[lace] Teaching lace.
I feel I must stop lurking and pass on my opinions on this topic. The best teacher I ever had was the late Marjery Carter, who taught me Bucks point. She had been a maths teacher, and her opinion was that if you could teach one subject, then you could teach anything, because you had the necessary techniques and patience. But, of course, you had to know any subject which you were teaching very well yourself. That does not mean to say that a non-teacher should not try to teach lace, but it takes effort and a lot of thought. I am in this position myself at the moment. A friend asked me to teach her to make lace. For a variety of reasons there was no other way she could learn. I resisted, saying that I am not a teacher, although I have been making lace for 45 years. But she insisted, and so we began, just about a year ago. She is now making lace - not perfect lace, but good lace - learning all the time and enjoying every moment of it. We have a session every week and have just moved from Torchon to Russian lace - she is Russian. We went slowly at first, while I felt my way into teaching. I think we have been successful because of this, because she is skilled in other crafts and because she so passionately wants to make lace. But there is no way I would try to teach a class - one-to-one is quite different. The worst teacher I have heard of was the one a friend of mine started with. She did not let her students start or complete a piece themselves. She began every piece, and finished every piece. My friend came out of that class able to make lace but unable to move forward. Luckily she found a better teacher and became an excellent lace maker - but only because she was determined and passionate about lace. Kathleen Berkshire, UK --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Teaching lace.
Hi Kathleen and Spiders I can agree whole-heartedly with the last paragraph. I was talking at a Lace Day, when I was taking the Lace Circle goodies around, with a very respected tutor - she told me that whilst teaching, I shoud NEVER teach students how to start, and how to finish. The reason for that is, that the students have to keep coming to classes if they can't start or finish, and that, in her words, 'keeps bums on seats' and keeps the classes going! ( I had previously said that one of my classes was being sadly depleted by people moving away, or finding other hobbies, and she told me this in an effort to be helpful, and keep my class numbers up - but I was horrified!) However, take care, and may your pins never bend. Carol - in North Norfolk, UK. 'Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day.' - Original Message - From: Kathleen Harris ec...@cix.co.uk To: 'lace' lace@arachne.com Subject: [lace] Teaching lace. The worst teacher I have heard of was the one a friend of mine started with. She did not let her students start or complete a piece themselves. She began every piece, and finished every piece. My friend came out of that class able to make lace but unable to move forward. Luckily she found a better teacher and became an excellent lace maker - but only because she was determined and passionate about lace. Kathleen Berkshire, UK --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com/ - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Teaching lace.
I was very disappointed at first when our classes folded because of numbers going down because they put the prices too high. But it was a blessing in disguise, because before when I had a problem I just asked my tutor and she put me right, but with no teacher I had to sort out my own problems and found I was learning far more about lace by simply thinking harder about it instead of saying how do you? Sue M Harvey Norfolk U.K. Sent from my iPad - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Teaching lace.
Well done Sue, but unfortunately not everyone is as positive and determined as you. I know that not all the people who were in my classes and who dropped out one or two at a time, over several price raises, are still making lace. I am still seeing many of the ones who were able to hang in until the end, when the both price shot up and concessions were removed at the same time, but the ones who left earlier have mostly disappeared from my circle. I do agree with what you are saying though as I was originally self taught, and when I first went to classes I found it very strange when people just chatted while waiting for help, instead of trying to work out what to do. I now see people monthly and it's a good compromise for all as they have to think for themselves a bit or they can't do anything for a long time, but if they are seriously stuck they know help is coming. Jacquie in Lincolnshire - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Teaching lace - UK background checks
I seem to remember it was said that people required a background check for each class/group taught in different locations. This morning, in the church coffee lounge I was told the system has changed. The conversation arose because volunteers for the two summer clubs - one for children and one for 'seniors' - were being handed forms to be completed. Since the 17th June the old CRB forms are outdated and won't 'work' now. The new system is 'Debarring and disclosure service'. Only one form is required with no cost to volunteers. Once you have competed the form and had it accepted you register online for a 'portable' badge (or whatever is issued to you). I assume this is at no extra cost to those being paid for their services/jobs. You can find out about it on: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbs You still need proof of identity - but you would expect that. This won't help the people who have given up teaching or the classes lost but I felt the information should be publicised, especially given the lengthy discussion recently held about the problems of volunteering. Patricia in Wales P.S. This is UK wide and not simply a Welsh development. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Teaching lace - UK background checks
That'd be about right volunteers would have to pay themselves I can foresee people not bothering to volunteer at all!! School crossing patrols for instance... only work 5 hours per week termtimes only and they'd have to pay for the check?? Can we really see that working? Back down off soapbox Sue (Lollipop Lady in North of UK) On 29 Jul 2013, at 18:45, scotl...@aol.com wrote: I seem to remember it was said that people required a background check for each class/group taught in different locations. This morning, in the church coffee lounge I was told the system has changed. You can find out about it on: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbs - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Teaching lace - UK background checks
Volunteers do not pay now: I said specifically 'no cost to volunteers'. Employers pay for their employees. My niece has just graduated in radiography (with first class honours and student of the year prize; I'm so proud I have to boast, given the problems she had) and is having a background check done now. If she was expected to pay for it I would have heard all about it, believe me, as she is so hard up. Her employing Health Board is footing the bill. In the early days of background checks my local council paid for them for teachers, assistants, dinner ladies and crossing patrol people as well as for us reading volunteers. I see no reason for that to have changed. I assume the self employed -e.g. private music teacher - pay for themselves. Patricia in Wales -Original Message- From: Sue Duckles s...@duckles.co.uk To: scotlace scotl...@aol.com CC: lace lace@arachne.com Sent: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:53 Subject: Re: [lace] Teaching lace - UK background checks That'd be about right volunteers would have to pay themselves I can foresee people not bothering to volunteer at all!! School crossing patrols for instance... only work 5 hours per week termtimes only and they'd have to pay for the check?? Can we really see that working? Back down off soapbox Sue (Lollipop Lady in North of UK) On 29 Jul 2013, at 18:45, scotl...@aol.com wrote: I seem to remember it was said that people required a background check for each class/group taught in different locations. This morning, in the church coffee lounge I was told the system has changed. You can find out about it on: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbs - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Teaching lace to children in school
