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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 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 making cookies and sewing pillow cases ad inifinitum).  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.  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.
Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

 

Twelve Best Theater Class Apps. in 2023

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Twelve Best Theater Class Apps. in 2023

Okay, I’ll admit it.  I wanted to research the twelve best theater class apps. in 2023 for selfish reasons.  I’m sitting here working with a bunch of apps., sites, software and whatever else I need. I learn new skills nearly everyday from blogging to product creation to social media marketing.

They say I’m “old school.” I chuckle when I hear this, because it reminds me of the school “marm” of the 1800s. My defense is that old school works.  However, I’m aware of the fact that some teachers want to use technology in their classrooms as much as possible.  Let’s face it–that’s where the students are most engaged.

Friends, this post took a lot of research and reading to find apps. which can assist the theater class teacher.  Honestly, there aren’t many apps. specifically for a theater class.  (Hmmmm.  That gives me an idea.) I scoured the web and found around twelve apps. and websites which I think will be useful to you.  See what you think and if you want something a little more “O.G.”, check out my Set Design with Fairy Tales Unit.

Twelve Best Theater Class Apps. in 2022

Twelve Best Theater Class Apps. in 2023

  • My Lines lets you have your script with you on a mobile device anytime, anywhere. You can rehearse and memorize your lines without a scene partner, by either looking at or listening to your lines. You can also see or hear cue lines when you’re ready to be off-book.
  • Rehearsal Pro is perhaps the most well-known of all the apps to help you learn your lines. You can record your lines and play them back, watching the script scroll by like a teleprompter, or you can even put your lines in “blackout mode” to test yourself. The app works with short audition sides and feature-length scripts and is useful for actors in theater, commercials, voiceover, television, and film.

Twelve Best Theater Class Apps. in 2022

 

  • Line Learner This app is a great way to learn lines for a play or speech. You simply speak each line into the iPhone (or iPod with microphone), pressing a button to specify whether it is another character’s line or one that you will speak. Once you have read a few lines you can start practicing. Simply switch to playback and you can hear the other characters’ lines to cue you in. . You can record each scene separately and have as many different scripts as you like. It is easy to edit or re-record lines if you need to.

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

We're Live! Radio Theater #101 book concerning radio theater in the classroom

Twelve Best Theater Class Apps. in 2023

Probably one of the most useful apps a theater person would appreciate is playwriting software!  When I began writing plays, there was none (that’s how long ago I started writing). Without them, you nearly lose your mind trying to use the expected play form.  However, here are several which I think are good.

  • Trelby is a free playwriting software program.  It is basically a screenwriting software using which you can create theater plays, scripts, movie screenplays, etc. In it, you can find all necessary tools which ease out the process of writing a play. Let’s see what are the features you must look forward in this playwriting software.
  • Celtx is a free playwriting software program, too.  Celtx is a media pre-production tool designed to ease the work of those who work in the media production industry by providing a simple desktop utility for organizing the project information and making stories come alive. The application comes with all the necessary tools for writing scripts, plays, novels without using the pen and the paper.

Sound Effects and Costume Design Apps.

  • FashionDesignFlatSketch–This app. is a great place to start if you don’t have time for students to design costumes, but you want them to go through the process.
  • Freeform–Create quick sketches, mockups, or diagrams with this powerful tool. Export your drawings via email in JPG, PNG, or PDF formats, or save to your photo library. Create new designs whenever or wherever inspiration strikes!There is nothing quite like the experience of interacting with your drawings with your fingers.
  • Belfry is an iPad sound effects player for schools, small scale theatre venues and small touring companies. It allows for the simultaneous playback of up to sixty sound effects stored in iTunes. This means a whole production can be run through the app. The interface is easy to use – just add tracks in the order that you want them. There are separate tabs for each act and you can save up to 60 cues as a film.
  • Index Card is great for scriptwriting, workshop planning, researching or for any creative task which requires organization. This works just as well as real index cards with the advantage that they look neat and can be exported to edit in a word processor. It is incredibly easy to use – just touch the cards to move them around or edit them. You can see a screenshot for a workshop that I am planning (above). It means you can concentrate on coming up with ideas then easily organize them. You can create as many different projects as you like and swap cards between them. This is one of those apps that does one thing, really well.

For Our Younger Students

Twelve Best Theater Class Apps. in 2022

  • Sock Puppet–How fun is this?  Students can re-create a scene from history by scripting a play and recording their voice! This app allows students to  make the actions with the characters they have chosen – record and play back, save their play or performance. It’s a fun way to evaluate their understanding of a concept! You can also have students give their book report using the sock puppets!
  • ToontastickjrPirates–This is a fun app which allows children to create an animated story based on the theme of Pirates. Students choose a beginning, middle and end and can then extend the story by moving the characters, adding voices and recording the animation.
  • Telestory–Children can choose to be a TV Reporter, Weather Presenter, Spy and more and can create and record their own TV clip. Children can choose from a variety of fun backgrounds and costumes and can read from pre-loaded prompt cards which can also be edited to suit the topic where necessary. This app could be used to share Weekend News, to engage in role play and for developing communication skills.

