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Facts You Never Knew about White Theatrical Privilege on the Stage

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Facts You never Knew about White Theatrical Privilege on the Stage

I’d never really thought about this until yesterday when in my Facebook feed  this particular meme showed up with facts about white privilege on the stage.

Facts You never Knew about White Theatrical Privilege on the Stage

I’ve been involved with theater for over forty years. I can only think of a few times I’ve cast color blindly.  Several students–Mahogany, Antonio, Cortaiga, Micah, Ayanna, Greg and John come to my mind.  I directed all of these kids and hundred of others. Also, I directed a cast of boys for a play version of Holes comprised entirely of black males and one white one.  Such an awesome experience.

Not many black students participated in my programs, though I don’t know if that was my fault or not.  They certainly enjoyed my classes.

It’s always easy to find a student who is interested in participating on a production.  They nearly shout it or jump in front of you for your attention.

Some students may be interested but don’t know how to cross the bridge to audition or be a part of the technical crew.

Did I make it welcoming to them?

I tried.

Just looking at the above meme startles me and makes me sad. There are several statements in that meme which really speak to me.

Casting for “Diversity’s Sake” 

portrait of a gorgeous black woman

Here’s an example for you.   I observed it in a children’s theater company who was casting a play of Cinderella.

I knew that color played a part in some directors’ casting.

A friend asked me to help her cast the production.  Sometimes directors do this so that it lessens the blow if someone isn’t cast as they could be and accuse them of racial bias. However, at the time I didn’t know this was the reason I was asked to help.

Two women auditioned–one a pretty white, blonde haired and talented.  The other was a black woman–beautiful, vibrant and equally talented.

After the auditions were over, I suggested the black girl be cast as Cinderella.  I thought her perspective would make the show unique.  How many Cinderellas have you seen in story books or movies?

Not many.

That’s why I thought she would be a good choice.  Plus, I knew that school groups would see the show and many black students would enjoy and better relate to it.

The black woman was a student in college.  After the production closed, someone asked her about the experience of portraying Cinderella.

She said, ” I never in a million years thought I would ever have an opportunity to play Cinderella.  It was an amazing experience.  I’d look out at the student audiences and see little black girls smiling ear to ear with tears in their eyes. It was incredible.”

Roles Written in Stereotype

In youth theater, I haven’t run into this problem very much.  Probably it’s because I never selected a show which put a minority student in a negative light.

How awful for someone struggling to feel seen and accepted for themselves to have someone pigeon- hole you into the very thing you are trying to fight.

Last February, pre-covid quarantine, a new version of West Side Story was running on Broadway.   If you know West Side Story, you are aware of the typical casting of whites as Jets and Latinos as Sharks.  However, in this version the cast includes black in the Jets, too. How wonderful.

West Side Story_Broadway_2020_Production Photos_X_HR

Never having to adapt our social behaviors for the cast and crew

Honestly, I don’t know what this statement means. Does it mean when a black person laughs loudly at a joke while a white person might not and vice versa? So the black person learns to “blend” to be included.

Image may contain: 2 people, people standing, mountain, sky, outdoor and nature

I asked one of my students, now an adult, what that statement meant to her.  This is some of what Mahogany said, “We often have to minimize black culture for the sake of making white people feel we are no different than them. an example of adapting social behavior is for theme days: when asked to dress in costume or embody a theme for the day, a black person may think twice about what to choose so they make white people feel more comfortable i.e., they may choose to dress as in rode attire over Wakanda for the sake of now drawing attention to one’s blackness for the sake of white people NOT for their own pleasure.”

I’d never thought about it.  Oh my gosh, how tiresome it must be for black people to do this.  I’m sorry, Mahogany.

I just found information about a training program specifically for black actors. It’s called Black Acting Methods.com. Check it out here: https://www.blackactingmethods.com/

How to be aware of my racism

I’d like nothing better than to see a production with an all black cast or Latino cast or even a color blind cast.  Let’s celebrate our differences and acknowledge that we are all different, but we all matter. Because of our differences it puts us in the same in that light in that regard.

The only way I can fix racism is to first be aware of it at all times.  That’s where I’ve started. I hope I grow.

Let’s help our students never go there.  Let’s celebrate the talents of others.  In this case, I am speaking about black people.  I create drama lessons and sell them in my store on Teacherspayteachers.com.

