A Teacher's Song: Creative Works for Teachers
60-90 minutes, all teachers
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
~ Marcel Proust
In “Creative Works for Teachers,” teachers are provided
with reminders of their own creativity—their own unique
ways of seeing, doing, and inspiring.
These reminders are offered through story and song.
I usually begin with classroom stories. “Elementary
Observations” recounts some early experiences from
my own educational journey. “Sammy’s Tree” is a
story about a teacher’s effort to create a memorial for a young student, and “Grading Picasso” describes an art teacher’s struggle to assess and assign grades objectively…
I also share some stories about well-known creators.
Did you know that Vincent van Gogh only sold one picture in his lifetime? Did you know that when John Steinbeck turned in The Grapes of Wrath manuscript, he told his publisher it wasn’t any good? Did you know that Johann Sebastian Bach had a tendency to improvise while playing the organ, which greatly annoyed his congregation? Did you know that Steve Jobs was a college dropout?
Through all the stories I share, I hope to remind each teacher of his or her own story, his or her own creative journey—aspirations, struggles, and accomplishments. So reminded, my hope is that each teacher’s creative journey will be a source of personal pride, as well as a source of inspiration for others.
Music is an essential part of what I offer. I weave Celtic and classical music, children’s songs and Appalachian folk songs through the stories I tell.
Click here for sample stories. | Click here for sample music.
Whether it’s the performing arts, the literary arts, the visual arts, or the folk arts, one’s creative expression is simultaneously a personal expression. I honor this expression.
I would welcome the opportunity to share “A Teacher’s Song: Creative Works for Teachers” at your school or professional meeting.
Thanks for your consideration.
Joe Shannon
* More information: Rationale for "Creative Works for Teachers" |
