January 23, 2006

Professional Performing Arts School

High School

    Today was my first day at the Professional Performing Arts School. I was really excited to meet with my participating teacher, Ms. Katz, and to meet the students that I would be working with. When I visited the school’s website a few weeks ago, I learned that several well-known people such as Alicia Keys and Claire Danes are alumni. I was really impressed by this, and I felt so fortunate to be given the opportunity to work in this school. I also found out that even though P.P.A.S. is a public school, students must audition to be accepted. All students study a performing art: musical theater, vocal, acting, or dance. The school is comprised of grades 6-12, and because of the selective process, each grade consists of only about 30 students.  

     The school is located on West 48th Street. It’s a very nice area in Manhattan. Had I not been looking for it, I would have passed the building completely and taken it for another apartment building. The building is actually divided into two separate schools. The first two floors are part of Midtown West, an elementary school. The remaining two floors belong to P.P.A.S. Ms. Katz’s classroom is on the third floor. As I walked down the hallway to her room, I noticed students’ work on the walls, news of upcoming school events, and an entire bulletin board dedicated to Alicia Keys, filled with articles and photographs.   

     Ms. Katz teaches Humanities to the sixth-graders during periods 2 and 3, and French I, II, and III to upper classmen during periods 4, 6, and 7. Because I won’t be teaching the Humanities class, Ms. Katz simply introduced me to the students, and I observed for the rest of the period. The sixth graders are learning about ancient Egypt. In groups, they are writing a song that includes 12 facts they have learned. The students must then combine the lyrics with music and choreography. Next week, they will perform their song and dance in front of the class for a grade. Needless to say, the room was extremely noisy. I expected another teacher or the principal to walk in at any moment to see what all the commotion was about, but no one ever did.  Ms. Katz explained that the students love this since they are all performers. They aren’t shy and they love for the spot light to be on them. A good majority of the students are either in Broadway musicals right now, or have been in the past. One of the girls is currently in musical Hairspray. As I went around to the different groups, I was really impressed by what they have created so far. I can’t wait to see their final presentations.

     During the French classes, Ms. Katz had the students introduce themselves and talk a little bit about their performing art. A couple of students were absent, and Ms. Katz explained to me that they are on location, meaning they are involved in some sort of production elsewhere and can’t attend school. These students usually have a tutor for all of their classes, including French. I found out that one girl in the French I class was in the movie Derailed that came out recently. I was interested in knowing why these students are taking French. Most of them admitted that they are only taking a foreign language because it is a requirement. One student in the 6^th period class told me that she didn’t like any of the other student teachers and she hopes that I’m the one that will change her life. At first, I was really taken back by her brutal honesty. I thought it was a strange comment to make, but the more I thought about it, the more I became eager to take the challenge. I sensed that the students might be a little bored or have lost their interest in French. I really hope that I can turn that around, and help them to become motivated.      

January 31, 2006

Professional Performing Arts School

High School

     Today was my first day of real observations. I didn’t come in last week because the high school students were taking regents exams.

     I sat in the back of the classroom during all three French classes. I noticed that there were books on bookshelves all around the room. The room itself is a decent size, but not large enough to hold 30 desks in an organized manner. The largest French class has 22 students, but since the sixth graders are all in the room at once for Humanities, there has to be enough desks to accommodate them all. Unfortunately, this makes the room look cumbersome and disorganized. There also isn’t a lot of wall space. One entire wall is used as a closet space and the opposite wall has three large windows. At the front of the room is the dry erase board, and in the back is Ms. Katz’s desk, the computer, a mini fridge, a large table, and the smart board. I’m really excited about being able to use the smart board and incorporate images into my lesson presentations.

     In all three classes, the students are reviewing for upcoming exams. The French I students are studying health and the parts of the body. Ms. Katz went over vocabulary words and then played a game of “Simon Dit”.