Actor's Tools have Many Uses

This post comes from the wonderful, luau-dancing Andrew Jernigan. Andrew is pictured here leading a class in residency work.


After graduating from the Drama Department of UNCSA in 2010, I was well equipped with what the faculty described as a "toolbelt" of techniques to help further my craft in the performance arts. These included methods for enhancing clarity of voice, engagement of body, and active use of the imagination. When combined, the stage can be filled with stimulating story-telling. Of course, no one mentioned that these tools were applicable to teaching elementary students.
When dealing with the short attention span of students aging anywhere between seven and twelve years old, one must be quick on there feet to maintain the interest of the unforgiving geniuses. I try to maintain succinct and articulate speech because a mumbling voice is the first to lose the confidence of listeners. This goes both ways however, as I constantly encourage the children to use their "actor voices" during discussions in the circle, reading aloud the vocabulary words, and while narrating and performing in skits. Whether using a clear voice or not, circle discussions are most often the moments during a class that invite fidgetiness. To regain the focus of the class, I jump up and try to enliven the lesson by using my body as an interactive example. Whether I morph into a Volcano, an organism in a specific ecosystem, or even a jackhammer, suddenly the children remember why learning can be a fun part of there daily routine... Even if it does mean making a clown of myself. However, both the voice and body exercises are useless if there is no imagination backing them up, which is what brings me to the most important tool of a teacher artist. All of us constantly throw ourselves into imaginary circumstances when teaching, knowing that children's imaginations work exponentially faster than our own. So, as long as we create a fully visceral beach in the classroom when learning about sand, there shouldn't be a problem with wandering interests. And if all goes well, the reward will probably be an awesome dance party at a Hawaiian luau... Aloha!