Jump to content
The Education Forum

Kevin Rowe

Members
  • Posts

    8
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Kevin Rowe

  1. Thanks Dan for the link. It's useful to know what the official line is. I'm still mulling over ideas. I wonder whether I could pluck tricks etc from various periods in history? eg I could first give a juggling demo. Next I could give all the pupils in the class or classes a copy of the ancient tomb painting depicting juggling. They could all get up and have a go at the simple tricks which appear to be depicted. They could take the pictures home with them and show their friends and family how the Ancient Egyptians juggled! Who knows, they may never forget. I shall resume my pondering. Circus Kevin
  2. I'm looking for new ways to develop my work in schools. Juggling and magic went on in Ancient Egypt for example. Is Ancient Egypt on the National Curriculum and studied in schools at any age group? I could teach the kids the tricks which appear to be depicted on ancient tomb paintings. It may bring the subject to life a little? Also Ancient Greece and the Romans - what age group, if any, are taught about these people? Circus Kevin
  3. Hi again folks, I shall now report on yesterday's session with the kids. Last night I was at my magic class. This morning I have taken my van in for service and ridden 3 miles back on my mini penny farthing - much to the amusement of onlookers. Only 9 kids at yesterday's class. The girl who so nearly won the spinning plate was missing which was a shame. The kids had the chance today to go on an array of novelty carts which was great for them. I discovered who the ADHD kids were. One was the lad who confessed to 'throwing a brick at a bloke' in the previous session. He wasn't at this session. The other, rather to my surprise, was the best behaved most hardworking kid of the two sessions. I'd wrongly assumed it was a rather rude, wild, completely undisciplined child. Apparently he was completely normal! This 'rude' child did improve enormously once put on stilts. Rather exeptionally for a boy he was immediately able to walk unaided on them. Girls incidentally are far better than boys on average at primary school age in learning this discipline. This 'rude' child - his behaviour springs to mind rather than his name - then started to regularly appeal to be allowed to take the stilts home. Come to think of it I don't remember any hassles with him after his go on the stilts - maybe I'll remember his name next time! Going back to the lad with ADHD. I asked him if he was on Ritalin. He said he was and had taken his tablets that morning. I'd arrived half an hour early and played football and basketball with them at the start. The 'ADHD' lad had been passing the ball and was generally very sociable. Before being told of his condition I'd assumed he was a brother possibly of a more difficult member of the group. Apparently he goes to Shenstone Lodge residential school in Lichfield. He's unlikely to get the opportunity to develop his circus skills there which is a shame. Acquiring new and different skills is such a confidence booster. Confidence is great for later life. All for now folks Circus Kevin
  4. Hiya folks, I've had a class of ADHD and behavioral problem students this afternoon to teach (8-13yrs).I do the rope through neck trick to start these classes off. It gives me an idea of the sort of kids I'm dealing with from the confessions they make. This afternoon the kid confessed to throwing a brick at a bloke. Going through the early lessons of tricks with ropes, toothbrush twirling, one + two ball juggling tricks and yo-yo's it was fairly chaotic. About 10-12 kids. I don't think they sat still long enough in one place for me to count them accurately. Started to notice the first kids focussing in the toothbrush twirling and getting a degree of satisfaction from achieving this. I offer a challenge with the plate spinning. If they can learn to spin it from scratch, ie from a vertical position, and jump it up and down on the stick, they can keep it. This is a nice motivating factor which encouraged the focussing of a few more students. Some were still running riot. Lastly the diablo was introduced. Some students had prior experience of this though had not learned it. About half the students were showing a degree of focus towards the end of the 65 minute lesson. Most concentated on the the diablo and plate spinning when they had free choice. I thoroughly enjoy working with these kids and am looking forward to the session tomorrow. I have 90 minutes in the morning with them. They will be learning stiltwalking as a new skill. I shall bring in some of my novelty carts + bikes as well. This should help burn off some of their energy. Lovely big sports hall to work in. I expect as least one girl to win the spinning plate. She may have done the challenge today but one of my conditions is that I see it being done! I shall update you tomorrow on how the second session goes. Circus Kevin
  5. Hiya folks, I've a collection of novelty cycles for occasional use with my circus skills workshops. They include mini penny-farthings, backwards pedalling cycles, eccentric wheel cycles, reverse-steer cycles and a gyrobike. Also one where the saddle is connected to cranks on the back wheel. Motion is achieved by pushing down with one's posterior and repeating the action! If any schools are interested in seeing them please let me know. It could be an interesting project for schools to make some of these. Not only could pupils make them, they could ride the finished product - a lesson they'd never forget. I ride a mini penny farthing locally regularly. It's far lighter and convenient than a normal cycle. Put's a smile on other's faces too! Circus Kevin
  6. We live in age where we wait for the government to implement policies. Would any PE teachers ever undertake to ensure their pupils could swim out of a sense of social responsibility rather than an addition to their pay packet? Circus Kevin
  7. Hi Folks, I've thoroughly enjoyed teaching circus skills to special needs pupils the past 4 years. I thought I'd join this forum to talk a little about it. I've collected all sorts of novelty bikes and carts to add an extra dimension from the usual juggling etc. I've managed to make my workshops accessible and enjoyable to EBD, MLD, SLD, Autistic, Deaf and even Blind pupils. The blind pupils loved whizzing about in the carts and some even took part in the stiltwalking. They could feel they were as tall as their teachers. I must have spent twenty to thirty thousand pounds on all the stuff I've bought. I've found many excellent items in special needs catalogues. The trouble with items in these catalogues is that you can't 'try before you buy'. Some things I've just discarded. I do enjoy the opportunity to spend a whole week in a school. Several sessions with each class really helps them develop. Crown school in Burton upon Trent was one example this summer. I spent a week in their school for SLD pupils two years previously also. On that occasion I went on to employ two of their pupils at a street festival in Uttoxeter as Stiltwalkers. That was a lovely day. Just remembered I also employed 'Gordon' as balloon modeller that day. He has aspergers syndrome- but at 12 was as good as many an adult balloon modeller. All this is a lot more fun that computer programming! Circus Kevin
  8. I teach circus skills in primary, secondary and special schools. My Website http://www.kevinscircus.com says a bit more about me. Does need updating sometime with more emphasis on the educational aspects of my work. However I'm sure you'll like the pictures with my balloon modelling at University balls etc.
×
×
  • Create New...