CLASSROOM PRESENCE

STATUS and TENSION

HOW DO I STAND?

THE FIVE POSITIONS OF CLASSICAL

BALLET

THE FIVE POSITIONS OF CLASSICAL

BALLET

DECREASING SIZE

THE FIVE POSITIONS OF CLASSICAL

BALLET

DECREASING STATUS

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY HANDS?

WHO IS HIGHER STATUS?

1 2

WHO IS HIGHER STATUS?

1 2

1

2

DECREASING STATUS

1

2

DECREASING STATUS

HIGHER HANDS

SO HOW DO I STAND?

1. Open posture: big - strongClosed posture: small – weak

2. The higher the hands, the lower the status.

3. If all else fails, stick your hands in your pockets

BREATHE !

WHY BREATHING MATTERS

TRACHEA

LUNGS

RIBS

DIAPHRAGM

DON’T WALK AND TALK

Blah, blah, blah...

DON’T MOVE FOR NO REASON

DON’T MOVE FOR NO REASON

IF NECESSARY – INVENT ONE

FOR MORE ABOUT STATUS READ:

TENSION

TENSION

1. Catatonic –described as ‘the jellyfish’, no tension in the body at all2. Laid back – think ‘Californian’ 3. Neutral – the pivotal state, usually regarded as highest in status 4. Alert – a more curious, heightened state of tension, still ‘everyday’5. Suspense – ‘is there a bomb in the room?’6. Passionate – ‘there is a bomb in the room!’7. Petrified – ‘the bomb is about to go off!’ all movement ceases

STATES OF TENSION

HIGH STATUS

LOW STATUS1. Catatonic

7. Petrified

6. Passionate

5. Suspense

4. Alert

3. Neutral

2. Laid back

FOR MAXIMUM AUTHORITY

Keep the TENSION LOW and the STATUS HIGH

BLOCKING

MIKE ALFREDS

STAGE RIGHT:

The teacher is unfolding the lesson content – in control of what is being revealed

STAGE CENTRE:

The teacher is dominating the lesson – anything on the board is like a ‘thought bubble’ the important thing is the teacher’s presence

STAGE LEFT:

The teacher is commenting on the lesson content – discussing it alongside the pupils

Board somewhere around here

STAGE RIGHT:

The teacher is unfolding

STAGE CENTRE:

The teacher is dominating – the board is like a ‘thought bubble’

STAGE LEFT:

The teacher is commenting

Board somewhere around here

OUT AMONG THE AUDIENCE

The teacher is using his/her presence• aids classroom management

• offers opportunities for assessment