Here is one for you as an example.  Famous Theater Artist-Billy Porter

If you are interested in seeing more about this product, go to:

Famous Theater Artist Billy Porter Biography and One Pager Assignment

I hope you’ll consider your place in the subject of racism and what you can do to make everyone feel equal and included.  I know I am.

Until next time.

DEB BLOG PHOTO600

I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

If you’d like to read another post about making people feel welcome, check out: This Is What Happens When You Don’t Think Too Much, a Special Kind of Spontaneity

If you’d like to see why I think it’s important for our students to read biographies, check out: Should Students Read Biographies?

 

How to Use a Hybrid Lesson in Your Drama Classroom Tomorrow

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How to Use a Hybrid Lesson in Your Drama Classroom Tomorrow

Brain, Mind, Psychology, Idea, Hearts, Love, Drawing

I’m a creative and imaginative person.  If you follow my blog, you’ll know that when I was ten years old I decided I would direct Mary Poppins in my backyard and have my father hire a helicopter to fly me into the yard near the forsythia.

Yes, I’m that kind of creative.

I get an itch in my fingers if I’m not creating something.  Usually, I can appease this creative itch by cooking something new or coloring in a coloring book or developing a new product for drama teachers.

Author Susan Vreeland thinks, “Painting feeds the eye just as poetry feeds the ear, which is to say that both feed the soul.”

I agree. Without being creative and imaginative, I am pretty unhappy.

Yet, even with this new interest of mine in developing drama education resources, I was becoming a bit stale.

I’ve been making drama lessons and adapting some of my former lessons for two years.  Two years and 220 products later, I have created quite a library for the busy drama teacher to use.  If you are interested in checking them out, grades second to twelve, go here:  Dramamommaspeaks Store

Enter Boom Learning

Among the many resources I used in my classroom in the past, recently I’ve learned how to make word walls,  growth mindset posters, one pager assignments, word searches, short biographies, Broadway musicals units, Google slides, etc.

Lately, I’ve been interested in digital task cards.  These puppies are HOT in the education market.  There’s great interest in using them in the classroom because I think we all know our students are going to have at least six months to a year of distance learning.

Because of this, I thought about what I could create for distance learning in particular hybrid learning.

Boom Learning is a website of digital task cards for all subjects and grade levels.  They are called Boom Cards.  Here is their description,

“Boom Cards are interactive lessons created by teachers like you. Using our platform, you can easily create Boom Cards to use in your class, or sell them in our marketplace. made for teachers and parents Teachers can use Boom Cards in the classroom or parents can use them at home.”

I have to say these digital task cards are really cool.  Teachers assign the cards and the students work through a set. Without them realizing it, the students grasp a concept (through short games) or practice a skill.

Hybrid Learning and Differentiation

As I mentioned, I’m a creative person.  I got to thinking………………is there some way to teach both through digital task cards AND through instruction from the teacher?

Of course!

As usual  whenever I blog, I searched the internet and found this helpful definition of Hybrid Blended Instruction from Schoology.com says:

“Beyond differentiation in terms of content, process, product, or modifying the traditional learning environment, blended hybrid learning combines face-to-face instruction with some form of “computer-mediated instruction.” Blended hybrid learning “has the opportunity to provide personalized instruction with some element of student control over path, pace, time, and place.” Thus, it is a mode of instruction that adds a significant amount of student agency to learning that is not otherwise possible through in-person differentiation, which still occurs synchronously and, in practice, largely at the direction of the teacher.”

How do I use hybrid blended instruction in my drama classroom?  

Primarily, this hybrid blended instruction could be used with drama subjects which could be best taught with limited but not limited to topics such as the  history of scenic design, stage properties, lights, costumes, etc.

The first hybrid  lesson I developed was my Costume Design with Fairy Tale Characters. I adapted parts of my PDF lesson to make it.

Drama Lesson:  Costume Design with Boom Cards!

COSTUME DESIGN MIDDLE GRADE BOOM CARDS COVER400 (1)

For Distance Learning–

It’s a three-step process. First, the teacher assigns the student to view a portion of a video which demonstrates the costume design concepts. Next, she assigns the Boom Cards! for the student to study prior to the assignments. Finally, the teacher charges the student to design a costume for a fairy tale character and complete the creative writing assignment. This lesson can last one or two days.

Included in the PDF product:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Rationale for Teaching Costume Design
  • Costume Design Template (Female)
  • Costume Design Template (Male)
  • Writing Assignment Sheet
  • Writing Assignment Sheet Examples
  • Sources
  • Video Links

Included in the Boom Cards! product:

  • 16 Boom Cards which include the history of costume design
  • True/false questions to secure the learning as the student progresses through them

For the Blended Classroom

This is a definite paradigm shift for a drama teacher.  We are used to doing all the teaching ourselves. However, if other teachers in a school are using digital learning  in their classes the students may adapt quickly to our use of them.

