Talking Out of School: High-Stakes Tests
April 16, 2020
Imagine if you will… a music class in inner-city Miami. Kids of all cultures blending together in the most amazing heterogeneity. Influences from calypso, congo, bolero, Afro-Cuban jazz, hip-hop, southern roots rock, salsa, merengue, and more. They all meet together in the music room as an educator tells the narratives of our cultures through notes on the page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRMbMlLTm84 Kids are cultured, they have a release, they have an escape from the demands of their day. It’s likely the only time they can express themselves in this way, and maybe the only time they’ll get to do it in their…
Why Improv Comedy Is Being Used to Teach High Schoolers Leadership Skills
February 18, 2020
Imagine a school where students are funny — On purpose. Now imagine a school where being funny makes students better learners. That is what’s happening for Chicago Public High School students who are developing improvisational theater skills intended to help them become more successful in engaging with their peers, the outside world, and potential employers. Through traditional improv techniques like incorporating agreement, cooperation, and the elimination of judgment, students have the ability to replace awkwardness with confidence. It’s an example of the kind of hands-on learning that uses practical skills not found in traditional classroom settings. Ian Williams is proof…
