Welcome to the magical world of Theatre where creativity and imagination are the starting points.

This is the place to explore being someone or something else. How do they move, feel, sound? What are props, costumes, and sets? Why do they call it downstage and upstage? Where are stage right and stage left?

How can you mime (your mute button is on) the difference in being a cat, dog, grasshopper or frog? What would a mermaid do on a mountain or a robot do on a beach?

Following are some of the subjects covered. These sometimes change because I like to base what is taught by the classes, their interests and experiences. I've already planned some changes for River Place.

Most students have the opportunity to make puppets, design masks, wear costumes, participate in Creative Dramatics games, create characters, act in a scene or short play, and explore mime & magic.

Each class creates its own Social Contract following the Capturing Kids' Hearts format.

Kindergarten: They start with the mirror game. This helps with focus and working together. We learn actions to two or three Nursery Rhymes and act out a story like "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" or "The Little Red Hen." They learn the puppet rules and create simple puppet plays. Most classes make a puppet.

They especially like Theatre Centers where they can explore costumes, mask making, magnetic and felt story boards, and more.

First Grade: We continue with the basics, act out at least one story, learn more about puppets, make at least one puppet, start simple characterization and scenes.

A favorite games is, "No, no, you can't take me!" Small groups each pick a room in a house. Each student is something found in that room. I threaten to throw everything in the room away and they have to tell me why I shouldn't throw them away. The audience guesses their characters and room.

Second Grade: Second Grade builds on earlier lessons.

We usually do "Mother Goose Breaking News Stories". Small groups choose a Mother Goose rhyme and turn it into a breaking news story. Some of the students portray reporters and the others become the charaters that are interviewed. Nursery Rhyme books are available to check the "facts" and details.

They also might have the costume challenge project. Each small group is given one sheet of newspaper and two address labels per person, a sheet of tin foil, and a roll of toilet paper. They create a play where everyone must wear a hat created from those items. Any props needed must also be made from them.

Third Grade: The big project is learning how to sew and making their own puppet. They learn to thread a needle and tie a knot on the end, sew on a button, couch yarn, and sew on other pieces of fabric. They then learn how to sew on a machine so they can sew the two puppet pieces together. As they create their puppets, they are told to think of the kind of voice and type of movements their characters will have. Small groups are formed and they perform a short play using their puppets.

Fourth Grade: Fourth Grade's big project this year will be to perform shadow puppet plays for other classes. Each class is divided into about five groups. Each group chooses or writes a play, decides on characters & lighting & props needed, and makes them. They also learn the computer program "Garage Band" and record their plays including sound effects. With this program, they are able to adjust voices. While completing this project, they use small group working skills such as cooperation and negotiation.

Fifth Grade: This year fifth grade will be acting out Japanese folk tales. They will learn some about the culture and theatre in Japan. At least ten Japanese words will be incorporated into each play. Each class will learn one or two plays that last ten to fifteen minutes. We are planning to have the plays performed at an evening program in May. Other classes and parents can come to the performances during theatre class time.

Fourth and Fifth Grades also learn about stage makeup and have the opportunity to apply it. Some of the makeup they learn about is clown, old age, beards, scars, bruises, and animals. They watch videos about stage makeup and face painting, design makeup for one character and then apply it. If they want, they may leave it on the whole day to show off their art work.

This year I plan to expand into Kabuki makeup to tie in with my trip to Japan in October.

Please feel free to donate: kimonos, prom and wedding dresses, Halloween costumes and makeup, fabric, yarn, sewing machines, makeup mirrors, silk flowers, feathers, ziploc bags of all sizes, uniforms, sequins, buttons, musical program items, laces, trims, hats, dress gloves, crowns, wands, aprons, book cases & clear bins (I need about 30), sturdy clothing racks, etc. Other needed items are listed on the After-school Musical page. Thanks!

I was born in Flint, Michigan and lived most of my childhood in small towns in that state. My mother, a sister (both in Holland), and a brother (Port Huron) still live there. A second sister lives in Florida. My son, Karsten, works for Dell and we have a home-based business: EmbroiDreams.

I attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, the University of Washington in Seattle (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa), and The International People's College in Elsinore, Denmark.

I've taught Elementary Theatre in LISD and RRISD. Before that, I taught Special Education classes in AISD, Taylor ISD, Manor ISD, and RRISD. I've also taught in a primary school in London, English in Japan and England, and basic math and reading in a prison. For nine years I scored TAAS (pre-TAKS) essays and have scored college entrance and exit essays for several states.

In Texas I'm certified to teach Theatre Arts, General Elementary, and Generic Special Education.

In Washington I'm certified to teach Theatre Arts, Elementary, Early Childhood, and Special Education.

In England I'm certified to teach Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, and Special Education.

In 2006 I was named the K-8 Texas Educational Theatre Association (www.tetatx.com) Teacher of the year. I'm now one of the two elementary teacher board members.

Grants I've received include: one to Austin Musical Theatre Academy, and two ABC grants from the Junior League of Austin. One was to teach habitats in second grade science using realistic animal puppets. The other was to enhance fourth grade acting of fractured fairy tales with costumes and props.

I have also been awarded a Fulbright Teacher Grant to study in Japan for three weeks in October 2008. I leave Oct. 12 and return the end of the month. My city stay will be in Iida in the mountains. Here's a link to learn more about it: www.city.iida.nagano.jp/city/index.htm

I used to be very active in community theatre and acted in over 30 productions in the Austin area. One role was Juliet's nurse in Austin's Shakespeare in the Park. My tapestry and fur period costumes for "The Merchant of Venice" received an Austin Circle of Theatres (ACoT) nomination.

In 2007 I was the proud recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Bronze Star Award.

I'm excited to announce that last year, thanks to our PTA, parental help, and hard work by the students, River Place Musical Theatre Club successfully produced an updated version of Disney's "Alice in Wonderland."
Our cast of about 50 K-5 students performed March 28 and on March 29 at the Church at Canyon Creek on 620 and Boulder.

We WILL be doing another musical this year: "Seussical, Jr"!!!
(More info. can be found on the "Seussical, Jr." web page)

"All the world's a stage...!"

Because of my grant to Japan in October to study the education and theatre there, I'm having a Japanese theme at all grade levels. All classes will learn at least ten Japanese words, 4th grade will use Japanese stories for shadow puppet plays (switching grades this year) and 5th grade will perform Japanese folk tales both in class and in an evening production.

We'll need MANY kimonos and other Japanese clothing and props for this.

I've written a grant, primarily for books, to be used by students at all grade levels that is up at Donorschoose.com. This is a wonderful site that allows teachers to list their wishes and people can donate what they can to programs they believe in. Though it says mine is for grades 3-5, it's for K-5. (That wasn't an option when I was filling out their forms.)
www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=180641&zone=0