New Teacher Conference (NTConISU) keynote speaker Michael Vetere has a message for alumni educators who will be attending the June 26 event: “Get ready to play!”
Since his days as an elementary educator, Vetere has been serious proponent of play in the classroom. Now an associate professor in the School of Theatre and Dance, he inspires current and future educators to similarly instill creativity and play into their teaching.
“Play allows us to release emotions, connect with our inner child, allows us to explore,” he said. “And it’s free, we can just do it. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, you can use anything to find avenues of play.”
Vetere’s areas of expertise include theatre, creative dramatics, and puppetry. His main presentation to the expected audience of 150+ educators at NTConISU will help the practitioners discover unique ways to engage students in learning by sparking their curiosity in the classroom.
He will also lead two separate hands-on workshops, one focused on the elementary level, the other on secondary education.
Not lost on Vetere are the challenges of maintaining one’s personality and creativity in the classroom while still adhering to the Common Core State Standards and the specific methods espoused by schools and districts.
FBI Agent Swartman poses with Associate Professor Michael Vetere as they search for reading clues.
“When I first taught I had a structured curriculum, and I had to find the balance between implementing a formalized structure while adding my own personality to it,” he said. “The same is true of educators today. It is a major challenge, but not an insurmountable one.”
He points to a science unit he taught at the elementary level. Vetere used giant puppetry and creative dramatics to introduce students to underwater sea creatures, all the while teaching the art forms of painting, performance, and movement.
But make no mistake, creativity is a team effort says Vetere. The teacher educator is quick to point out that he has leaned on colleagues, and of course, his students, to inspire creative lesson planning. He urges beginning educators not to go it alone.
“Find and use your resources,” he said. “Each educator has a team of people to work with. You have artist practitioners all around you. You have resources in the community such as museums, galleries, and theatres. Just staying alive and connected with one’s community is one of the key ways teachers can spark ideas and integrate play into their teaching.”
To learn more about Vetere’s take on play in the classroom, check out his recent post on ECE Teacher Talk, the official blog of Illinois State’s early childhood education program. Vetere also leads a Saturday morning creative drama class for youth in Bloomington-Normal, as well as Suspended Belief Theatre, a performance- and workshop-based effort between he and Samantha Maggio, a fellow puppet artist. Follow Vetere on Twitter @ToadlyFrog.
And if you’re an Illinois State alum who will be completing your first-fourth semester of teaching come June, we hope to see you at #NTConISU on Friday, June 26! Attendance is free and includes CPDUs. But hurry, registration closes June 15.
Want a little more motivation? Attendees will receive giveaway packages inclusive of a “teacher survival kit” for their classrooms and some sweet Illinois State swag!
