About
About Spontaneous Education!
Spontaneous Education is dedicated to enhancing education through play. Founded in 2013 by teacher and professional improviser Blake Wanger, Spontaneous Education is on a mission to empower kids and adults with improved confidence, creativity, camaraderie, focus, and engagement. Through these programs children, teachers and parents will share joyous learning experiences, laugh more and feel stressed out less, and have a lot of fun! And it's easy, because everyone can play!
Recent Programs:
Roosevelt High School (Minneapolis Public Schools) - After School Improv Club
STAR Academy (Homeschool Enrichment Program) - Enrichment Programs
ISD 622 (North St. Paul - Maplewood - Oakdale) - Enrichment Programs
Minnesota Literacy Council
River's Edge High School - Guest Instructor for improv elective class
Minnesota Dakota Key Club - Interactive show for high school students
Minneapolis Public Schools - After School Improv Club
4H - Improv workshops for kids and teens
YouthCARE - Youth Teambuilding Workshops
Paladin High School - Student Workshop
Sanford Middle School - After School Improv Club
Education Minnesota 2014 Professional Conference - Teacher Workshop
2014 Minnesota Business Educators, Inc. Conference - Teacher Workshop
2015 Value of Play Conference, Clemson University - Teacher Workshop
2016 Value of Play Conference, Clemson University - Teacher Workshop
About Me!
My name is Blake Wanger. I am a professional improvisor and former teacher based in the Twin Cities. Teaching and improv are my two biggest passions. I have worked in a variety of educational capacities with diverse groups of students of all ages and backgrounds, including special needs students. My teaching journey has taken me through urban and suburban public schools, private schools, secular schools, and even homeschool programs. In each of those environments I have used improv in the classroom and seen its many benefits for teachers and students.
I fell in love with improv in 2001 and have been learning, teaching and performing ever since. My improv training has included stops at Comedy Sportz in Milwaukee and the Twin Cities and I am also a graduate of the Brave New Workshop Student Union Performance Track Improv Program (whew!). I currently perform regularly with several groups including Fantastic Voyage, Jesters Comedy Improv, and Last Action Movie, which has performed at improv festivals around the U.S. and in Canada. I was also a lead teacher on the Teen Program teaching staff at HUGE Improv Theater in Minneapolis, and also led after school improv programs for several years with Improv Parenting.
From the very beginning I have enjoyed sharing my love of improv with children and adults though numerous workshops and classes that I have created (or co-created in some cases) and facilitated for a variety of schools, organizations, and events including:
Destination Imagination
The Blake School and The Blake School's Camp Acoma Program
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale District (ISD 622) Community Ed
The Learning Edge
Yes And Food / Yes And Studios
HUGE Improv Theater Teen Programs
4H
Roosevelt High School Improv club
Sanford Middle School Improv Club
I have also created and facilitated workshops for adults at the following venues:
Spontaneous Combustion 5 Improv Festival, Atlanta GA
Yes And Food / Yes And Studios
I love teaching and improv for the same reasons that make them so wonderfully compatible - they are both shared processes of creation and discovery, fueled by the imagination, which help people grow, thrive and face the world with confidence, courage and creativity. All of my workshops are rooted in a love of education and improv, and a desire to help all children and adults find happiness, confidence and fulfillment in life!