Making failure fun - the classroom concept building confidence in kids
Teaching Aussie kids it’s okay to fall short - and sometimes failure can even be fun - is the centrepiece of an innovative new program aimed at building confidence in the classroom. Authors Adam Wallace and Ingrid Laguna have teamed up for the school incursion which has been swamped by demand since its launch.
They hope “Wallace & Laguna: Building Confident Learners Through Improv’ and the Written Word” will help strengthen the stamina of young minds and help turn the tide on spiraling classroom behaviour.
Wallace said the pair had long understood the value of experiencing failure from improvisation classes - and the benefits of overcoming the associated fear.
Their shared experience evolved into a classroom concept which incorporates storytelling, improvisation and wordplay in a format which draws students in.
“We knew kids need to feel relaxed and safe to learn new things and to take risks in sharing their ideas or putting them in writing,” Laguna said.
“In between bouts of writing in response to prompts, we do improvisation activities that are designed to trip you up.
“We tell students, `You will fail at this. We all will. That’s the idea’.”
The latest analysis of results from the OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER), this month found Australian classrooms are among the most disruptive in the world with teens at a higher risk of bullying and girls in particular fearful and anxious in the classroom.
Laguna said the program was a practical way of helping turn the statistics around.
“A classroom can be a tricky place to navigate at any age,” she said.
“Kids can be mean to each other. Of course, we know they’re protecting themselves, but it means they can say things that hurt other kids or exclude or bully them.
“They fear exposure and the judgement of their peers. Most of us do but we only learn how to combat that as we get older.”
Laguna said the program invariably resulted in students writing about their fears or an experience they will never forget.
“We talk about the power of small details and the ability to close our eyes and simply listen to the sounds around us - then use that as a writing prompt.”
The duo has also adapted a program aimed at professional development for teachers, with insight into how to teach creative writing in fun and effective ways.
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Adam Wallace is a New York Times Bestselling author who has visited over 500 schools and libraries and taken over 500 afternoon naps. Adam has been writing for 20 years and has published over 150 books, completing four improvisational comedy courses along the way. His children’s books include, Pugnacious and Scuttlebutt, Spark and How to Catch a Unicorn.
Ingrid Laguna is a multi-award-winning novelist and educator. She has published a memoir, Serenade for a Small Family, and numerous books for children including Bailey Finch Takes a Stand and Songbird. Her work has received notable recognition by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Ingrid’s writing has also featured in various publications, including The Monthly, The Age and Teacher Magazine. She runs a range of writing courses and regularly presents to teachers and students at schools, libraries, festivals and conferences.
Visit the Wallace & Laguna team at National Education Summit Melbourne on Stand A46.
