Workshop week energizes teachers and students
at the Newark Center for Creative Learning
The sense of accomplishment that 10-year-old Tim felt showed in the huge grin spreading across his face.
The past week his list of achievements included learning some new computer skills, block printing and how to marbleize on different surfaces. And he managed it all without missing a single class. But then, there weren't any to miss.
For the past 28 years, the Newark Center for Creative Learning has disbanded classes three times a year to hold one of its popular workshop weeks.
"We like to use a lot of different ways of teaching reading, writing and math skills," said center director Bette Balder. "Many of the classes on the surface look like fun, which they are, but involve reading, following directions and math skills."
Approximately 50 students submit suggestions for added learning experiences. A list is compiled, the children make selections and the staff tries to accommodate them on their top three choices.
Teachers and parents provide a wide range of instruction on activities such as photography, basketball and advertising. One class included a trip to a law court.
Michael, 21, a senior business major at the University of Delaware, works in the after-school program. This week he took on the role of art teacher as he shared with the students his hobby - mosaics. For him, the class provided a different perspective on the children.
"I get to see them be creative," said Bennett, who is usually shooting hoops after school with students. "I see how their minds work a little better."
"The workshop week classes do the same as a camping trip," said teacher Marilynn Magnani. "You see the different parts of kids, like how they manage organizational skills and how they cope with situations that are different than academic classes."
But the enriched atmosphere turned the tables and gave the students a new spin on their instructors.
Liza, 10, discovered that teachers like Ray Magnani have photography skills.
Molly, 12, saw the week as an opportunity to reconnect with teachers like Marilynn who had taught her when she was younger.
And the workshops gave everyone the chance to connect with their creativity. One of the most imaginative classes was called gnomes.
Yes, gnomes.
The children taking the workshop assembled the fairy tale creatures out of pipe cleaners. Tailored felt clothes completed their magical look.
There were gnomes as angels. Gnomes as skaters. Gnomes as rock stars.
And a couple of gnome Nativity scenes.
"You never have enough gnomes," said Emily, 10.
Mike, 12, started the week fabricating a Jersey Devil gnome and then a werewolf. His creativity inspired Matt, and together they made gnomes for Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," complete with the sound of a beating heart.
Then something other then creativity was sparked. Mike read some of Poe's works.
"I found that Edgar Allan Poe was a great writer," Mike said.
"One of the interesting things that occurs," Marilynn said, "is that some of the best classes are on the edge of chaos - not in management, but where they are going. The real learning and real creativeness is at the edge."
The students weren't the only ones who ventured into unknown territory. Teachers like Sean Kerrane also learned new skills.
Kerrane, who teaches the writing program, volunteered to provide woodworking instruction. Although the touch of a pen or keyboard had a more familiar feel than a tool. Kerrane didn't let his lack of expertise stop him. A trip to a lumber store helped him pick up the lingo and the supplies he needed. Although there were a few mistakes, the teacher learned alongside the students.
"It shakes up your teaching in a variety of ways," Kerrane said. "It energizes you."And what would workshop week be without some delectable aromas like garlic and olive oil floating through the air? So popular are the culinary experiences that two classes had to be arranged.
The classes came at just the right time, too. Most of what the students made - fudge, maple walnut cookies and cranberry walnut bread - became Christmas presents.
The workshops are something of a rite of passage since they are available only to the older students. Rae, 9, said the entire experience was an eye-opener. Last year Rae attended public school.
"They wouldn't trust us with all this stuff," Rae said about the mosaics and the tools needed to cut them.
The workshop was a hit even with those who have attended many of them before."This is one of the best workshops we've had in a long time." said Nathan, 13, who worked on mosaics.As the end of the week drew to a close, Nathan, who will be going to high school next year, found himself feeling a little bummed out.
"I'll be in the middle of crunching for a big test this time next year," he said. "I'll be missing this."News Journal 1-2000
