The Clay Teacher Blog: Where has all the ego gone?

Thursday we had a morning workshop with special needs Kinders and then in the afternoon, we worked with grade 6. The young ones made coil pots. I wasn't sure of the abilities of special needs Kinders, so I thought a coil pot would be a good place to start. We have done coil pots with pre K to seniors and one thing I have found is that the younger the student the better and faster the coil pot gets built. These little guys just jumped right in and did it. We had flowers, letters, lids and handles in no time at all. They had fun building and did not get in their own way. There was no ego, none of, is this okay, is this right, is this nice, or just shut down because they were unsure. I often can't tell the difference between a K pinch pot and one made by an older student, expect the K's don't take nearly as long to finish. They did a great job.

After lunch we worked with Grade 6 making Big Mouth Beavers. They too did a great job, but by the time students get to Grade 6, ego and insecurity has often gotten their way. One boy wanted to quit before he started. It took a bit of working with him to get him going. It is a fine line to walk. Do it all for him, or do nothing and let him fail. However by the end of the workshop he joined in and made a great Beaver wearing a ball cap and eating a cookie. Other students, each step of the way, was …is this okay…. is this right… will you make this for me…. I can’t do it.... are you sure this is okay. Not all of them of course, but there was a lot more fear of failure in the Grade 6’s than the Kinders. I kept telling the older kids, there are no rules, it is a Big Mouth Beaver, if you like it, it is right! Listen to that feeling in your tummy that tells you it is right, or wrong. I am not sure what happens to the kids from Kinder to Grade 6, but as they get older, somehow they are getting in their own way and letting fear and insecurity over ride their egos. I have seen kids break down and cry over playing with a ball of mud. By the end of the workshop everyone was on track and having a great time. The work speaks for it's self. Here is a link to facebook and the video of the Big Mouths.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=489485241117024

Tomorrow will be fun, we are making Iroquois masks with Grade 6. Masks are one of my favourite workshops, especially the Iroquois, because they meant to be crooked so there is no wrong way to make it.

Cheers.