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Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

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Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

At this time of year, many newly employed teachers are perusing the internet for lessons for their classes.  Today I’m going to discuss unlocking the secrets of elementary theater class: a comprehensive guide.

A little history about me–My first job was as an English teacher in a junior high school.  Bear in mind that I was certified to teach English, but had never taught it or even experienced teaching it as a student teacher. My student teaching was in theater which in the 1970s was almost unheard of in the mid-west.

Anyway,  I remember they gave me this HUGE book with all of the benchmarks or objectives I was to reach.  It was so full of jargon, I had to sit and translate it into layman’s English.  Finally, I got the hang of it.

My Teaching Journey

When I began teaching middle school theater in the mid 90s (yikes), no one seemed to be clear on what they wanted me to cover.  I came into the position with twenty years of teaching and directing experience outside the classroom, so I knew what to do in those circumstances. Continuing in this position for thirteen years, we then moved to Estes Park, CO which was a dream we never thought would occur.  We loved it!

While in Colorado for six years,  I taught a creative dramatics class to second through fifth  grade students in a home school enrichment program called Apex Home School Enrichment.   The classes were fifty-five minutes in length, once a week.  I saw around 175 students a week over three days. Because I came to the position with so much teaching experience, it was very easy for me to create a curriculum , because I knew what worked and what didn’t.  I hope I can pass along some of this experience to you now.

Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

To be frank, there are good and not-so-good parts of being the only theater teacher in a school.  The good is that you can make your own decisions as to the content you teach without having to go through a department chair for their approval.  The greatest challenge I believe is that because you are alone in teaching the subject, you don’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of who truly understands what you are teaching.

I know what that’s like.  Having taught for over thirty-eight years, I’ve felt alone many times in my career.  Plus, when you are just starting out its easy to become overwhelmed by all the necessary details.  You probably say to yourself, do I have to create all these lessons all by myself.  The answer is no.

Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

Where can I find creative dramatics lessons?

You can join some fancy membership website and spend a lot of money buying lessons you may ever need. Maybe you purchase the membership at the beginning of the year because it sounded like a really good deal.  And maybe it is.  Perhaps you discover after assessing your students for a week or so that this website doesn’t offer what you need. You feel stuck because you paid your money and well, the lessons will suffice.

There is nothing worse than the nagging feeling that you are not doing something especially useful for your students. I’ve been there and I understand.  I bet deep in your soul you know these are not the lessons your students need and really, you need to work ala carte! You want to pick and choose what you cover with your students, planning a month or two at a time.  Check out my latest article in One Classroom Over magazine.

Many times when teaching elementary students, in my opinion, there is too much emphasis placed on the wrong aspects of theater. The secret to unlocking curriculum is go right to ala carte! 

Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

Here are some things you do not need to cover:

  1.  Scene study
  2.  Monologues
  3.  Writing a play
  4.  A comprehensive study of the history of theater
  5.  Memorizing large quantities of lines
  6.  Performing in a play longer than fifteen minutes
  7.  Performing in a musical longer than 30 minutes
  8.  Stock characters–Greek and Roman theater helped flesh out stock characters as a concept, but many of the ones we have now would  not originate until much, much later.

When I taught these creative dramatics  lessons in this particular order I began with the easiest concepts and progressed to the most challenging. This was a pass/fail course.  I gave a daily participation grade as well.

Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

Here are some concepts they do need to study:

  1. Tableau (1 day)–Tableau is a staple of theater and a non-threatening concept which beginning theater students can learn. Students learn how to make stage pictures (which is one of the basic of directing as well), however they don’t have to say anything. You can find my tableau lessons here:
  2. . Chanting (1 day)–Chanting, (in my TPT store) or a repeated word or phrase used to illicit an effect is the second component I teach novices. Got some questions about teaching middle school? You can also find it in my Made by Teachers store at: Chanting
  3. Movement (2 days)–Just like tableau, students enjoy creative movement because there is no speaking.  Plus, it does a great job of giving students some physical exercise which they sorely need.
  4. Storytelling–(3 days) To learn to tell a story with all of its parts (beginning, middle and end, etc.) is an important skill. You can also find it in my Payhip store at: Storytelling Unit 
  5.  Parts of the stage–(1 day) Students have a difficult time understanding these labels unless they are learned right along with performing. So, keep that in mind.
  6. Improvisation (2 days)–Some advice for you: never begin your year by throwing students into improvisation.  It’s terribly difficult for the novice actor or those who are reluctant about the class.  Build up their trust for at least a month. Take it in baby steps. Try this drama circle for Halloween!
  7. Mask making (2 days)–Students enjoy creating masks and using them in movement pieces or to create a character. My advice?  Use animal masks which are premade or they can create their own.
  8. Costume Design (2 days)–Who doesn’t like costume design?  Depending upon the time of year, I like to teach about costume design with a thematic approach. In this case, it’s Halloween characters or teach with fairy tale characters.
  9. Components of a Stage (1 day) –It’s best to teach these positions as students study set design so they can apply the information you give them.
  10. Set Design (2 days)– Teaching how to draw a rendering of a set is super useful and fun!
  11. Stage Properties (4 days)–Creating and making a stage prop is a magnet for student engagement.  Maybe you can make a prop which is used in the class play, such as snowflakes for a play, Ojisan and the Grateful Statues which is set in winter.
  12. Performance (1 week) You can choose to direct your students in a short one act class play, readers theater or a radio theater play-I liked to switch it up every now and then using something different.   Word of caution–don’t have one class performing a play while the others are studying radio theater.  You will make yourself crazy.
  13. Audience etiquette (weekly)–You can teach how to be a good audience member every day if you like.  Reminding students of what a quiet, attentive audience looks like goes a long way with them.
  14. Warm up Exercises–You can never go wrong with a good warm-up exercise.  Here is one which always works–Firecracker Freeze Tag

