SPOILER!!: Catch-Up #1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

SPOILER!!: Responses

At the sound of another drum, Beatrice looked to Davie who, much to Beatrice’s delight, had started eating the lollies. That was reassuring. Nodding, Beatrice said ”Absolutely, and I also find writing things down helps lock it into my memory. Good method, Davie!”

Beatrice clanged the two small cymbals together once it seemed that everyone had contributed to the discussion. Well, almost everybody. “Great suggestions everyone. I just wanted to repeat one of the suggestions I heard. Paulina made a note that it’s easy to become discouraged, so giving a little pep talk helps. And it can absolutely be discouraging. I remember being a student and having a spell that I could NOT get the hang of. It felt like I had tried everything, and I just couldn’t do it. I became so discouraged and lost confidence in my own abilities, which affected my other subjects. So I want you all to take note of that. It’s important to give yourself a little pep talk once in a while, especially when dealing with difficult things. Because YOU ARE ALL capable if you put your mind to it.” She paused, looking at all of them. “All of you are capable if you put your mind to it,” she repeated. It was important.

After another few seconds, she moved on. “My second question, leading from that, is how do you feel when you can’t cast a spell, even one you keep practicing? Do those methods you just mentioned help? Or do you have to try something else?”

Yay, the professor liked his answer! For the second question, Davie again rapped out a beat, and added, "I find that practicing with a friend helps. Your friend can give you feedback without all the pressure of a professor, and plus it's fun to do magic outside the castle or the classroom." Like practicing incendio in the back of the library, near lots of flammable stuff... yeah. Heh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

After listening to all of the fantastic responses, Beatrice clashed her little cymbals together again. "Fantastic ideas everyone. Each and every one of them!" Golden stars for all!

"Now, I want us to do a little activity. So, if you would all stand up and take one step away from your desk. Any direction, just not right in someone else's space." Because nobody liked a personal space hogger.

"Firstly I want us to do a little bit of a stretching exercise. I find that with a lot of tension, espeically in the neck and shoulders, and my posture goes down the tip. And with it... my spell casting abilities." Who knew... "So, copy me!" And she tilted her head over to the left for thirty seconds, then the right. Then tilted her head forwards for thirty seconds, then back, looking up at the ceiling. Then she rolled her shoulders backwards ten times, then forwards ten. "Ahh that feels better," she said, but her muscles were much older than those of the students, so she wasn't about to be surprised at their lack of enthusiasm. One day, perhaps, they would.

"Secondly! We cannot expect to succeed if we mumble! Correct and clear pronunciation of incantations is VITAL! Even if you are casting a non-verbal spell. So, I want you all to copy after me. Speak VERY clearly and overpronounce every word!" She flicked her wand to the board, where the words she was about to speak appeared. Clearing her throat, she began, making sure she was exaggerating every sound.

"And finally, I want you to concentrate on your FOCUS. Everyone close your eyes." She paused to look around and make sure all eyes were closed. "Think about the shades black, white, or grey. Keep focusing. Now think about the ocean. Okay, now a green elephant comes along. Picture it. FOCUS on it. Now think about it walking through the shallow water. Now think about it going for a swim." She stayed with that for a few moments, hoping that their minds were clear EXCEPT for those images she wanted them to focus on. She sort of had a point to her madness...

"Les-ser lea-ther ne-ver wea-thered wet-ter wea-ther bet-ter.
I thought I thought of think-ing of thank-ing you.
Can you can a can as a can-ner can can a can?
She sells sea-shells by the sea shore."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Beatrice happily observed the students doing the activity, even having a few chuckles at their attempts of the tongue twisters. She had tried not to choose overly difficult ones but, that would have been more fun. For next time.

After completing the visualisation activity, she clapped her hands together in a simple rhythm. Not an instrument, but still musical. "Great work guys, how does that feel now?" She probably expected them not to notice much difference... yet. "Right, I've just got one other little activity before the main one."

She went over to her desk and pulled out a container of worms. "Everyone take a worm. I want you all to turn it into a matchbox. BUT first I want you to mumble the spell and try and keep you wand movements sloppy, poor posture, without really focusing on the spell. Think that you’re turning a worm into a water goblet, or a dragon into a matchbox or something, and see what happens. Then I want you to CLEARLY say the spell, FOCUS on it, and use very precise sharp wand movements. I want you all to see if you notice a difference." She walked around the room with the container open, allowing everyone to take a worm. "You can work alone or with a partner, I don't mind." But please MERLIN somebody work with Mr. Blaise Bellaire.

She went back to her desk where she pulled out her own wand. "Flint-ee-FORS," she said clearly, pointing her wand at the worm and flicking it upwards. It transformed the worm into a matchbox. But in case anyone forgot, she waved her wand at the blackboard so that the spell appeared.