We just taught our sixth and final workshop day at the Chalmers School, and yes, it was rewarding, and yes, the children were amazing, and yes, it warmed our hearts. But also . . . we got candy. And lovely beaded necklaces ceremonially presented by the children.
Yes, that Crunch bar wrapper is empty. It couldn’t wait for the picture.
Of course we don’t do it for the loot, but don’t think I won’t treasure my Chalmers souvenir. A few years ago, after a residency at the Haines School in Chinatown, a resource teacher who’d been watching us from afar gave all the Monkey teachers necklaces with the character for the year of the monkey. I’ve since been told that it does not actually represent the year of the monkey, nor a monkey, nor anything relating to a monkey, but I love it all the same.
Whenever I have to do something that makes me nervous, or when I have a lot of writing to do that seems overwhelming, I wear my year-of-the-monkey necklace and think about the children writing, and it gives me superpowers. I know it’s cheesy, but I’m not even lying. That’s how it works.
Since we’re just wrapping up classes as this blog is launched, I’ll catch you up to date with a few more posts in the coming weeks. And rehearsals for this school show start Saturday, so I’ll keep you up to date on that as well!
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