If you’d like you can purchase a bundle of them at a discounted cost right here: Theater Arts Lessons for Grades 3 to 5

Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

In 2018, I opened my store on Teacherspayteachers.com.  My plan was to recoup the pension I lost by staying home with our daughters when they were very young.  I understood that I would lose half of my pension at the time of my retirement, but to this day I have no regrets.  This was a real privilege and I’m aware that many educators don’t have the luxury to do the same.  To this day, I know our daughters almost as well as they do themselves because I was with them when they were young. I treasure that. The aforementioned words in blue are links to my resources which you are welcome to use in your classroom.

If you need defenses for your lessons, check out National Core Arts Standards: A Conceptual Framework for Arts Learning

Do you have any questions?  One feature of my business is that I am available for any teacher who needs a bit of advice or direction for their theater class, no matter the grade level.  You can find me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Unlocking the Secrets of Elementary Theater Class: A Comprehensive Guide

 

 

 

 

An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

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An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

There’s an amazing play written by Playwight Aurand Harris that most theater teachers never produce. It’s name?  Orphan Train. Busy theater teachers/directors have no time to consider plays other than those from their past successes. They simply don’t have the brain space left to do so. That’s where I come in.

The Orphan Train published by Dramatic Publishing.

An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

Synopsis

The play tells the story of nine orphans on an “orphan train” that left New York City on May 28, 1914. The train travels to Midwestern towns in search of homes, any homes, anywhere for the orphaned and unwanted children. There’s Mary, Evie, spunky Pegeen, Annie and Little Lucy, a quiet one.
Other orphans include Frank (who later becomes Frankie, a small girl), Raymond, Lucky and Danny the song-and-dance boy. And there are the men and women hoping for children. The lonesome whistle wails as the train chugs between encounters of anxiety, laughter, wistfulness, rejection and acceptance. Eight stories unfold, each a memorable surprise.  Cast size: 6m., 7w., 6 boys, 6 girls, or 11 (1m., 1w., 3 boys, 6 girls) with doubling.
An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

Probably the first reason a teacher/director might not consider The Orphan Train is the size of the cast–13. There is a way around this issue.  Have you ever double cast a production?  Although it appears as extra work for you, long term it is a Godsend.  Usually, one of the two actors double cast in a role will always be in attendance so you can progress through your rehearsal calendar as planned. Also, if you are short on males, a female can portray one of the male characters. Or vice versa.
If you’d like more information about double casting, check out: Double Casting a Show? Here’s Advice

Technical Requirements of The Orphan Train

I directed The Orphan Train with middle school students.  One reason I selected it is that there is no need for a set.  We legged several platforms and placed them together making different levels. Stage pieces consisted of black boxes and several wooden chairs.
The necessary stage properties are minimal as I recall.  That’s another plus to selecting this production for your season.
An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

Costume Design for The Orphan Train

Usually, I designed the costumes for my middle school plays partly because I have an intense interest in costume design. However, I took a chance with this play and did something completely different–I asked the students to find their own costumes. My budget paid for those students who could not afford it.

My color palette for the production was black and white hopefully denoting a black and white photograph.  To this end, I asked the students to bring in costume pieces for their character of either black, white or even gray. I guessed that most of the students could find what they needed quite easily and I was correct.  It worked great!  When they created a tableaux at the end of the show, they looked like a vintage photograph.

Did you know I have the secret to boosting student engagement?  My new book, “We’re Live! Radio Theater #101” explains my journey to implementing this unique tool in the classroom. Check it out here

An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

(We used this photo as a template for our show tee shirts! )

Light Design for The Orphan Train

I was fortunate.  My principal at the time was very supportive of the arts (in fact, all of the principals I worked for were supportive of the arts), and purchased lighting equipment for us.  Lighting the show was fairly simple–I used the stage lights (on little dimmers if you can imagine) and then our light board, trees and several ellipsoidal and fresnel.

