Going to teach !

I have been asked to teach a class on polymer clay at our local library. Its
my choice what project to offer, what age group and how many people at a
time. Im stoked! Its my chance to introduce people to the versatility and
fun of polymer clay.
Some of you have taught classes.. I have not. Would you be willing to
offer me some advice as to what age might be easiest, and what sort of
project they might find the most fun?
Also, is it easier to supply the materials and then charge for them or have
them bring their own? (Im guessing that bringing their own runs the risk of
coming in with just about any sort of clay under the sun but polymer!)
Any thoughts you wish to share with me would be most welcome.
The most exciting part is knowing I have this chance to give back to my
little community in some way.
thanks
Diana

--
http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44

Hello...I teach classes on polymer cane building in Cincinnati Ohio. I've
taught ages from 6 years old to 77 years old. Here are my own ideas on age
groups:

Very young: these kids like to make big beads out of a lot of clay. I'm
talking about up to about 6 or 7 years old. Don't expect to get far when it
comes to cane construction. They want BIG and COLORFUL and will use up a
lot. They're enthusiastic and fun to be around, however, so keep it simple
and let them decide on what THEY want to do.

8-early teens: these kids will watch some simple cane techniques and then
take it on their own. I've seen kids from this age group actually teach
themselves the techniques that I was planning on showing them. They really
LOVE the pasta roller and will exhaust a ball of clay until it looks like
mud, but they'll think it's cool. This is my favorite age group to teach.
They really feed off of each other's energy and will impress you, I promise.

Adult in general: These folks have the attention span to learn all your
tricks of the trade, but often have creative blocks that they've built up
over the years, especially if a) they don't really have a creative outlet,
or b) they're trying to compare their own work to the professionals they see
on HGTV. I always encourage an attitude of letting it ALL qualify as good
stuff. It gives me great pleasure to see grown women as excited about what
they create as a child is about making that first mudpie. (I haven't had one
male student yet, except for in a large class of about 30 pre-teens)

All of the classes I've done, I or the organization I've taught for supplies
all materials. Depending on class size and age, the pasta roller may or may
not be necessary. I use them for older folks...the tots seem to do well
without them. I normally provide a 12"x12" smooth white ceramic tile, a
small wallpaper blade, and a nail for them to take home and continue to make
beads if they wish. Any larger items, like the Marxits, the brayers, the
fancy clay extruders, the pasta machines.....well, they can use them in
class but will need to get their own elsewhere. Really, it seems like to
start, for the VERY early beginner, just a nail and a blade is good enough.
I charge a flat class fee, which includes money for clay, the supplies they
can take home, and my time and expertise.

I definitely crave the opportunities to teach. I find that often I'll come
up with some new idea during the class, which in turn helps others explore
their own inner creative urges....without censoring these ideas.

Good luck and tell me how it goes!

(By the way, I"m new here and haven't had a chance to read any other posts
yet. I just had to reply to this one though!)

All best,
AEW




"Diana Curtis" wrote in message
...
I have been asked to teach a class on polymer clay at our local library.
Its
my choice what project to offer, what age group and how many people at a
time. Im stoked! Its my chance to introduce people to the versatility and
fun of polymer clay.
Some of you have taught classes.. I have not. Would you be willing to
offer me some advice as to what age might be easiest, and what sort of
project they might find the most fun?
Also, is it easier to supply the materials and then charge for them or
have
them bring their own? (Im guessing that bringing their own runs the risk
of
coming in with just about any sort of clay under the sun but polymer!)
Any thoughts you wish to share with me would be most welcome.
The most exciting part is knowing I have this chance to give back to my
little community in some way.
thanks
Diana

--
http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44

I sure appreciate you're coming out to share your experience with me. Its
given me somethings to think about.
Something tells me a Moms and kids evening would be fun for both groups.
....
Thank you so much for your input!
Diana

--
http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44
"Amy Wallace" wrote in message
...
Hello...I teach classes on polymer cane building in Cincinnati Ohio. I've
taught ages from 6 years old to 77 years old. Here are my own ideas on
age
groups:

Very young: these kids like to make big beads out of a lot of clay.
I'm
talking about up to about 6 or 7 years old. Don't expect to get far when
it
comes to cane construction. They want BIG and COLORFUL and will use up a
lot. They're enthusiastic and fun to be around, however, so keep it
simple
and let them decide on what THEY want to do.

