Lynn Hunter took a creative approach to teaching when she wrote “Meet The Dooples” in 1997.
“It’s a story about writing tools that come to life. There’s a pencil, pen, chalk, marker and crayon,” Hunter said.
Since then, Hunter, who is a resident of Jackson, has written two more books: “The Dooples and the Shapes” and “The Dooples Communicate.”
“I was a classroom teacher in New York City for 11 years and this was a technique I used for teaching,” she said.
The Dooples’ stories began in Hunter’s first grade classroom as a method to motivate young children to read and learn, according to Hunter’s website. Each day she told a new part about the adventures of the Dooples and the alphabet. The Dooples, who live in the Land of Doo, come to life at night and experience adventures that allow children to use their imagination.
The characters in the books teach a variety of early learning lessons, such as literacy, mathematics, cooperation, taking risks and relationships. The books, which are geared toward children in pre-kindergarten through third grade, are accompanied by instructional guides, CDs and DVDs.
Hunter’s mission is to “make a difference in the way children learn.”
Hunter, who has a doctorate in educational leadership and child youth studies, is the founder of an educational video conferencing organization and works with the New York City Department of Education as a technology integration specialist and distance learning coordinator.
Last year, Hunter turned her books into a children’s musical, “The Dooples in the Land of Doo – The Musical!” The show premiered at the Roy Arias Theater in New York City and is scheduled for a run at the Cherry Lane Theater in New York City from Dec. 14-20.
The musical, which runs for about an hour, is appropriate for children between the ages of 3 and 8. Every child in attendance will receive a book to take home.
Hunter offered the following tips to help parents enhance their child’s first experience with live theater:
Make sure the play material is age appropriate, such as a children’s production for very young children ages 3 and up. These shows are generally short and last an hour or less.
Prepare a child for the show ahead of time. Explain what they will be seeing and familiarize them with the characters, the plot and the setting. If the play is adapted from a book, read the book with them.
Go over expected behavior in the theater, such as no talking and not using any electronic devices.
Try to arrive several minutes before the performance is scheduled to begin so the wait is not too long, especially for a younger child.
Use the restroom before the show and explain that once the show starts, they will not be able to get up unless it is an emergency.
Share the amazement and joy at the action taking place on stage with the child.
For more information, visit the website http://www.thedooples.net/