 

Sound Design for The Orphan Train

My husband and I are avid music lovers.  We listen to all types of music.  Consequently, we knew of music which would be perfect for pre-show, intermission and post show.  We used period music such as Popular Roaring 1920s Music from the Year 1926.  The sound of trains was another thing we used between scenes–steam engines puffing, rolling around, train whistles, etc.

An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

Historical Significance of The Orphan Train

When I began researching the play, I found this entry in Wikipedia.com, “The Orphan Train Movement was a supervised welfare program that transported children from crowded Eastern cities of the United States to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the Midwest. The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating from about 200,000 children.

The co-founders of the Orphan Train movement claimed that these children were orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless, but this was not always true. They were mostly the children of new immigrants and the children of the poor and destitute families living in these cities. Criticisms of the program include ineffective screening of caretakers, insufficient follow-ups on placements, and that many children were used as strictly slave farm labor.

Charitable Institutions Aid to Orphans

Three charitable institutions, Children’s Village (founded 1851 by 24 philanthropists ), the Children’s Aid Society (established 1853 by Charles Loring Brace) and later, New York Foundling Hospital, endeavored to help these children. The institutions were supported by wealthy donors and operated by professional staff. The three institutions developed a program that placed homeless, orphaned, and abandoned city children, who numbered an estimated 30,000 in New York City alone in the 1850s, in foster homes throughout the country.

The children were transported to their new homes on trains that were labeled “orphan trains” or “baby trains”. This relocation of children ended in 1930 due to decreased need for farm labor in the Midwest. The phrase “orphan train” was first used in 1854 to describe the transportation of children from their home area via the railroad. However, the term “Orphan Train” was not widely used until long after the Orphan Train program had ended.

An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

Interviewing An Orphan 

We lived in Missouri at the time in which I directed the play. We’d heard there were several people still alive who rode the Orphan train many years prior.  With a little extra work, a parent volunteer found one of the children (now adult) who was an orphan and traveled by Orphan Train.  

This lovely lady came and spoke to our cast about what it was like to ride the train.  Although that was many years ago, I recall she said that the family she ended up with were not very nice to her but she grew up with them.

You always want a story like this to have a happy ending, don’t you?  However, it’s important that our students see life as it can be sometimes, especially in a case such as this one.

An Amazing Play That Most Theater Teachers Never Produce

Maybe you found this blog because you are interested in integrating drama into your core class.  I found a terrific site with plenty of information and teaching suggestions–The Orphan Train.  Start here to build your unit around The Orphan Train.  

Additionally, you could purchase a class set of this play to use as a read aloud. (Make sure you check it out before you purchase for your entire class–you don’t just want to take my word for it.  I remember there are several swear words which you may want to switch out with others not as flowery.)

The cover of a costume design lesson.

Use the script to study set or costume design.  This particular lesson would be helpful to you if you study costume design accompanying the play.  Or use this unit to study set design to accompany the play.

Have I convinced you to check out The Orphan Train play?  If hope so.  If you have any questions about directing this play or any other questions, please feel free to email me.  I receive emails every week from teachers needing a veteran teacher to give them advice.  That’s what I’m here for. Want a FREE lesson great for middle grade students?  Go here:  Lin Manuel Miranda

 

9 Compelling Reasons Why You Need Lessons Using Super Heroes

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9 Compelling Reasons Why You Need Lessons Using Super Heroes

Have you ever experienced a “Eureka” moment while teaching?  You know those moments where everything just clicks and everyone is surprised, especially you? In this case it was super heroes. Let’s talk about 9 compelling reasons why you need lessons using super heroes.

I’ve shared several times that I taught a pre-elective drama class to sixth graders for thirteen years.  If you’d like more information about that time, check out: How to Make Your Drama Class More Successful –Lessons Learned from 38 Years of Teaching-Middle School.  One of the most exhausting parts of it was the constant lesson planning.

If you are at all like me, you know that the “lesson planning monkey” on your back is demanding. And relentless.  Finally, in desperation one week, I took a stab and did something completely spontaneous with my students.  I used super heroes in all my lessons for a week.  The students were thrilled and I was, too!

Many super heroes grouped together

Did you know that super heroes have been a part of our world for nearly one hundred years?

During the late 1930’s to 1950’s, the Golden Age of Comic Books were created. Modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity among the masses. The superhero archetype was created and many well-known characters were introduced, including Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Captain America, and Wonder Woman. Most superheroes served as a figure who inspired hope. This hero could save us all from dark and difficult times. Superhero stories promote the ideas of peace, safety and freedom. Some experts consider this message a necessary reassurance in difficult times. The message isn’t about a country succeeding, but recognition that there are others with similar hope for a peaceful future

If I’ve convinced you to consider utilizing super heroes in your teaching, read on!

9 Compelling Reasons Why You Need Lessons Using Super Heroes

When I began writing this blog post, I ran on to a wonderful website, Momjunction.com who stated:

Reason #1: Superhero play gives kids the chance to pretend to be strong and invincible,

Reason #2: They encourage students to make new friends and helps them develop an identity outside of real life.

