Amy Traggianese

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