What are the benefits for the teacher?

  • It frees up your time to take attendance, speak to individual students about their progress in class, take a break for! a few minutes!
  • The digital task cards are self grading. A teacher checks the students’ knowledge on a subject without having to grade another set of papers.  Yet, they are continuing to teach the students.

What are the cons to the Hybrid Blended Classroom?

According to Schoology.com

“….the blended hybrid classroom must bring true computer-mediated instruction into the mix, creating learning outcomes that aren’t possible through traditional methods. It takes technology infrastructure, planning, and hard work to make that ideal a reality.”

In other words it is going to take some time to prepare the lesson, accept the paradigm shift and conquer! In the long run, I think you’ll be glad you did. Until then, lean on me for help.

Hey, if I can do it then so can you?

If you would rather use just the digital task cards without the hybrid lesson, you can find them here:

Here are three sets of digital task cards which may come in handy for you.  (Tap on them to see their entire description.)

BUNDLE DRAMA VOCAB. COVER      ROMEO AND JULIET BOOM CARDS TPT COVER300 (1)

COSTUME DESIGN MIDDLE GRADE BOOM CARDS COVER

Here is my newest hybrid lesson. Costume Design Halloween Characters and Boom Cards!

COSTUME DESIGN HALLOWEEN LESSON PLUS BOOM CARDS400

 

What lessons have you created which lend themselves to Hybrids?  I’d love to hear about them?  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

 

 

 

The Blended Learning Classroom is Here to Stay

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The Blended Learning Classroom is Here to Stay

Two years ago, I taught a blended classroom model for a community college. The dean called it a hybrid classroom. You can read more about it here:

 Thirteen Days to Creating a Successful Hybrid College Class, Day Two

Thirteen Days to Creating a Successful Hybrid College Class, Day Five

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

I taught in public and private schools for the thirty-eight years of my career.  A blended classroom was very different for me, although I was enthusiastic about trying it.

Primarily, I had to think backwards with everything I wanted the students to learn.  Many hours and days later, I realized the value of the blended classroom.

I think we may see more and more of it as the pandemic continues.  

The good news is that our students appreciate differentiated instruction.  Who doesn’t?  I know I like to learn by myself and I also like to learn from a qualified instructor.

Plus, some parts of a lesson can be better expressed by viewing a video clip. Or taught by running through basic concepts on digital flashcards.  Of course, the most important part should be instructed by the teacher.

Because of the pandemic, most of our school have gone on-line.  We hear a lot about people pivoting, but folks, you have no idea how difficult that has been for our teachers.

They are best in their classroom. You just can’t stop a top notch educator!

Career, Business, Woman, Silhouette, Office, Worker

(I have to say this photo is rather comical.  What teacher wears high heels to teach?  Not this one, that’s for sure.)

I discovered more than half of my products could be tweaked for distance learning.  Since then, hundreds were purchased.  That’s thrilling for me for obvious reasons, but more importantly I was relieved I helped someone in a tough predicament.  However, I sensed they wanted something more than what I could offer at the moment. So I began researching the blended classroom.

Because of my recent experience,  it was necessary to blog about the blended classroom.   I truly believe it is here to stay.  As I always do when putting together a blog post, I looked around to see what I could find in the way of research on the subject.  This post very helpful, “The Seven Most Important Benefits of Blended Learning” from KnowledgeWave.com. KnowedgeWave is a business software company who develops products using Microsoft Office.

 The Blended Learning Classroom is Here to Stay

1. Flexibility

A blended learning approach provides ultimate flexibility in presenting content. Complex topics can be presented in the classroom, while other subject matter can be available online. With an online component, you’ll also increase flexibility and convenience over how and when your employees participate in training.

“In studies contrasting blends of online and face-to-face instruction with conventional face-to-face classes, blended instruction has been more effective.”
US Dept of Education, 2010

2. Effectiveness

Garrison and Kanuka (and I’m sure countless other academics) have studied blended learning. Their research concludes that “blended learning … has the proven potential to enhance both the effectiveness and efficiency of meaningful learning experiences.”