Reason #3: Super heroes  help children explore moral values and dilemmas and to establish what they and others perceive as right and wrong.

Reason #4: They help children build their confidence. Exposing students to the fantastic world of superheroes may help them come out of the shell and encourage them to face the world with renewed confidence.

Reason #5: Also, they act as role models. Superheroes can be good role models as they teach children various attributes such as courage, honesty, humility, fighting spirit, sense of responsibility, and leadership.

Reason #6: Super heroes instill compassion. Because they are aware of their superiority, it gives the a different perspective on others.  They know that they could destroy most everything and everyone.  Consequently, they understand their actions–both physical and emotional are not only necessary but need to be governed at all times.

What Superheroes Teach Us About Strength, Teamwork, and Joy

Reason #7: They teach willpower and courage.  Super heroes don’t give up at the first failure.  They keep trying until they read their goal.

Reason #8: As you might expect, they  model teamwork.  When super heroes work together they know they must share the burden of the challenge and employ the best in each other. All team members respect each other’s opinions and capabilities while collectively working towards the common goal.

Reasons #9 They are just plain fun.  Super Heroes and their quests take us to a different place in our imaginations where anything is possible. Pick up some fun supplies for your super hero week here: Super Hero Teaching Supplies

Have I convinced you yet to use super heroes in your teaching?

This is How I Can Help You

Maybe you need some ready-made lessons?  I have a brand new Dramamommaspeaks store where you can purchase a few lessons with a superhero theme.

Each lessons focuses on a different theme–playwriting (the monologue), tableau and movement, costume design and storytelling.

A teacher could use them as is in their drama classroom or a reading teacher could integrate them into a unit about super heroes.  Usually students in grades 5 to 8 enjoy them the most, but you know your students the best so you decide.  You can purchase them at Payhip.com or Teacherspayteacher.com.

My Teaching Style

You may find my lessons to be quite unique–there’s a reason.  Since I taught theater classes for nearly forty years, I had the rare opportunity to watch theater subjects unfold and change over many years.  I got to see first hand what worked and what wasn’t so successful.  For instance, there was a time when we didn’t even try to teach technical theater, but now we have lots of units about them.

During this time, I noticed that middle and elementary teachers were using themed units to teach particular concepts or objectives. The students appeared very excited by them.  Hence, when I was exhausted from planning I turned to using themes to teach theater concepts and it worked wonderfully. Here is one for Halloween: Halloween Drama Lessons and Units 

If you want to learn more about how to integrate drama into your classroom, check out: How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

What are some themed units you’ve taught?  I’d love to hear about them.  Email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com and let’s chat!

Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

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Today, I want to blog about “How to Excite Students With Drama Integration”–one of my favorite subjects! I have an Instagram Profile which I maintain regularly. My followers are comprised of teachers who see the importance of drama but are unconfident using it. They are looking for a teaching method concerning how to excite students with drama integration.

Usually that’s not what they mention, however.  It’s more implied by statements such as “I just can’t get my students to do anything.” Or “They are too busy being too cool for school.”  Or, “They are completely checked out in my class.”

No one wants to say aloud what they are really thinking, “Help someone!”  I can tell by the number of likes I receive and my checking out their own IG account posts, these teachers want to use this fabulous tool with their students. They aren’t convinced they can do it with success. I’m here to tell you that you can!

How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

While we are on this subject….Did you know I have the secret to boosting student engagement?  My new book, “We’re Live! Radio Theater #101” explains my journey to implementing this unique tool in the classroom. Check it out here

How to Excite Students with Drama Integration

How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

I’m continually seeking the perfect magic words to get these teachers to cross the bridge from belief to action.  Understanding these are very busy people with far too much on their plate, I know it’s difficult to take a few minutes and consider strategies for student engagement.

Here I sit smiling at them through my IG profile.  Drama integration has been a part of my life since I was ten years old and in fourth grade when I played Queen Isabella.  That was in 1966!  My teacher engaged me right from the beginning by our class performing a short play about the meeting between Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus. ( I always thought it was so funny because the boy who played Christopher was named Christopher himself!)

But I digress…

If you are someone searching for a way to integrate drama into your classroom, you came to the right blog.  I could give you my opinion, but sometimes we learn better from people of which we are unfamiliar.  Let’s see what other teachers and researchers  discovered.

How does drama help in the classroom?

How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

Drama encourages them to think and act creatively, thus developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can be applied in all areas of learning. Through drama, children are encouraged to take responsible roles and make choices – to participate in and guide their own learning.

How does drama help in the classroom?

