Leonard Madrid is not a small man. He stands at six feet and four inches. On the stage at West Mesa High School's performing arts center he is even taller. Though, he instructs class in a calm and steady voice, the words don't really make sense.
" You can zip a zap, but you can't boing a zap. You also can't boing a boing.", he sounds almost Seussian, but for the lack of a striped top hat. These are the words of wisdom spoken by the man selected as Teacher of the Year.
"Mr. Madrid teaches class in an interesting manner. His diverse background in theatre leads him to teach everything as hands-on.", states Amy Eveleth, Vice Principal at West Mesa.
"He doesn't just treat us like students. He treats us like young professionals" says Felicia Fellange who is the current Thespian President. "We don't just talk about making theatre, we actually make it."
Madrid is no stranger to national awards, he has received the Kennedy Center's Award for Latino Playwrights three times. This is, however, his first award for teaching.
Wow! Mr. Madrid's class sounds like a world full of special effects and a magical language. What parent wouldn't want their child to be involved in such a creative and untraditional environment. Where do I sign her up?
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas about teaching by practice instead of focussing too much on theory. This helps a student retain interest in learning, as does your use of humor witin the classroom. I'm not familiar with the way drama is generally taught, so I don't know how much theory is needed in such a class, or how much fun is too much fun. Is high school drama a cross-disciplinary course, or is it mostly acting exercises and set design? I've never taken one so I don't know.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you treat your students as young professionals. I think by treating your students as young professionals especially at the high school level is important because it allows the students to think of themselves in a good way and gets them ready for the next stage in life whether it is going to college or getting a job in the real world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all three. I think this class would be fun and I think Mariko said it right that treating your students as young professionals is important. Like Rich I've never taken a theatre class but if I did...I think your class would be fabulous!
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