Entertainment - Components

All Ears Media, LLC

constructing Aesop's Workshop

2010

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SHOP COMPONENTS/ELEMENTS ... POINTS TO PONDER

CONSCIENCE There is no witness so terrible, no accuser so powerful as conscience which dwells within us. -Sophocles For educators, our responsibility is to increase a student's intellect while building character engineered on a solid foundation called conscience. If there is a crack in the foundation, all that is learned is poorly earned. Conscience tells us that we ought to do is right, but it does not tell us what right is, that we are taught... -Henry Clay Trumbull Celestial Fire Vicar / Supreme Judge Eternal Justice of the Peace Oracle / Guide Sovereign Voice Vicegerent Protector		CHARACTER There are "Six Pillars of Character" but if your conscience isn't clear, you won't sleep on a soft pillow at night. In each human heart are a tiger, a pig, a donkey, and a nightingale; diversity of character is due to their unequal activity. -Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce Aesop's Workshop is more than words on paper...it's a living breathing workable entity tied to each school's vision and mission statement for the sole purpose of consolidating academics and the arts with conscience and character. Reality of Oneself Controlled Passions Self-Mastery Self-Discipline Course of Action Disposition Principles		READING Aesop's Workshop creates a language rich environment for schools through student solidarity. The "Shop" connects broad knowledge with shared knowledge increasing reading ability. Fluency Aural Processing Vocab / Word Relations Synonyms / Antonyms Comprehension Phonemic Awareness Print Concepts		WRITING Know your audience... good writing is simply the ability to reach your intended audience. Aesop's Workshop allows the listener to write a sequel, alternative ending, or an extended ending. Aesop's Workshop creates a casting call. There is a journey in life...using a hero or healing hero or character that is "broken" and must leave home to become whole again. There is love in Aesop's Workshop. It is a healing force and a reward. It teaches trust and goodness. Genre: Action, Dramedy, Drama, Comedy, Mystery, Adventure, Family, Horror, Sci-Fi, Musical, Fantasy, Historical, Poetry/Song. Writing Communicates Writing creates Reading Writing is Carthartic Writing truly Discovers Writing will Inform Writing will Express Writing will Persuade


DRAMA Aesop's Workshop is a pre-requisit to expressive language. It allows students to tap into their emotional center, deep inside, to express their feelings through the characters in the fable...making it a cathartic moment. Scriptwriting is a journey from words on a piece of paper to staging, television or moviemaking. Drama allows students that are shy or in need of attention to go into character and act out their favorite part in any given fable or play. Participation is therapeutic. It allows for personal insight, behavioral change, the development of social skills and a changing look on life ahead. Careers in drama therapy exist in hospitals, rehab centers, schools, community centers for the elderly, and universities. Sensory Memory Play Psychoodrama Dramatis Personae Going into Character Dressing the Part Presenteeism Vehicle of Social Conscience		MUSIC via SONGSTORIES Music is truly a universal language. Much like the neighbors next door, art and drama, it is therapeutic. It allows for controlled and uncontrolled emotions. Music is, without a doubt, constructed noise synthesized by the mind to foster feelings of sadness, play, quiet solitude and excitment. Aesop's Workshop integrates music as one of the most important elements in its presentation to students. The "Shop" allows for expressive and receptive experiences in all the domains of the arts. Music, at its roots, is stimuli and response, which is of course, a cultural nature. That is, serving the same function for more than one person, thereby creating research in the field called, "Psychology of Music." Music causes a physiological response eliciting some skeletal activity such as tapping the foot or hand clapping. It's primitive and basic. It's the heartbeat of all living things. Music is so strong and passionate that a simple melody may lodge itself in the cerebral cortex, making it a permanent resident, showing up every now and then when attached to something familiar or strange in our cycle of life...see research in Alzheimer's patients. Aesop's Workshop uses simple melodies taken from folk songs in Europe and North/South America. Music produces changes in mood (affective reactions). For more information, look to the early research done by "Hevner's Adjective Circle" and P.R. Farnsworth's revision, 1954. Improving Oral Skills A Universal Language Auditory Cortex Lateralization Cross Generalizations Auditory & Visual Imagery Creating Ear & Mind Dialogue Genre...Jazz to Classical		ART Art, drama, and music are as old as the hills. At one time it was nothing more than 'show and tell' when life was family fun in a cave eating roots, nuts, and berries. Today, art continues to be a line of communication between humankind and nature. Art allows transference of feelings through sight and sound. In fact, all that is cognitive is constructed out of art, music, & drama. In Aesops Workshop, art is: 1) clipart, 2) art beyond sight...debuting blind artists to sighted students in school,3) staging, 4) backdrops, 5) dressing the part with costumes, and 6) makeup. It was said once, "Clothes do not make the man, but they do much to explain him." In Aesop's Workshop, students get a chance to make dress, do dress, and dress the part, showing character. Therefore, art creates period pieces and students learn history. Art, like music and drama, is universal. These three teaching areas are humankind's triage...helping students and adults live comfortably in a chaotic, encumbered, and erratic world. Handwriting is an Art Form Seeing beyond the Eyes States of Consciousness* Mind's Palette Language of Visual Images Meaningful Values Creating Positive Work Habits		BUILDING BRIDGES For parents, Aesop's Workshop is building bridges between school and home. On this website, parents will find each fable listed. Parents will gain insight into each fable by reviewing 1) the synopsis and morals. However, the fable in its entirety, will not be available for reading. This is reserved for the educator in school. Parents will understand the significance of each component shown on this page and how it will help their offspring. Aesop isn't just for kids. It's for all of us, knowing that our conscience is taking note of our actions and thoughts and will tell on you and I when we close the last page of our autobiography. Certainly, we will be asked, "What did you do good in the world?" With that in mind, there will be no court of public opinion or lawyer speaking on our behalf. To think of our life as being, 'here today and gone tomorrow' is ludicrous. There are consequences to our actions and behaviors. For that, as the author of Aesop's Workshop, I am certain. Understanding Conscience Building Character School to Home Menu Fable Synopsis Messages / Morals Family Guidance / Networking Growing Up Whole

*From the book, The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards, a favorite among art teachers in schools and universities.

YOUR CHILD / DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES University of Michigan Health System

KIDSHEALTH Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media