Drama stimulates them to think and act creatively, thus developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can be applied in all areas of learning. Through drama, children are nurtured to take responsible roles and make choices – to participate in and guide their own learning. Check out this resource to use in your language arts class: You can find it on Teacherspayteachers.com at: The Cask of Amontillado radio play script.  Don’t know how to teach radio theater? Check out my Made by Teachers Store: Radio Theater Unit  or in my TPT store: Radio Theater Unit

Drama in the Reading Classroom

Plays inherently come with built-in strategies to help students read better. The acting out of play dialogue compels readers to work more closely with the text to interpret it and project meaning into the experience. As a result, students show improvement in vocabulary, comprehension, and retention.
Researching the drama integration subject, I ran on to Jane Udalla’s article, “The Effect of Drama Based Instruction on Reading Comprehension which states, “Drama-based activities can help struggling readers to “feel” the story, because students report being able to experience the emotions of the characters. Consequently, the students make personal connections to the text and characters while experiencing comparable emotions.  As you would expect, this experience inside the story changed students’ ability to comprehend.” Because it is made real to them, the story reading stays with them.

How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

Drama in the social studies classroom

Language Arts Teacher, Michelle Pieczura states in her article Decidedly Dramatic! The Power of Creative Drama in Social Studies, “Creative dramatics, a highly effective method for integrating arts education into core curriculum. It produces a positive and lasting impact on student learning, in terms of creative and critical thinking, language development, listening, comprehension, retention, cooperation, and empathy and awareness of others.
Creative dramatics not only has the power to bring curriculum to life, but also to stimulate active involvement in the development of conceptual understandings.” Personally, I think social studies is a fabulous place for a drama integration.
If you would like more information about how to integrate drama into social studies, check out my post: The Reasons Teaching Multiculturalism in the Classroom is Vitally Important or peruse my Teacherspayteachers.com product–Multicultural Readers Theater Units or check out The Magic Lake in my Payhip store.

Drama in the math classroom

How to Excite Students With Drama Integration
I know it’s difficult to believe, but drama can also make a math classroom sizzle with excitement! Here is one example.  In the article, The Effects of Drama on At-Risk Students, by  Patrick Kariuki and Steven G. Humphrey stating, “In a higher education classroom, a teacher used stories of mythology to help students understand statistical problems.
This teacher reasoned that storytelling is effective because it allowed him to share with students certain symbols– such as myths that everyone could understand. Furthermore, it also placed unfamiliar concepts in a more familiar setting. If you are intrigued by this idea, check out how to use Native American folk tales: 370 Million Indigenous People Want You to Know About Their Cultures

Outside help for your school

Photo Gallery of DramaMommaSpeaks

Maybe you would like to provide a full-scale musical production at your school as a way to engage students more fully? The Jump Start Theatre program is your answer.

The Jumpstart Theatre Program

The JumpStart Theatre program creates sustainable theatre arts programs in middle schools where there previously were none.  Participating schools are chosen through a rigorous application process and receive training, materials.  Plus there is  budget support to produce their first full-scale musical production. The support continues for three years until the program becomes self-sustaining.

Non-theatre teachers are equipped with skills and resources to produce their school’s first musical through a proven combination of bootcamp style training and hands-on mentoring. The Educational Theatre Foundation operates JumpStart Theatre through a national network of regional theatre company partners who are selected based on their track-record of success in running educational programs for children. In my opinion, this is just wonderful! 

JumpStart Theatre partners are:  Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, Ga.; La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, Calif.; Mountain City Center for the Arts, Frostburg, MD; Stages St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; and The Children’s Theatre, Cincinnati, OH.

How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

Drama Integration through Radio Theater

Here’s how I can help you. A fabulous way to use drama in your classroom is through radio theater.  Now. hear. me. out! Radio theater, now in existence for 100 years, is the predecessor to podcasts. (Ask your students if they know what a podcast is–they will!) I understand the actress Amy Poehler is starting a podcast series, Say More with Dr? Sheila. It will feature 30 comedic episodes spread across three seasons, starring Poehler as a couples therapist with questionable methods and credentials. Each ten-episode season will focus on a central character and distinct theme; however, characters will make crossover appearances across stories and seasons.

The great part of that news is that if one actor does this, more will come!

Harry Potter is entering the podcast scene

Recently, it was announced a brand-new co-production of the original Harry Potter stories, will revisit the beloved listening experience for the first time ever. Scheduled for late 2025, these full-cast audio productions will bring these iconic stories to life as never heard before, offering immersive audio entertainment through high-quality sound design in Dolby Atmos, stunning scoring, a full range of character voices, and real-world sound capture.

Some people would rather just jump in to learn about this incredible tool by experiencing it  on their feet. In that case, I have radio play scripts available (The Invisible Man, The Monkey’s Paw, Cask of Amontillado, Bow Wow Blues, The Frozen Pirate, It Could Always Be Worse, The Brave Little Tailor, etc.) You can find them here:  Dramamommaspeaks Products

How to Excite Students with Drama Integration

As teachers we know that teaching strategies play an important role in classroom instruction. Without the use of a strategy, teachers would be aimlessly projecting information that doesn’t connect with learners or engage them. Luckily, these strategies help learners participate, connect, and add excitement to the content being delivered. That, my friend, is where drama integration comes in!