Thanks to Lauren, who tipped me off that this discussion was going on! I don't know if my experiences and thoughts might be useful, but here they are, in no particular order: I teach students to use computers in a small, private elementary school. Because it is private, we are not tied to the test-driven curriculum teachers in public schools must work within--we get to decide what we think is important, and how to teach it. I am lucky enough to work with an experienced, creative, and open staff. In conjunction with the art teacher, I teach 4th and/or 5th graders a little basic bobbin lace once a year (It depends on the characteristics of the class exactly what we do and with which students). I've played with different projects--the fish is one I came up with several years ago. The last two years, we've made cloth-stich bracelets. The kids love it! I work in a little bit of history, tying it both to the Elizabethan age for 5th graders, since that's often a curriculum focus, and to colonial America, since the 4th graders usually study that time. I should add that the art teacher incorporates at least one fiber-arts technique project each year for each grade--embroidery, weaving She's also considered knitting and crochet, and might do those some year. What do the kids get out of it, other than the delight of creating something (in itself valuable)? As others have mentioned, fine motor skills is one important thing. The whole staff has observed a general deterioration of fine motor skills in the entering students over the years we've been teaching. (I should add that at this point, we are one of the schools that still teaches cursive, in addition to touch-typing.) We do our best to get them using scissors, tying knots, folding paper, drawing, painting, gluing, etc. I'm convinced, although I've not seen research to back this hunch up, that using the hands for fine-motor work develops brain structures that affect more abstract learning--spacial thinking in particular, although I suspect it's much broader. Here's another thought: This year, one of my students was autistic. He is highly intelligent in many ways, but struggles with certain kinds of learning and particularly with social skills and managing his emotions. We didn't know if the bobbin lace was going to be too frustrating, or if he'd just take to it's rhythm and enjoy it. It turned out the latter. In fact, his primary teacher, watching him with the project, observed she'd never seen him so contented. He was the easiest student in the class to teach. His mother was so thrilled to find an activity that keeps him happy, she went out and bought equipment (unfortunately, yes, the Horror Kit, before I had discussed it with her--but we salvaged the bobbins, and ignored the rest). She asked for a lesson with me so she could help him. I think we'll be continuing, adding skills as he likes, although he has now graduated from our school and will be going on to middle school next year. This experience makes me think one place we could look for interested teachers/students is the special-education programs working with autistic spectrum students. But I am lucky. I have enormous sympathy for the public school teachers who must give several precious weeks of teaching over to testing, and are often locked to a curriculum focused almost entirely on their students' performance on the tests. I think I have more to say on this topic, but I have to leave it for another post. --Julie E. in Seattle weft.wlonk.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Teaching lace to children
In the past I taught dozens of children from about age 5 years through teens to make bobbin lace. The most fun was with a group of 10 six grade boys. The teacher said Good Luck and closed the door! These 12-year old boys made their own lace tell and had great rhythm and were extremely proud of their finished product to take home at the end of the hour - and it was the easiest group I ever taught, much to the surprise of their teacher. About lace in Scandinavian school. I grew up in Denmark and did embroidery, knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, etc for an hour a week through junior high. Apparently I never had a teacher who knew how to make lace - I learned that later from my mother (who had learned it in school). I hear from my relatives it is no longer part of the curriculum in the public schools in Denmark. For the last 12 years several of us have demonstrated bobbin lace once a month at the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, DC. Our visitors come from all over the globe. A few have seen or heard of lace being made by hand, but most are amazed to see lace being made. The hands-on pillow always have eager participants, especially boys and girls, but also many adults of both sexes. It would be wonderful knowing if any of them ever follow up at home. Karen in Washington, DC - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Teaching Lace to Children
Hello All Our group here in East Yorkshire have been demonstrating lace today and are back again tomorrow, at a Garden Centre in Dunswell, just outside of Hull. This morning we had a lady who was very interested, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that she takes it further... while she was chatting to Maureen, her son of around 14 was eyeing up the practice pillow after showing him what to do, we set him the challenge of finishing off the small piece of lace that was on there just a small 'fish' shape he finished it and was extremely proud to be able to take it home!!! With any luck it will stay with him for the rest of his life, that he CAN do something like this!!! Sue in a hot, sticky, East Yorkshire - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Teaching Lace
Thank you all for your wonderful reflections regarding teaching lace. I just finished my first teaching of beginner lace using Gillian Dye's Beginning Bobbin Lace book. I had 7 students, including one with macular degeneration and one that had had 2 strokes. I discovered that some students are happy just learning the bookworm (lady with 2 strokes was very happy doing them and stopped coming when we moved on to the next bookmark); some are happy with just a plain cloth stitch bookworm without the extra spaces - twisted worker in the middle-(the gal with vision problems). These new students were very happy just taking their time with the projects and working at their own pace. I had thought we would get farther along in the book but with just 3 lessons, they got just so far and were happy staying there and getting comfortable with the basic stitches. We formed a weekly group and named ourselves The Laughing Lacers of Whidbey Island. So now I have some people to lace with, which I could not find before! Marilyn Jensen, Whidbey Island, WA where there is a grey whale feeding in our backyard. (the Puget Sound) PS Thanks for the answers to the question about stiffening lace! - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