3. Efficiency

With a well-planned blended learning strategy, you can efficiently and quickly deliver training to a broad audience. And with digital assets such as videos and recordings and eBooks, the potential for re-use is huge. You can easily help more people get up-to-speed after the initial rounds of training have passed.

4. Cost-effectiveness

Most of us like strategies that can save our organization money. And blended learning is one of them! Including more online options in your training program saves on travel and missed work. When you are hosting live events online, you eliminate employee and instructor travel costs. When the venue is your own desk, that’s clearly a savings over large rooms!

5. Personalization

Any training that is not well implemented can create an isolating, cookie-cutter, impersonal learning experience. But the good news is that a well-crafted blended solution can provide a seamless transition from classroom to computer or vice-versa. You can design ways of continuing discussion themes and personalizing content to a person’s specific job or interests.

6. Extended reach

Almost always, creating a blended learning strategy reduces classroom teaching time. By digitizing the expertise of talented instructors or subject-matter experts, you can reach more people with high-quality content at a fraction of the cost. That frees up knowledgeable instructors to offer more classes, or create more training content, or work on other things.

7. Covers all learning styles

It’s always important to take learning styles into account then designing training for adults. Effective blended learning is a “best of all worlds” solution that can help you cater to all learning styles through a variety of mediums and techniques.

Here’s something I did not know–the blended classroom approach has been around since 1960 when the first mini computers emerged.  WHAT?!?

Innovative Teaching Methods

As a teacher – author I am constantly on the look out for successful, innovative and new methods teachers are using so I can provide products for them. In particular, I develop drama education units and lessons.

One of the newest methods is one pager assignments.  One pager assignments are a terrific way for students to take notes over what they learn.

One Pager Assignment

Here is one for you to check out : Hugh Jackman One Pager Biography Lesson

HUGH JACKMAN ONE PAGER COVER

A Blended Classroom Drama Lesson:  Costume Design with Fairy Tale Characters

We are hearing in the news that many schools are considering distance learning in the fall term. Lately, I considered how I could be of help to more teachers. Watching them navigate their way through these challenging times is hard.  Trust me, it is difficult enough to be a teacher in the classroom but these times compound everything.

I created nearly 220 drama education products (lessons, units, posters, quizzes, word walls, etc.) for my Dramamommaspeaks Store through Teacherspayteachers.com

Here is my recent costume design product for the blended classroom.

This unique and innovative lesson is the best of both worlds giving students an opportunity to learn individually and additional tools for the teacher to instruct through distance learning or in the classroom. #distancelearningTPT

How do I use this in my classroom?

It’s a three-step process. First, the teacher assigns the student to view a portion of a video which demonstrates the costume design concepts. Next, she assigns the Boom Cards! for the student to study prior to the assignments. Finally, the teacher charges the student to design a costume for a fairy tale character and complete the creative writing assignment. This lesson can last one or two days.

Included in the PDF product:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Rationale for Teaching Costume Design
  • Costume Design Template (Female)
  • Costume Design Template (Male)
  • Writing Assignment Sheet
  • Writing Assignment Sheet Examples
  • Sources
  • Video Links

Included in the Boom Cards! product:

  • 16 Boom Cards which include the history of costume design
  • True/false questions to secure the learning as the student progresses through them

If you’d like more information about this Blended Classroom Lesson, go to:

Drama Lesson:  Boom Cards! Costume Design

The Blended Learning Classroom is Here to Stay

The Blended Learning Classroom is Here to Stay

NEW!  Here’s my first hybrid Broadway musical lesson.  Check it out: Wicked, the Broadway Musical with Boom Cards

I’m no sooth sayer, but from my many years of teaching experience and observation, I think I’m right bout the blended classroom of the future.

What experiences do you have with the Blended Classroom?  I’d love to hear about them.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

 

 

 

 

 

The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students

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The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students

There is a phenomena I can’t quite explain.

It used to be people weren’t all that excited about musicals.

Well, some people weren’t. I always liked them.  In fact, I remember the first musical I attended.  I saw Pearl Bailey in Hello Dolly! on Broadway.  That was a really amazing production.  My parents took me to see George M. Cohan as well and all I remember (because I was 10) was the tap dancing and lots of it.

Those of us who are eat-sleep-breathe-drama-and music love all of them.  Although I have several favorites.

Learn about them here: The Reasons These Shows are My Favorite Broadway Musicals 

Movies Adapted From Broadway Musicals– All right!

The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students

Broadway Musical Lessons

I began creating Broadway musical lessons about two years ago and to date I have over twenty lessons. They are very popular and I’m so glad I created them.