I hope you’ll consider integrating drama into your classroom. I am always here to help you should you need me or need a sympathetic ear.  Just email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com Want to check out my new teacher guidebook, “We’re Live! Radio Theater #101?  It’s available on Amazon and in my Dramamommaspeaks store.

How to Excite Students with Drama Integration

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language

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Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language

One of the most valuable aspects of theater class is how it can be integrated into core subjects.  Today, I want to speak about overcoming fear and anxiety when speaking English as a second language. Personally, I think the best way is by taking a theater class. Let me explain.

If you are unfamiliar with the term, “ESL”, simply put it means English as a second language learner.  “ELL’ means the same thing, but we also have World language learner. 

Since I taught theater classes for over thirty-eight years, my teaching experience is vast.  Not only have I taught middle school students for a large portion of my career, but I worked with elementary and high school as well.

However, my favorite grade level is middle school.  If you’d like more information about my reasons, go to: Striking a Balance with Students in Their Middle School Years. 

When I taught a pre-elective drama class in Missouri, the ELL students were integrated into my class. There are many funny experiences of these sweet students trying valiantly to learn English and still be a child.  (Sometime ask me about the time I sat two girls together from warring tribes, the Tsuti and Hutus, without understanding their tribes were mortal enemies. Yikes!)

Did you know I have a new book, We’re Live! Radio Theater #101 which teaches you how to engage students with a unique tool?  Check it out here.

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language

A sidenote:  My grandparents were missionaries in Japan where my mother was raised until she was eighteen years old.  When I was a child, my mother gave free boarding to international college students because she said, “They make me feel like I’m home in Japan.” Because I was raised around these people, I am very comfortable with people of all different nationalities and find them extremely interesting and generally quite friendly.

Being the observant person that I am, I noticed the ELL students were petrified to speak in front of their peers and did not fraternize with the native speakers.  I thought this was sad, but understandable.  Neither knew each other and neither was willing to be the first to extend a friendly hand. (Truly, it should be the native speaker.)

One year, I was looking for something different to offer after school as part of my career ladder responsibilities.  Remembering the native speakers and the ELL students sitting apart in the cafeteria not speaking to one another, I approached the ELL teacher about me sponsoring an after-school drama club specifically for them.  She jumped at the idea!

It seemed simple enough, right?

Three ELL Drama Club Problems to Overcome

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language

I planned to have six weeks of drama club and then a performance at the end.

The first problem:  The students would need transportation to take them home from school since they had no other means of travel.  We applied for money from the state for this and they came through handsomely.

The second problem:  How do inform the students and their parents about the club?  Easy.  Mrs. Zumwalt would take care of that for me.  (I must say, co-teaching with another teacher from my school was fabulous.) She took care of communication with parents and the students, while I planned the weekly activities.

The third problem:  What were my goals for the club? I knew that ELL students needed to overcome their fear and anxiety about speaking aloud.  The best way I knew to do this was by integrating drama.  Obviously, I wanted to strengthen their speaking of English.  But what else?  Drama games are always a hit with all of my students and I noticed the ELL students enjoyed them when we played them in class.  For particular games I used, see: Drama Games for the Introvertive Student, but I needed many more.

Readers Theater Resources on the Internet

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language

I took to the internet and looked for websites that shared particular games that ELL teachers used in their classroom, hoping to find some which integrated drama. Although this was many years ago, I looked at sites such as Fluentu.com.  I ran on to several books which were helpful, too–Enlivening Instruction with Drama and Improv: A Guide for Second Language and World Language Teachers . The ESL / ELL Teacher’s Survival Guide: Ready-to-Use Strategies, Tools, and Activities for Teaching English Language Learners of All Levels.

Generally, I relied on my go-to drama games and exercises that are successful with all students.  I always suggest to new teachers that they purchase a copy of Viola Spolin‘s book, Theatre Games for the Classroom.  IIt is an excellent source for creative dramatics exercises to use in any elementary and middle school classroom.

My plan included ending the club with a production of some sort.  I turned to Aaron Shepherd’s readers theater website, Aaron Shepard’s RT page as I was familiar with his work. His script, The Legend of Lightning Larry which is still one of my favorites.

I selected readers theater because students read from a script rather than memorize lines and sit together when they perform (safety in numbers, you know). Both attributes would help the students as they slowly overcame their fear and anxiety when speaking English.

If you are unfamiliar with the strengths of using readers theater in your classroom, check out: The Reasons Reader’s Theater is Successful with Our Students.

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety When Speaking English As A Second Language

The day arrived to perform the play.  I was very excited, but very naïve.  I thought the students’ parents and siblings would attend.  Parents attended every other time my students performed in my class.  We sent out invitations both through email and hard copies. We baked cookies, had punch ready and decorated.

No one attended.

Why?  Transportation issues.  I never occurred to me that transportation could be an issue, but of course it could be!

