Memorable responses to Class Acts 2011-2012

After each Class Acts performance, teachers are emailed a link to a brief survey about their experience.  They are asked to share their comments, as well as the comments of their students.  Below are the highlights of responses received for shows in the 2011-2012 Class Acts season.  Many thanks to the students, teachers, artists, staff, volunteers and our series sponsor, PNC Bank for making this great season possible.

Students were very engaged.  I saw many instances of carry-over of concepts over the next few days.  One student commented, "He was hilarious."  When I responded, "Yes, he was funny."  she said, "No--hilarious!"  I heard several students quote the presenter throughout the day.

-          6^th grade teacher attending Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science

Both the students and I loved the performance and it was a gateway to discuss important issues back in the classroom.  It made me laugh and it made me cry.  Excellent performance!

-          4^th grade teacher attending Danny, King of the Basement

The topic coincided perfectly with our Unit of Inquiry about Heroes.  Within this unit we are studying Civil Rights.  The actors made the characters we have only read about or seen pictures of come alive.  It was very meaningful.

-          3^rd grade teacher attending The Color of Justice

I thought the performance was great! It really kept the students on the edge of their seats (literally) and tied right into our unit on simple machines! 

-          3^rd grade teacher attending Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science

I really liked the connection to children's literature.  My students enjoyed seeing stories that they had read "come to life."

-          3^rd grade teacher attending Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books

I had seen Gary Krinsky's performance before and was excited to see him return because it is one of the best Class Acts I've seen.  He makes the learning seem like a magic act and kept all of the students’ attention the entire time.   My students said he was awesome.  I watched them laughing and staying focused the entire time. 

-          3^rd grade teachers attending Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science

The Class Acts performances can often bring history and literature to life.  The students can see the fun in learning when it is something live presented to them.  It is a nice option to have to supplement school.

-          Homeschool parent of a 6^th grade student attending The Color of Justice

My students enjoyed the production immensely and look forward to seeing another production soon!  One student said that she wanted to be on stage with the actors and wanted to be the main character's little sister. :)

-          6^th grade teacher attending The Color of Justice

My students and I LOVED the performance.  They talked about the puppets all the way back to school and during our lunch.  The children commented on how the puppets looked so real.  Some shared how the puppets looked like the illustrations in the book.

-          1^st grade teacher attending Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

This presentation fit in perfectly with our Science curriculum. Mr. Krinsky was very entertaining and kept the attention of all the kids and teachers. :)  They all thought it was really cool!

-          4^th grade teacher attending Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science

My students were very engaged and entertained.  They loved the connections to the literature that they have already read.

-          1^st grade teacher attending Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books

I loved that it was set to music! The kids were highly engaged throughout the entire production!  This is the second year we have attended a Class Acts performance at Sangamon Auditorium. I have been greatly impressed by the professionals and organization of the day. It is often difficult for me to find field trips that all of my students with Autism and other disabilities will enjoy and be engaged with. They were engaged throughout the performance this year! My students have enjoyed both shows and I look forward to taking them to view another!

-          Teacher of a K-3 special education class attending Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books

Their comments were very simple. They said "it was good." It was a bit hard for some of them to understand the story as they are all students with special needs and lower cognitive ability. However, bringing them to the play is a great way to help them practice their social and daily living skills.

-          Teacher of 7^th-8^th grade learning disabled students who attended A Thousand Cranes

Excellent!  Enjoyed the smaller atmosphere.  Brought a tough and serious topic to real life for students.  Really like the feeling of learning outside the classroom.  It provides a different outlook to education, and it provides variety rather than just reading a textbook.  They bring lessons to life.

-          Homeschool parent of a 6^th grade student attending Through the Eyes of a Friend: The World of Anne Frank

The topic was excellent.  I hope it helped open some of my students’ eyes (and hearts) so they will be more understanding of their peers that are living in poverty.  Many students never get the opportunity to attend a play and they are in awe of the whole experience.

-          5^th grade teacher attending Danny, King of the Basement

Students related what the characters went through in the play to their own lives and their friends.  They felt empathy for the characters.  For some it was the first play they had ever seen.

-          4^th-5^th grade teachers who attended Danny, King of the Basement

Our school has a high percentage of poverty children who would never get to see anything like that if we did not go to the class acts. Thanks so much.

-          Kindergarten teacher attending Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

My son came home and wanted me to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to him right away, and many times since then.  My second grader loved that they showed how they moved the puppets after the performance. She was sitting there the whole time guessing about how it was done, so she loved seeing "behind the scenes."  My almost 5-year-old would break out into spontaneous clapping he was so into the story. The production was so well-done the entire audience was interacting without any prompting at all...a great early theater experience.

-          Homeschool parent attending Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

I loved the performance!  The actors were fun and kept the children entertained...adults too!  I saw many of our students laughing throughout the performance...I think that says it all.

-          Teacher of a 3-year-old preschool class attending Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books