Today I want to discuss 10 Tips for a Successful First Month of Drama Class. However, before I do so, I want to reflect a bit about my time teaching. It’s still hard for me to believe I taught theater classes for nearly forty years. In that time, I learned how to be a better teacher, director and mentor. When I think of the moments in the classroom that stayed with me, surprisingly I only remember the good ones.
For instance, there was one girl who had her first drama class with me. She was so shy, she was tearful when she answered a question. But she loved theater! Several years later, I cast her as the Cat in Seussical, Jr. What a transformation! Additionally, I directed a stage reading of Holes with a group of reluctant readers hand picked by a Reading teacher. To watch those fellas get up in front of the entire school and act was one of those moments you hope for, but don’t think you’ll see.
Or the ESL Drama club’s performance of a poem at the Diversity Celebration program. Some of these students had only been in the country for less than a semester, but they took it in stride and performed beautifully. Everyone was touched by their performance. Learn more about the ESL drama club here: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language
What I Learned About Those First Few Weeks
Switching gears, I am aware that some of you haven’t even begun school year yet. I know that feeling. No matter how much I taught, I still had butterflies on the first day. Even after all those years, the same worries I had the first year returned the last. Here are some suggestions from me about how to deal with the first month of teaching without losing your mind.
1. Learn Their Names—and Learn Who They Are
Drama depends on trust. Pay attention to who jumps in immediately, who hangs back, who makes everyone laugh, who is quietly observant, and who may need more time before participating fully. The most effective way to manage a class is by knowing everyone’s name. It is better to call someone the wrong name than to never call them by their name. Ever read Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People? It talks all about this.
Find a Weekly Rhythm That Works
2. Establish a Predictable Beginning-of-Class Routine
Students should know what to do when they walk through the door. A bell ringer, question, short warm-up, or other familiar routine gets everyone focused and saves valuable class time. Being consistent day by day helps them to settle in quickly, especially those students who live in a chaotic home. They depend upon your organization of the class. In fact, they depend upon it. Here’s a free warm-up exercises that always works. Jigsaw Puzzle Stories.
Also, I discovered that students were most teachable in the middle of the week. Therefore, Mondays were a review or beginning of a new unit with a lot of assessing what they all ready knew about the subject, Tuesdays and Wednesdays were used for much deeper learning and more difficult activities. Thursdays were spent demonstrating what they’d learn whether it be a group assignment, or pair or even individual. Fridays were lighter days. Maybe they designed or viewed a video clip or did several exercises they you’ve found they enjoy. (Every lead Kitty Wants a Corner? Here’s my version. Kitty Wants a Corner.
By the way, students do not need to stand in front of the whole class to demonstrate. They can do this in small groups. Consequently, there will be less hesitance and more willingness to do so.
3. Build the Ensemble Before You Ask for Vulnerability
Performing in front of peers takes courage. Begin with activities students can do together—whole-group movement, theatre games, tableaux, partner activities—before moving toward individual performance. If you do nothing else for the first two weeks than to get to know the students, you are headed in the direction of a successful year with them.
You Don’t Have to Teach Drama the Way You Were Taught
Worrying about, “Well, when I was in theater class, my teacher always started with improvisation.” (Yikes!) Or “We simply must first learn about Greek theater.” (Nope!) That is a recipe for disaster. YOU call the shots. It’s your classroom. Trust me, your students will make it real clear if they hate the subject. Although you are not there to entertain them, there is a part of it that lends itself to entertainment.
4. Tell Students What You Want to See
Instead of focusing on behaviors you want students to stop, give them a clear picture of the behavior you expect: “Actors listen while another group is performing.” “Enter the space quietly and find your place.” “Support your scene partner.” Furthermore, I think you will find that the more you remind them of what behaviors you needs to see, the sooner they will demonstrate them. If you think about it, most students haven’t had a real drama class when they enter middle school or even high school. Usually, they’ve heard about it.
Unfortunately, new drama students have preconceived notions of what will occur. On the first day, they expect you to have them stand in front of your classmates and “act”. Or maybe they think you’ll give them a monologue that has to be memorized by the next day. Oh, no, no, no. Let’s dispel those ideas.
Teach Them How to Be an Audience, Too
5. Teach Audience Skills, Too
Being a good audience member is a skill, and drama students need practice with it. Teach them how to watch, listen, respond appropriately, and give useful feedback. It will pay off all year. For instance, we practice how to applaud for one another. I coached the students by saying, “No matter how someone’s performance goes, we will applaud for them. So let’s practice now.” Applauding for one another has two benefits–it shows respect, but it also shows the student they are seen. That they matter. What a heady experience!
Keep the Explanation Short and Get Them Playing
6. Give Every Theatre Game a Purpose
Games are wonderful—but students should gradually understand why they’re playing them. Is the activity developing concentration? Ensemble? Projection? Characterization? Improvisation? Once students see the connection, “playing games” becomes theatre training. One of my favorite acting teachers, Viola Spolin suggests giving only a brief explanation of the focus and necessary procedures, then get the players into the game. Once they’re playing, the teacher uses side coaching—short prompts given while the action continues—rather than stopping everything for lengthy explanations. Do you own a copy of Theatre Games in the Classroom? I highly recommend that you do.
7. Give Quieter Students More Than One Way to Succeed
The student who isn’t eager to improvise in front of everyone may be a terrific designer, playwright, director, researcher, or ensemble member. Early in the year, give students several ways to show you what they can do. I recommend teaching a technical theater lesson within the first two weeks of class. Not only are they engaging, but they provide a change of pace. Need a costume design lesson? Pick up Costume Design with Fairy Tale Characters.
Always Have Something in Your Back Pocket
8. Keep a Few Tried-and-True Activities in Your Back Pocket
Sometimes an activity you expected to take 30 minutes takes twelve. Sometimes the opposite happens! Have a few reliable warm-ups, theatre games, discussion prompts, or short activities ready when you need to change course. In addition, plan more activities or exercises than you expect to use in one day. My worry was always that I’d have time left over and everyone sitting there looking at me with a “What’s next?” expression. If you over plan your lesson, you are always ahead in the game. Check out this activity: Drama Circle Activity: Space Adventure.
9. Pay Attention to the Chemistry of This Particular Class
Every class develops its own personality. Something that worked beautifully with last year’s seventh graders may fall completely flat with this year’s group. Watch, listen, and adjust your teaching to the students standing in front of you. Teachers are excellent with reading a group of people and knowing what they need or they are feeling. My husband and I travel overseas quite a lot. When we do so, I find that I survey and assess a tour group just as quickly as the guide. It’s just a natural thing I do after having taught so long. In fact, one of my favorite first week activities is a Personality Profile. You can find it here: Personality Profile.
10. Remember That You’re Building Something That Takes Time
Most importantly, please know that you don’t need a perfectly functioning ensemble by the end of September. You’re establishing trust, routines, expectations, and a willingness to take creative risks. Those first weeks are the foundation for everything you’ll ask students to do later.