The important thing, however, is that the students had a blast doing the play.  The local newspaper came out and photographed the students performing.  Just think of how wonderful that would be for an immigrant to be acknowledged in their community’s newspaper!

The next year, we participated in the school’s diversity celebration. Using a book titled All the Colors of the Earth  and a song from the movie, Making an American quilt,  the students performed a movement piece to it using multi-color flags.  I narrated most of the poem and one student echoed me in several places in the poem.  It was a tremendous success! The student body and teachers applauded for them.  It makes me cry just to think about it now.

ESL Drama Club of Smithton Middle School

My Advice

If you are on the hunt for drama activities for ELL, ENL or World Languages students, I hope you’ll check out the materials I’ve mentioned above.  However, if you want to purchase from someone who is a veteran teacher and has first hand experience teaching creative dramatics to students, I’m your gal.

Earlier I mentioned readers theater scripts.  I have adapted several multicultural folk tales into readers theater scripts. Here are a few.  You can check them all out at: Dramamommaspeaks Readers Theater Units

I hope my experiences are helpful to you. If you have any questions or need advice, please don’t hesitate to email me. You can find me at DhcBaldwin.net or DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Dramamommaspeaks Blog Author Deborah Baldwin

Top Reasons Teachers Succeed With Teaching Radio Theater

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Top Reasons Teachers Succeed With Teaching Radio Theater

Let’s discuss the top reasons teachers succeed when teaching with radio theater. If you follow my blog, then you know this is a subject I speak about quite frequently. Why?  First and foremost, teaching with radio theater is a marvelous teaching tool! When you really like something do you tell a lot of people? So let’s talk about the top reasons teachers succeed when teaching with radio theater!

The Top Reasons Teachers Succeed Teaching with Radio Theater Performing Arts
Temple Theater/Caroline’s Center for the Performing Arts

My Journey with Radio Theater

I taught a pre-elective drama class to 500 sixth graders every year for thirteen years.  Ending the six weeks with a performance was a challenge for me.  I’m a creative being and just can’t do the same thing over and over (as my good friend, a Home Economics teacher, could make cookies and sew pillow cases ad infinitum).  Yikes! Consequently, after about a year I ran dry on ideas of short class plays. To solve the problem, I began adapting multicultural folk tales into short class plays.  You can read about it here. The Reasons Teaching Multiculturalism in the Classroom is Vitally Important

Although this was a terrific answer to my problem and the students were happy, it wasn’t working enough for me. I remembered that I once participated in a radio theater performance. I loved the format!   When the performance ended, I realized it would be a terrific unit to create for my class. Yet, I had questions.  Could radio theater work in my classroom as well?  Would the students enjoy it?  Could I locate radio theater scripts for this purpose?  Plato said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”  He was spot on, huh?

Photo Gallery of DramaMommaSpeaks
Me directing the radio play, It’s a Wonderful Life

Desperate to find scripts, I scoured the internet (which was brand new at the time BTW) and ran on to the Museum or Radio and Television website.  They offered family workshops producing a radio play.  Excitedly, I wrote them begging for guidance about my teaching plan and they were very generous sending me six radio theater scripts.  I’ll never be able to repay them for helping me to start my program.

Did you know I have the secret to boosting student engagement?  My new book, “We’re Live! Radio Theater #101” explains my journey to implementing this unique tool in the classroom. Check it out here

Immediate Success

The first time I directed a radio theater play, I noticed the students were immediately engaged!  Even the reluctant students or those with severe learning challenges who were accompanied by an aid. Everyone talked about them outside of my class.  Even their core teachers mentioned the students shared with them their excitement and anticipation of their public performance.

Had I run on to something which could make all of us happy?

After several years of using those scripts and adapting other short stories I found, I took a chance and wrote my own.  That’s when Bow Wow Blues was born. Check it out here: Bow Wow Blues Play Script and Unit

In 2017, at the encouragement of a good friend, I uploaded my script Bow Wow Blues in my TPT store.  I guess teachers and students really like it– I’m flattered.  To date I’ve sold over 500 copies.  If you’d like to learn more about Bow Wow Blues, go to:  Bow Wow Blues Script and Radio Theater Unit

creative dramatics lesson plans

Utilizing Radio Theater in the Classroom

Having ate, slept and breathed radio theater for over thirty years, it is very easy for me to defend its use in the classroom.

