What happens at a Macaroni and Cheese Workshop?

Workshops begin with a large welcome and check in about how everyone is feeling. We explore adjectives that might describe how we feel that day so that we are off and running with stimulating our brains with new information (new vocabulary) while also honing our ability to self-evaluate and communicate. One of the Mac and Cheese stories is read aloud by the workshop facilitator (which has historically been the author) to the class gathered together on the floor followed by an intimate interactive discussion about the topic explored in the story (gratitude, mediocrity, self-esteem.) Seeds are planted. Together we learn how to spell the word being explored by seeing it and pronouncing it (IE: grateful/gratitude) and what it means in the world and in our individual lives. How does it make us feel? How does its presence make others feel? Contrast is a simple but powerful tool. By exploring what the absence of it looks like, we begin to learn the important presence of it in all our lives. The application of an abstract concept becomes personal right here on the colored checkered carpet of a classroom. Personal Experience and English Language Arts are two elements of the Common Core curriculum.

We also talk about where the ideas came from for the anthology and the germination of ideas, creativity, and expression. We talk about how it is possible for them to take ideas and manifest them in their own lives. We talk about the kids, themselves, as writers, authors, and illustrators… we explore those new words too.

The fun activity that follows incorporates art, music, or play. It integrated in the exploration of that particular character-building concept in the story. There are three different workshops that are grade specific; music, crafting, creative writing. Fun is a key word here because of how the brain processes and stores information based on the emotional state (the neuroscience of play.) After having led so many workshops, it is always the same… kids feel fully free and liberated just by using colored markers or white paint pens mixed with their imagination to express their newfound concept. This color junky can relate! The stickers that appear in abundance on their tables usually push them over the edge of artistic bliss. Art, music, dancing, and creativity are wrapped around this new sparkly concept about which they are learning  and one that we hope will be woven into the fabric of their character.

"There is evidence to suggest that the chemical responses in the brain associated with joyful experiences can influence plasticity, meaning the brain can continue to adapt to new information and environmental inputs (Nelson, 2017; Söderqvist et al., 2011). In this way, joyful experiences that raise dopamine levels in the brain may result in an increased ability to adapt to and learn from new learning situations." 

The end of the workshop is marked by each child’s name being called and presented with their own personally signed copy of Macaroni and Cheese (Vol 1). All the books have been signed for them ahead of time and the appearance of their own name in the author’s purple handwriting, along with the personal connection made in the giving of the gift (always sealed with a kiss on the book as it goes to its new reader) is also part of the emotionally intelligent experience that they are having… kindness and thoughtfulness.

The kids giggle each and every time I place a kiss on the book…that’s 32 giggles! I’ll take it. It is one of my favorite parts. I explain that this is a creation of mine and all the other artists that began as a see of an idea… and that the recipients are a big part of that idea materializing when it gets put into their hands. They can feel my gratitude to have spent this time with them, can feel that they matter to me and they are valued by me for being the end point of my creative process. This usually feels so good to them that they are inspired to make others feel this way too. It all revolves around the lesson of the day (gratitude, self-esteem, mediocrity vs being/doing your best) so we are off to a good start.

Beneficial byproducts within the workshops are creative writing, illustration, vocabulary, spelling, teamwork, out loud reading, presentation, participation, cooperation, handwriting, communication, movement, personal experience, collaboration, listening, and instruction.

Since publishing Volume 1 in 2013, the Mac and Cheese program has been delivered to elementary schools in districts for Los Angeles (LAUSD,) Palos Verdes (PVUSD,) Torrance (TUSD,) Girl Scout troops, and Girls Inc. Almost 4,000 kids and parents have been workshopped to date in student and parent education workshops. We are an approved LAUSD vendor as well as an offering in the Los Angeles County Public Library Speaker’s Program.