The conundrum of the modern educator is that we want to give our students the widest spectrum of learning opportunities possible. However, a multitude of obstacles stand in our way more numerous that we have time and space to list. Planet Improv has been fortunate enough to recently receive grant funding to educate the local student community on violence prevention and safe alcohol use. One might think that should be a quick no brainer yes from educational organizations for their students. However, it is proving to be more of a challenge than we had anticipated. This leads to the ages old deb ..read more

Last week it was Planet Improv’s honor and pleasure to work with the Exception Children (EC) students of Mint Hill Middle School (NC) for our first of two sessions.  What a wonderful experience it was! (Below) is a post on www.medium .com about the spectacularly inclusive nature and benefits of improvisational theatre for developmentally disabled students. What Improv Offers the Differently Abled by Benjamin Lloyd It was March or April 2014. With the help of my brother, I had just opened a small performing arts studio in my hometown of Elkins Park, PA. As I was standing on the sidewalk o ..read more

Did you know that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month? According to the World Health Organization, 70% of people will experience trauma in their lifetime. Trauma involving interpersonal violence has the highest risk for diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Sexual violations and assault account for over 42% of PTSD diagnoses. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as violence in the home, substance abuse, parental mental illness, chronic instability, homelessness, and food insecurity are all considered forms of childhood trauma. (Below) is a post from Dr. Cochran at Ch ..read more

Happy Spring Break everyone. It seems like everywhere I read or listen these days I am seeing or hearing about author Jonathan Haidt’s book, “The Anxious Generation.” In The Anxious Generation, Mr. Haidt explains the major causes of the international epidemic of mental illness that hit adolescents in the early 2010s, and offers a path forward for parents, teachers, friends, and relatives who want to help improve the mental health of children and adolescents. Change is possible, if we can act together. The book is split into four parts (per Mr. Haidt:) The Tidal Wave:In this section, I s ..read more

Renaissance Person – A person who is knowledgeable, educated, or proficient in a wide range of fields. I have always appreciated and respected educators. However, whenever I began spending every day of the week in multiple classrooms with hundreds of students, my appreciation and respect for educators launched into the stratosphere. (Below) is a post from www.boredteachers.com that takes a tongue in cheek approach as to the skills necessary to be a modern educator. You Are So Much More Than Just a Teacher: The Many Hats Educators Wear by Sally White Teachers don’t just teach subjects and mate ..read more

Last week we did an exercise in class called “transportation conversation.” We arranged two chairs as if they were the front two seats and two chairs as if they were the back two seats of a transportation vehicle. We then invited a single student at a time to pull a slip of paper that would start an improv scene in that vehicle while they chose which chair they wanted to sit on. The teacher/facilitator of the activity then responded to the opening line and gave as much information as possible to the student to play off. There was some hesitation at first, but once we got started, it went very ..read more

A few posts ago we introduced you to Neva Boyd and mentioned her Theory of Play. This week in one of our classes we had a female student who didn’t want to communicate because she had a troubling short-term emotional experience in her life. We didn’t force her to participate in our class activities, but before long she volunteered to do so because the rest of the students were having so much laughing, smiling, being creative, using their imagination, and most importantly having fun while playing. (Below) is a post from www.spolin.com that take a deeper dive into Theory of Play and Ms. Boyd’s ..read more

Last week as a continuation of our drama elective classes we continued to add elements that can help make a student a better “actor/actress/communicator.” Specifically, we combined emotions with a monologue. It always surprises me on both ends of the spectrum how easily some students show emotions and how supremely challenging it can be to others. (Below) is a post at merithub.com that discusses the importance of giving students opportunities to express their emotions. How to Make Students Express Their Emotions and Feelings Same as everyone, students also deal with many experiences, emotions ..read more

Last week Planet Improv held a special educational event at a local elementary school. When it concluded, we felt very good about the results. Soon after, we received extensive feedback/constructive criticism on the event. Upon further introspection we were able to objectively digest the feedback/constructive criticism and learn valuable lessons from it. (Below) is a post from learnbright.org that that discusses helping our students manage constructive criticism. 5 Ways to Help Your Students Manage Constructive Criticism Whether you call it constructive criticism or feedback, the errors you p ..read more

“True play is always ‘happifying.’  Play means happiness.  It is characterized by feelings of pleasure which tend to break out in laughter.  Play, like many other things, is best appreciated by seeing children who were without it. ~ Neva L. Boyd “The Theory of Play” One day last week a random social media post began my trip down the educational rabbit hole regarding Neva Boyd and “The Theory of Play.” Below is a brief biography of Ms. Boyd. Over the next few weeks/posts I will offer more information on the Theory of Play and how I have witnessed first-hand, repeatedly, its’ tra ..read more