  1.  It’s creative–Talk about using your imagination!  Admittedly, I’m a stickler for using live sound effects.  It’s not enough to honk a bicycle horn.  Sometimes the sounds are difficult to duplicate.  That is where the creativity comes in.  Supporting creativity and problem solving is a natural part of radio theater. Ever heard of “complicating the sound?”
  2.  It’s a perfect example of differentiated instruction–Because a teacher gives students choices as to where they’d like to serve in the cast or sound effects team, it gives them an opportunity to learn at the pace in which they are comfortable.
  3.  Listening skills are strengthened–Everyone’s listening becomes more attuned to one another. Plus, listening for one’s cues and creating sound effects teaches students to focus their attention.
  4. Speaking skills are polished–There is nothing worse than a “mush mouth” actor.  Radio theater reinforces one’s enunciation, rate of delivery, and diction which all come in to play when a student reads aloud. Additionally, a teacher can strengthen students’ intonation, vocal flexibility and breath support.
  5. Reading skills are cultivated–Because a teacher spends many days rehearsing a radio theater script, and a reader reads something repeatedly, they can’t help but become a better reader!
  6. Language skills are honed–Students become better communicators as they work together giving suggestions for the sound effects, discussing the play with their classmates as well as acting their role
  7. Interpersonal Skills are buffed up. Verbal and nonverbal communication, the ability to handle conflict, teamwork, empathy, listening, and a positive attitude. Also, being flexible and positive, able to listen, and communicating well are important criteria for success at work.

The Top Reasons Teachers Succeed When Teaching with Radio Theater

Why Radio Theater Belongs in Your Classroom

8.  Cooperative and collaborative learning are such a necessary part of this experience–This is a perfect example             of   working together to learn something. For example, everyone must put aside their differences and work together                   toward   the performance.

9.  Additionally, radio theater is adaptable. Many of the radio theater play scripts I taught with are from previous                 eras– what a super way for students to learn about  the past? A history teacher could use a radio play in their                classroom. I know that several  Language Arts teachers have used several of my plays, in particular The Monkey’s                  Paw and The Frozen Pirate.

10.  Learn marketable skills–Being proficient in speaking through a microphone and familiar with running sound                  equipment  has valuable skill that makes them employable in the outside world.  Ever wondered about sound design?                Check out this  post: There’s a Place for Everyone in Theater

11. Lastly, it’s just plain fun  and engaging! I like to teach students in a manner which they don’t even know they are           learning.  I  strive to make each lesson so enjoyable that students remember the experience and keep coming back                        for  more!

These students performed radio theater during the Covid quarantine!  Many teachers found radio theater to be a life saver during the quarantine. Maybe you want a collection of scripts to choose from? Check out this: Radio Theater Bundle 

Preview of Radio Drama Script Very Popular Four Radio Plays and Unit High Engagement! 1

What’s holding you back?

Fear does frightening things to our psyche, yes?  Sometimes we are anxious and we don’t even know what about!

If you are like me, you like to be well informed on something you teach. That’s understandable.  If you’ve never even seen a radio play performed let alone a radio script, you will need to trust me on this.  Do you trust me? 

Essential Questions for Teaching Radio Theater

  • Do I need to be a teacher?
  • Is there a rationale in place before I teach radio theater?
  • Do I need to know what to say when I begin each lesson?
  • Do I  present the information in a particular order?
  • Should I require the students to take notes as I teach them?
  • Would trivia about particular radio shows or famous movie stars who got their start on RT pique my students’ curiosity and urge them to dig deeper in their study?
  • Should my students make a sound effect and be required to share it with the class?
  • What about a cooperative learning assignment?  Would that be helpful? Could they create a commercial for radio?
  • Would a group of theater games and exercises be helpful in teaching the concepts of radio theater? 
  • Should I collect several audio clips of actual radio shows of which the students can listen and learn?
  • Should I include enrichment in the unit, such as history about a famous radio show broadcast like War of the Worlds?
  • Do I need to find a floor plan that shows me how to set up the stage or in my classroom for a performance?
  • What sound effects should I collect to use? Do I need to purchase any or would some everyday objects suffice to create the sounds?

The answer to these questions is resounding YES. 

Pick up a FREE sample of my book, We’re Live! Radio Theater #101 here. 

Save Yourself Time and Work

Would it be nice not to have to spend countless hours creating this unit? For instance, what if instead of spending your free time and weekends researching, collecting materials and organizing your lessons you could purchase a veteran theater teacher’s unit and to learn about it as you taught it to your students?

You’ve heard me say this before, but I’ll say it again–Remember, I’ve been you.  As you would expect, I know the struggles and challenges, the sleepless nights, the knot in your stomach on Sunday night, the students who need a little extra “somethin’ somethin'” to tease their interests. Also, your worry to address their need for novelty in your lessons.

Proof That Radio Theater Works

Recently a theater teacher and I were chatting on Instagram about her use of radio theater in her classroom. You can read it here: Struggling with Your Students Engagement?

Furthermore, I’m not the only person who thinks radio theater is useful. Here is professor using radio theater in her college classroom. Theatre Students use Zoom to Create Old School Radio Drama
The Top Reasons Teachers Succeed Teaching with Radio Theater
In conclusion, I  believe that having this work done for you means I’m paying it forward to a busy teacher who already has a lot on on their plate for a fraction of the price your precious time is worth.
Do you have any questions or concerns?  Please feel free to email me atDhcBaldwin@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.
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