When I taught at a school in Colorado, our musical theater students chose a musical they wanted to share with the rest of the class. They’d share its synopsis, a song and a bit of trivia.

At the time, I thought it would be a super experience for students to learn about these over the course of the school year.  Maybe every Friday could be Broadway Musical Day? In that particular case, I only saw the students once a week (they were basically home schooled the rest of the week) so I couldn’t take the time for my idea.

However, I thought a drama or vocal music teacher might find these of use.

The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students:

  1.  It is always very entertaining.
  2.  Musical theater is a fabulous blend of music and theater–you get a little of both and never too much of either.
  3.   The action in a musical moves along fairly quickly because it’s peppered with song and/or dance, hence it keeps everyone engaged.
  4.   It is an excellent example of cooperative learning and creative problem solving–it incorporates every other arts medium–dance, art, music and theater!
  5.   Songs allow for interpretation of moments that a monologue can not explain so easily.
  6.   An entire moment in a story can be demonstrated through a song and dance which is much more interesting than  merely using dialogue.
  7.   In a school environment, most school musicals involve more than just the drama department–the music department participates which includes band and orchestra students.   Talk about involving the school!
  8.   Musicals are an excellent way to teach about current or historical events–Hamilton, Ragtime, Les Mis, 1776, The Scottsboro Boys, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Parade, Come From Away to name a few.
  9. Musicals teach about social issues–Rent, Cabaret, Dear Evan Hansen, Fun Home, Newsies, South Pacific, The book of Mormon, Hairspray, West Side Story, Falsettos, Newsies, Next to Normal, etc. 
  10.  Plus, as my husband said, “They are just fun!”

At least once a month or two, I create a new Broadway musical lesson.  Here is what they include:

(Here is an example from Hairspray, the Broadway Musical and pair it with Costume Design with Hairspray Characters

Broadway Musical Lessons for You to Use Tomorrow!

The product includes:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Two Warm Ups–Dance Tutorials from the Actual Production
  • Teacher’s Script–What I Say and How I Say it!
  • Photos of Hairspray
  • Synopsis of the Musical
  • Plot of the Musical
  • Short Biography about Marc Shaiman composer and choreographer Jerry Mitchell
  • Separate File of Photos for Teacher’s Use in Lecture
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • AND a Mini-Lesson on What are the Tony Awards?
  • List of Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theaters Labeled
  • Student Note Page for Hairspray
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia about Broadway and Hairspray
  • Songs List
  • Pinterest Board Link Specifically about Hairspray
  • Extension Activities– SEVEN Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience either Individual or Group
  • Two costume design templates for one of the extension activities
  • Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show
  • And More!

Comprehensive? You bet.

Did you know that Wicked is being made into a film with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande?

How can I use these in my classroom?  It depends upon the musical lesson, but teachers have used them in elementary through high school grades in classes of drama, vocal music, language arts and American history.  These lessons can be as short as one day or up to three days in length depending upon what the teacher requires.

All of the musicals in the gallery are available in my store here: Dramamommaspeaks Products

Plus, they are great with substitutes!

I hope you consider teaching with a Broadway musical lesson in the near future.  Do check back often, because as I mentioned, I’m always adding another to the store.

Want some free stuff?  Check out my page FREE Stuff.

What do you like about musicals?  I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin, author of Dramamommaspeaks

 

Learning Through Reader’s Theater Scripts

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Learning Through Readers Theater Scripts

Today’s let us consider an old friend of mine–readers theater.  Learning through readers theater scripts is effortless.  I’m getting ahead of myself here.

Shocking News

Did you know that 40% of our students can not read fluently.  Forty per cent!  Yikes.

READING WITH GRANDAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS 18 MOS.

When we were raising our daughters, I made it a point of reading to our daughters at least thirty minutes twice a day.  I know not everyone has that privilege. Now I offer to read to my grandchildren whenever I can.  This little imp in the photo is our granddaughter who loves to read.  It’s no wonder–look at her in the photo! You can see her delight in the story and pictures.

But back to our students reading issues.  If you are looking for a way to keep your students engaged and sort of in the drama class (or actually Reading or Language Arts class) mindset, here’s an idea:

Teach through a reader’s theater script!

