Teacher, Teacher?

[Teri Embrey]

Help, please! I’ve been to quite a few carving club shows over the past year and have had a lot of requests for classes/seminars. So far, I’ve said “no�, or at best, “maybe someday� – fear of being in front of people is a big reason, but more importantly I really don’t know where to even begin to teach anything meaningful. I’ve never taken any classes for carving or painting (no doubt I need it!) and I’m just not sure what I really have to offer.



If I were to muster the courage to try and teach something, what are the important things that people might want to learn from someone like me? We all KNOW it isn’t carving safety tips Red Face



Thanks,

Teri

[Irish]

Hi Teri,

If I can be so bold to start this discussion to your question ...

Teach the Basics! Teach the Creativity! Teach the Joy!

I, personnally, don't think that there is anything as important as the most basic steps, techniques, and principles behind our craft. Mike's and my website is a teaching site and the Number One question that we get is ..... Wait for it ..... "How do I get the pattern on to the wood?" We have even had people e-mail to ask how they get their wood through their computer printer so the printer can put the pattern onto the plaque! No kidding on that one.

Most of our visitors have never tried any craft, hobby, or art. They have never had a knife or pencil in their hand, they have never used a pattern, never bought wood, they have no idea what a bench hook is and if I said to them "clamp it down with the dog" they would just stare at me. The last time our students did anything like wood carving was way back in high school.

Plus there is no one at home that does arts or crafts. It's not like it use to be (see me dating myself as one of the Old Folk here). Mom, Dad, or that favorite Uncle that whittled the faces on the walking sticks just are not around anymore. Sometimes it seems there is no time in today's busy world to explore the joy of creativity ... get up, go to work, come home, take the kids somewhere, go to bed, all to start it again tomorrow.

So, the principle behind anything I teach on the site is K.I. S. S. - Keep It Super Simple! Show them pieces of wood and tell them the names, tell them about buying wood through a mail order wood store, tell them about grain, what grain is and why it's important ... that sort of thing!

If you teach just the very basics two important things will happen in any classroom. Your students will get a strong foundation for their craft which they will use throughout their life time of carving. Second, your joy of carving will come through your words. That joy is contagious and will ignite your students creative spark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have always believe that there are many more qualified carvers that can teach specific techniques and advanced styles of carving. My place in wood carving is the Kindergarden class and I am very happy there. If I can excite one student into trying carving after the class is over I have done a good day's job. If I can intise one student to sign up for First Grade then I have done a great job!

Just my ideas .... Susan

[birdcarver7]

hello teri,i,ve just been looking at your web site,if you want my humble opinion,go for itBouncing S ,you have a lot talent to share with others,and they will be the winner,hope it works out well for you,may the classes begin:>))))))))

[Hugh]

Teri, look at your work, you are a very accomplished carver, why wouldn't people want to learn from you. Your apparently self taught, so your techniques and ideas are basically original. I would encourage you to share what you know, you certainly have nothing to be apprehensive about. I taught a Senior Adult Sunday School class for 19 yrs, people that knew more than I did about the Bible. Someone was needed to do it, so they elected me, it was a challenge, but enjoyable, In actual fact, I was the student, and the class became the teacher.
When I teach a carving class the first thing is to prepare a written lesson plan, the secret for me is to keep to the lesson plan, the time is planned, step by step, concentrate on keeping to the procedure. Don't be afraid of what you don't know, teach the things that you do know. Start a small class, a few people that your familiar with, find something that they want to do, and get your feet wet. Its like anything the more you do it, the easier it gets. I only have a small group that I teach carving to, so I'm certainly not an expert. I live by the Popeye theory, I YAM WHO I YAM. Go girl go, your sitting on a gold mine.
WHEN I STARTED THIS POST, THERE WERE NO RESPONSES, BY THE TIME IT WAS TYPED TWO PEOPLE HAD POSTED. Wink

[squbrigg]

Hi Terri, When I look at your work, I am stunned by their beauty and surprised by the emotion that they evoke. Speaking in public, teaching, or addressing a group of any size can be some folks biggest fear! Let me try to address this part of the discussion.

Susan has it, Hugh has it, I have it, and weither you know it or not, you have it! It is the "ability" to pass on the skills that you have work all your life at gaining. You take your skills for granted, you carve, finish, paint and barely are aware that you are doing it. This "ability" to pass on those skills, is a skill that is a lot simpler to achieve than you realize, fear is the only thing that stands in your way. Right?