8-early teens: these kids will watch some simple cane techniques and
then
take it on their own. I've seen kids from this age group actually teach
themselves the techniques that I was planning on showing them. They
really
LOVE the pasta roller and will exhaust a ball of clay until it looks like
mud, but they'll think it's cool. This is my favorite age group to teach.
They really feed off of each other's energy and will impress you, I
promise.

Adult in general: These folks have the attention span to learn all your
tricks of the trade, but often have creative blocks that they've built up
over the years, especially if a) they don't really have a creative outlet,
or b) they're trying to compare their own work to the professionals they
see
on HGTV. I always encourage an attitude of letting it ALL qualify as good
stuff. It gives me great pleasure to see grown women as excited about
what
they create as a child is about making that first mudpie. (I haven't had
one
male student yet, except for in a large class of about 30 pre-teens)

All of the classes I've done, I or the organization I've taught for
supplies
all materials. Depending on class size and age, the pasta roller may or
may
not be necessary. I use them for older folks...the tots seem to do well
without them. I normally provide a 12"x12" smooth white ceramic tile, a
small wallpaper blade, and a nail for them to take home and continue to
make
beads if they wish. Any larger items, like the Marxits, the brayers, the
fancy clay extruders, the pasta machines.....well, they can use them in
class but will need to get their own elsewhere. Really, it seems like to
start, for the VERY early beginner, just a nail and a blade is good
enough.
I charge a flat class fee, which includes money for clay, the supplies
they
can take home, and my time and expertise.

I definitely crave the opportunities to teach. I find that often I'll
come
up with some new idea during the class, which in turn helps others explore
their own inner creative urges....without censoring these ideas.

Good luck and tell me how it goes!

(By the way, I"m new here and haven't had a chance to read any other posts
yet. I just had to reply to this one though!)

All best,
AEW




"Diana Curtis" wrote in message
...
I have been asked to teach a class on polymer clay at our local library.
Its
my choice what project to offer, what age group and how many people at a
time. Im stoked! Its my chance to introduce people to the versatility
and
fun of polymer clay.
Some of you have taught classes.. I have not. Would you be willing to
offer me some advice as to what age might be easiest, and what sort of
project they might find the most fun?
Also, is it easier to supply the materials and then charge for them or
have
them bring their own? (Im guessing that bringing their own runs the risk
of
coming in with just about any sort of clay under the sun but polymer!)
Any thoughts you wish to share with me would be most welcome.
The most exciting part is knowing I have this chance to give back to my
little community in some way.
thanks
Diana

--
http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44

Congratulations, Diana!

I think you'll love teaching... it's very rewarding. It can also be a lot of
work (mentally and physically), but it's working with what you like which makes
all the difference!

I have a lot of info on teaching (kids and adults) on these pages at my
website:

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/teaching.htm
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/kids_beginners.htm

I even have some stuff on teaching seniors or those with various emotional or
physical disabilities on this page:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/disabilities.htm

(this may not apply to you, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to solicit
more input on these subjects too)...

Have great fun!

Thank you Diane. I dont know why I didnt think to check your pages, after
all the work I have seen come from your teaching students you would think
you would have come flying into my mind. Thanks for finding the info for me.
I expect its going to be a lot of fun, both for the students and me, and my
very eager assistant! Everytime I stop to talk with her at the library her
eyes light up.
Diana


--
http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44
"DianeGlassAttic" wrote in message
...
Congratulations, Diana!

I think you'll love teaching... it's very rewarding. It can also be a lot
of
work (mentally and physically), but it's working with what you like which
makes
all the difference!

I have a lot of info on teaching (kids and adults) on these pages at my
website:

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/teaching.htm
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/kids_beginners.htm

I even have some stuff on teaching seniors or those with various emotional
or
physical disabilities on this page:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/disabilities.htm

(this may not apply to you, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to
solicit
more input on these subjects too)...

Have great fun!