Rehearsal Schedule for a Readers Theater Performance

Here is what I would do in this situation—

Day One:

  •  Select a reader’s theater which you know your students will enjoy
  • Announce to the students in the class you will be performing a readers theater play
  • Teach about readers theater and its many assets (script in hand, no memorization, everyone works together)
  • Inform parents and invite them to the performance.  (Day Six)

Day Two:

  • Hand out scripts to students
  • Read aloud the script.
  • Afterward instruct students to select three roles they are interested in performing and send you their choices. You’ll send them an email with the cast list.
  • Cast the roles

Day Three:

  • Announce to the class the cast list
  • Teach students how to hi-light their lines.
  • Read aloud script a second time

Day Four

  • Discuss any questions or moments you want to clarify with the students (Such as when it says “ad-lib.” what does that mean?)
  • Instruct the students to complete any assignment you may have given them to accompany the script and send to you

Days Five, Six and Seven

Day Five

  • Read the script aloud  again and coach the class focusing on vocal inflection, variety, tone and enunciation (Also, you may want to coach them on physicalizing of the character. How would an angry man look?  What about a frightened giant?)
  • If you want the students to have costume pieces, perhaps you could discuss ideas for costume pieces they may have at home? (Maybe the students could use some foil and tagboard and make a crown, for instance.  Or a student portraying a chicken could make a demi-mask to wear during the reading.)

Day Six

  • Performance Day! 
  • Either rehearse the script once more or the teacher gives any last-minute directions
  • Record the performance (It will be so fun for the students to see it afterward!)

Day Seven

  • Hold a post production discussion about the experience (Maybe a little party could be held with everyone bringing their own snack and drink to the class?)

Young Woman at her Study Room Smiling at Camera

Grab my FREE guide and ten page lesson to help you boost student engagement here:

Reader’s Theater is an excellent way to involve all readers, no matter their skill level.

In case, you are unfamiliar with Reader’s Theater here is a good definition from the Education World website, a wonderful retired Language Arts Teacher,

“In Reader’s Theater, students “perform” by reading scripts created from grade-level books or stories — generally without benefit of costumes and props. The goal is to enhance reading skill and confidence through practice with a purpose. Reader’s Theater gives students a real reason to read aloud.

“A great deal of fluency research reiterates the need for repeated reading,” reported Finney. “Without fluency, there is little comprehension; the value of Reader’s Theater is increased tenfold when used as a strategy for increasing understanding of what is being read.”

Reader’s Theater motivates reluctant readers and provides fluent readers with the opportunity to explore genre and characterization.”

Asian teenage boy with disability in wheelchair reading book in library Disability Stock Photo

Reluctant Learners and Readers Theater

Are reluctant students successful with readers theater? Yes, yes and one more yes!

Reader’s Theater motivates reluctant readers and provides them a safe environment.  They can actually “hide” behind a script.  As they focus on the script, they become unaware of reading aloud in front others.

If you are ready to try a readers theater unit, here are a few of mine.

 

The products come with:

  • a warm up
  • advice in directing reader’s theater
  • blocking plot for teacher’s staging needs
  • a lesson about the country or culture of which the folk tale hails (i.e. Italian language, Yiddish language, Grimms Brothers, Inuit dance, etc.)
  • script with roles for 15 to 30 students, depending upon the script
  • original song and sheet music (optional for performance)
  • sound bytes of music

Comprehensive? You bet!

Check out my store at:  Dramamommaspeaks Store

These scripts are field-tested and created by a veteran drama teacher and director of thirty-eight years.

Who am I?

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

I am a retired drama educator having taught for thirty-eight years in both the public and private sectors. Whew! During this time, I created a curriculum for studies in creative dramatics, creative movement, introduction to musical theater, musical theater, film making, technical theater, introduction to Shakespeare, introduction to theater as well speech and debate. I created seven youth theater companies that continue today in various parts of the Midwest, oversaw productions for thirty-eight years and developed a national playwriting contest for youth theater scripts. In addition, I am an award-winning director who has directed over 250 plays and musicals with children and adults alike. My sister was an elementary teacher for many years as were my aunts. In the late 1800s, my fraternal grandmother was known for her strength in teaching math in the wilds of Kansas. My maternal grandmother established the first kindergarten in Osaka, Japan in the 1890s. In short teaching is in my blood and comes to me joyfully and naturally.

I hope you’ll consider teaching readers theater to your students through distance learning with the help of a company such as Zoom.  I’d love to hear how it goes for you, too!

If you’d like to read more about my lessons, look at:

Eight Benefits for Students When Reading Plays

The Reasons Reader’s Theater is Successful with Our Students

The Reasons Teaching Multiculturalism in the Classroom is Vitally Important

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net