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