In my working life time, I have taught many things, to large groups and small, and the principal is the same. Focus on people one at a time. Talk to one person in the crowd at a time, don't try to address the group as a whole or the size will overwhelm or intimmidate you. As you speak, skip from person to person, establishing eye contact with the next person and hold it there for a while.

The most important aspect of teaching, is knowing your subject.... of that there is no question! Prepare yourself.....organize what you want to say, and how you want to show it, make notes, or cards for each step, and walk it through with a friend or family member. Have fun with it, and relax. The students "want" to be there and learn your secrets, so they will listen. As the others say, start with a small group. They are just people like yourself, who want to learn. You are a wonderfully gifted artist, you can do this!

Good luck and happy carving.

Bob

[Callynne]

Teri, I agree with what the others have said! You have a unique talent, it would be wonderful to share that with others. I'm sure you won't have a lack of students wanting to learn.

Given that you've already done articles on both carving and painting, I think you will be able to do a great job actually teaching 'live'! I know I'd love to take a class! Good luck! Callynne

[Teri Embrey]

Thanks for such encouragement, you guys. Tell me, though, what are some questions I might try to explore "teachable" answers to? What would you want to ask or come away with?

Thanks for your indulgence in this idea with me.

Teri

[Just Carving]

Hi Teri

You don't know me, but I can tell you from personal experience that there is no greater satisfaction than to give a small bit of yourself and help someone realize their potential. I have seen what's called, "Making that light come on", many times when I taught rescue classes. You will come across that opportunity when you're teaching one on one with a student, and you will reach that student and her face will light up with a slight smile and you'll get "Oh I get it". What's even better is encouraging and teaching someone a skill that she wouldn't even think of trying never mind accomplishing. I wish I could tell you of all the times I taught a small petite young lady how to rip a door off a car, and then watched her do it by herself. Talk about a kid with a sun bursting SMILE on a rainy day! Or showing a teenager a skill with some small little insignificant tip and then 4 or 5 years later, he uses that skill and that particular tip to save the day and a life to boot. That's the ultimate high! (I know I am bragging but I don't get to mount my soapbox and brag at the Squad anymore, so I's got to get it outta my system somehow! Besides, I got a captive audience! LOL)

I don't want to rehash what others have said here already, but there is one thing that I want to reinforce.

I have taught quite a variety of skills to the toughest, most "diversified" bunch of great people--firefighters and emergency medical care personnel. They can be rough--and believe me, you don't want to cross paths with an "old hand" without being prepared. So as others have told you here, preparation is the key--know yer stuff--forward, backward, and inside out. And keep on learning. If you teach, you will learn, and you will have a host of other opportunites come your way. And if an old hand does give you a hard time, turn the tables on him, and ask him "So, how would you do it?" You'll give him an opportunity to teach, and you might learn something too. You'd be surprised how many great friends you make when you do this.

Like most people, you will find that sometimes it will be difficult. But with each challenging moment, there's the satisfaction that you've accomplished that challenge--just like completing a new and different type of carving for the first time.

Start out teaching lessons one on one, and take it from there.

By thinking outside the box, and fine tuning an idea to your abilities and desires, you can accomplish whatever you want! I did.

Good Luck
Bob

[Just Carving]

I just saw your post after I posted.

what are some questions I might try to explore "teachable" answers to? What would you want to ask or come away with?

Think back to questions and experiences you have had while learning, and the answers that you have gleaned over the years....teach what you know. That's a safer way to go when teaching.

Bob

[Hugh]

Teri, try to keep the questions coming from the area you are concentrating or working on. If you have a lesson plan, stick to that, and the questions should be related to that area of teaching for that particular session. It's necessary to control this aspect of teaching in order to maintain your teaching plan. If there are other questions about future parts of the project, then just say, when we get to that part, I will make it clear. If its an unrelated question, leave it until after class and discuss it with that person alone. I once critisised a Minister about a particular part of scripture that he left out of his sermon. His response, Hugh, I can't preach the whole bible in half an hour.
IN MY PREVIOUS POSTING THIS MORNING, I SAID WHEN I STARTED THIS POST, I SHOULD HAVE SAID WHEN I STARTED TYPING A RESPONSE TO THIS POST. SORRY FOR THE ERROR. I HOPE MY WIFE DOSEN'T FIND OUT THAT I MAKE MISTEAKS, SHE THINKS I'M PERFECT