Two Puppets and a Cup of Enthusiasm



Ms. DiMaria and Kerby

Yummy! I just finished making Scotcheroos for our Reading Council meeting tomorrow. We’re having a salad and dessert potluck to judge entries for the local Young Illustrator’s, Young Author’s, and Poetry Cabaret competitions. As I was mixing my ingredients, I thought about the ingredients of a successful minilesson. Yes, minilessons should be short and snappy, focused and explicit, and connected to prior learning. But what else? Still thinking about yesterday’s post on enthusiasm, I pondered how enthusiasm is a key competent in any successful endeavor in the classroom.

Mrs. Kolbach and the Tooth Fairy

Writer’s Workshop has always been a favorite time of the school day for me. My enthusiasm usually spills over to the kids and they excitedly get down to the business of writing. They view themselves as authors and beg to share their pieces during our share time. Today Ms. Kolbach presented a minilesson that had two additional key ingredients- enthusiasm and novelty by way of …yes… you guessed it- puppets. Ms. Kolbach wrote a script for two puppets and together the puppets taught the kids about dental health. The student’s hung on the puppets’ every word. It was a very effective mode of delivery. Well done Ms. Kolbach!

What are some effective ways you have delivered new content to students/adults?

Enthusiasm

Educator and Puppeteer Markie Scholz

I am always energized by the many opportunities for professional development in my district. One such avenue is our local Reading Council. Last week we had the opportunity to hear educator and puppeteer Markie Scholz. We had the delightful opportunity to hear and speak about using puppetry to enhance our teaching. But wait…that wasn’t all! We also had the chance to make our very own sock puppet. This was quite the experience.

My student intern, Ms. Kolbach, wasn’t able to attend the meeting last week and missed out on all the fun. It was student intern, Ms. DiMaria, to the rescue! Luckily, Ms. DiMaria brought her own supplies and expertise to our room. Ms. DiMaria, had such a good time that she worked with Ms. Kolbach to make a puppet for her dental health unit this week.

One of the things that Markie said was that “Enthusiasm is everything.” So true! It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” How has enthusiasm made a difference in your teaching?

To find out more about Markie and her puppets, visit her website at http://www.dragonsaretooseldom.com/markie.html. Check out the cool “dragon cave” (geodesic dome))where Markie lives with her husband, Dick Termes, artist and inventor of the Termesphere. Markie’s site even includes directions on how to make your own sock puppet. Trust me, it’s addicting. It’s not just for kids or educators in lower elementary. Did I mention that Ms. DiMaria is an intern in a fifth grade classroom! And while your surfing the web, be sure to visit Dick’s site at http://termespheres.com/. Be prepared to be amazed.

  

Ms. DiMaria and Ms. Hoscheid ready to embark on some fun


  

Partners necessary: Mrs. Tautkus rolling a sock on my arm


  

Mrs. Tautkus gluing away


 

Proudly showing off our creations