Secret Identities Blown

Posted by Rachel on October 14, 2008 at 03:36 PM
After School Program

We recently completed week four of the Loyola Park after school program, and with three groups of students at different age levels, this year’s program includes kids a full year younger than ever before. Joe and I are teaching the youngest group, 7-9 year olds, and they are some savvy children.

I’ve always questioned the feasibility of Superman transforming into Clark Kent simply by putting on glasses. Because I’m a cruel woman who likes to confuse children, I introduced the Loyola Park kids to my own alter ego. In the first week, they met Rachel . . . in glasses.

In the second week, I wore contacts. At first, the children were fooled. “Who are you?” they asked me. “You’re not Rachel.”

“Oh, but I am,” I said. “I just left my glasses at home.” They eyed me warily for a while, and then decided to accept me in my new incarnation.

Last week, Joe wore glasses to class for the first time. Chaos ensued.

“Who is that man? That’s not Joe! What are you doing here?” the children cried.

Joe tried to tell them he was an alien, but they didn’t buy it. Bet they wouldn’t have bought it from Superman either.

Despite our best efforts to sew mistrust and mayhem, the children have adapted to our guises. They won’t be fooled again.

TWG October 13th, 2008

Posted by Heidi on October 13, 2008 at 11:24 AM
That's Weird Grandma

Happy Columbus Day! I hope many of you get to take the extra long weekend day, especially in Chicago where the weather is so unseasonably pleasant. At least this second.

This week we have two brand-spanking-new stories to add to the mix. Golf Scorpions will introduce you to a villain you’d never heard of before, whereas The Hooks of the Seven Seas will teach you about why it’s helpful to have a hook for a hand, among other things. If that doesn’t quite make sense you’ll just have to come to the show tonight for the full details.

Full running order after the jump!

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Fancy

Posted by Heidi on October 8, 2008 at 03:47 PM
General Miscellaneous

Preparations for Fancy are going well. The auction is well-rounded, the hats have been decorated,  the centerpieces are nearing completion.  It’s going to be a smashing evening. There’s just one thing we’re missing: you!

I know, I know, you are planning to come. You’ve put it in your calendar, talked to your friends, thought about your outfit. You just haven’t bought your ticket yet. But that’s ok! You still have time! If you don’t want to pay the convenience fee, just mail a check with your pertinent contact information written out to our office (the address is just over there to the right). You can also call 773-281-0638 between 10am and 6pm weekdays and buy a ticket right over the phone.

If we don’t raise enough money at Fancy, there will be a lot more blog posts about fund raising in the year to come…so do your part to keep the blog light. Buy a ticket to fancy!

Henderson, Y’all!

Posted by Chris on October 7, 2008 at 12:47 PM
School Workshops

Hello, please.  Chris Mathews here, perennial newbie to the BoM crowd.  So, this session marks my first entrance into the BoM workshop teaching circuit.  As such, I have been nominated to be the Henderson Residency Blogger.  As I am new to this world and all that surrounds me in it, let me be your entry point into the story (I will be your Wolverine in X-Men, your young, unnecessary white guy in Hellboy, your Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October).  You will learn, as I learn, what volunteer teaching for the Barrelses of Monkeyses is all about and how to navigate its Russian Nuclear Sub infested waters with glee.  er….Henderson Elementary School.

But I am not afraid.  Nor should you be, as I’ve got some of the most seasoned and spirited BoM crusaders in the company to stand at my side, ushering me into games such as ‘impersonate a banana and peel yourself like one,’ ‘act like sleepy zombies and move your desk to the side of the room,’ and ‘how to respond when one of the students already knew I was clumsy because I have a “clumsy face”’ (a physiognomic truth I am familiar with, daily).  On the roster is MC Christina Anthony, BeardMaster Joe Schupbach, Czech Rani Waterman, the conservatively-adorned Molly Brennan, and Team Leader Dixie Belinda Uffelman, with a guest appearance by Elizabeth “not one of the students” Levy. 

Stay tuned for updates as I make my first steps amongst Our Future and teach them how to imagine that toys and pillows will grow from sewer holes if you dig them deep enough. 

Tasty and Tastier

Posted by Rachel on October 6, 2008 at 12:07 PM
School Workshops

The first Monkey residencies of 2008-09 are well under way, and Cleveland School got a head start on everyone, starting way back on September 9th. We have two big fourth grade classes, and a faboo teaching team which includes Erick Deshaun Dorris, Sarah Garner, experienced volunteer teacher Katie, and brand new volunteer Lupe.

We’re into the groove of things with these kids, and they’re writing some brilliant stories.

The Cleveland School has produced some of my personal faves over the years, including the cheerleading classics: “Cheerleaders!” and “A Bad Day,” which is currently in Grandma. Why do I like them so much? Well, “Cheerleaders!” gave me the chance to play co-captain of a winning cheer squad, and in “A Bad Day,” two men have a cheer fight to the death over me. Yes, I’m using the children’s stories to live out my childhood dreams, and I make no apologies for it.

On dialogue day, we give students the opportunity to improvise scenes before they sit down and write. Then, at the end of class, we invite the students to share. They can choose to perform their own dialogues or have Monkey teachers act them out. It’s always tempting to plant ideas in the students’ heads of characters we Monkeys would love to play. But we resist.

Last week, the students created brilliant, stage-worthy characters all on their own. Don’t think I wasn’t secretly pleased when two girls chose myself and Katie to read their masterwork dialogue between two friends named Tasty and Tastier. We never know what’s going to make its way into the school show, but regardless, I can now mark “Play character named Tastier” off my list of things to do before I die.