I hope these help you in your classroom.  As I mentioned before I’m old school, but this old dog is always willing to learn new tricks!  If you know of some apps. I should include, please comment here.  Thanks!

Twelve Best Theater Class Apps. in 2022

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

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The topic of five winter themed drama lessons you should try sounded like something I should blog about today. By the next time I blog, it will be 2024!  Wow, time has really flown this year. If you want something with a Christmas theme, check out: Drama Units Christmas Theme Bundle

I’m not a big fan of the whole new year’s celebration thing.  In my family, all we did was change the calendar to the next month. Exciting, huh?

However, I know teachers are always looking for thematic units to brighten up the winter months.  This post concerns new years and winter units using drama as the tool for discovery.

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

A Story of Generosity

This is one of the only folk tales I’ve found to celebrate the new year. I like the story so much that I’ve created two short class plays of it!

This charming play, based on a Japanese folk tale Oji San and the Grateful Statues share the themes of New Year, multiculturalism, winter, kindness and forgiveness. Students strengthen their study of another culture, reading (fluency), speaking (diction) and listening skills (restating) while learning to work cooperatively. This is excellent and very suitable piece for a vocal music, social studies, reading, language arts or drama class.

Once upon a time, there was an older Japanese couple who make straw hats which they sell at the market every day.  It is a struggle for them to make ends meet, but they greet each day with gratitude and kindness to everyone.  On New Year’s eve the man goes to market and no one buys a hat. As he walks home, dejected and worried, beautiful snow begins to fall.  When he passes the stone statues which sit on the wall near his house, he notices that the snow is falling on their heads and decides to give the statues the unsold hats to protect them from winter’s harshness.

Ojisan and the Grateful Statues

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

His wife doesn’t understand her husband’s actions, but forgives him.  In the night a knock at the door awakens the couple.  To their amazement, a large rice cake is sitting there, though they don’t know who left it.  Off in the distance, they see the statues slowly walking back to their place on the wall.  It’s such a sweet story.

Students will have an opportunity to dramatize a folk tale using many of the elements of drama, create straw hats, design snowflakes, sing an original song written in a pentatonic scale and use their imaginations to express emotion through movement.

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

In all honesty, I’m all about arts integration–it’s my goal for every classroom to integrate drama into their learning to some degree.  Ojisan and the Grateful Statues is a perfect choice to use as an integration. Contact  your vocal music teacher and present the play together! Your students can sing and accompany the song with metallophones, xyllophones and percussion.

You can find Ojisan and the Grateful Statues here.

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

Chinese New Year Celebration

Maybe you want something to celebrate the Chinese new year.  Although this story is not directly related, it is a super story to dramatize.  I have three lessons about–one is a readers theater, one is a play and one is an entire unit.

Li Chi The Serpent Slayer is based on an old Chinese folk tale about a young girl who lives with her family in a small village.  Every few years, a serpent terrorizes her village and drags off one of the young women for his dinner. Everyone is fearful. No one wants to fight the serpent, but Li Chi asks her parents if she can fight the serpent. Want to learn about some other multicultural plays? Check out: The Reasons Teaching Multiculturalism in the Classroom is Vitally Important

Li Chi the Serpent Slayer

Li Chi is a fierce young woman with a quick wit who is cunning and brave.  Her parents deny her this chance and forbid her to go. Even so, Li Chi slips out at night with her dog and climbs the mountain to the serpent’s cave.   This time instead of a girl dying at the feet of the serpent, Li Chi outsmarts it. Li Chi the Serpent Slayer is full of plot twists.   And it’s even more special because the main character is a female! With themes of bravery, love of family, love of community and several others The Little Girl and the Winter whirlwinds is one to beat!

You can find Li Chi the Serpent Slayer here:

 

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

A Story of Courage

Here is another story, this time a Bulgarian folk tale which shares a delightfully, sweet story about a little girl who saves her village during the late months of winter. As with Ojisan, there are other version of this story as well. With roles for 25+ The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds shares themes of winter, generosity and courage. Perfect choice for students studying the culture of Slavic countries and/or Europe in a social studies or a drama class. you can find it here:

The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds

The story, a Bulgarian folk tale, of The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds goes like this–A wicked Winter Witch decides to stop Spring from arriving on time and makes Winter the only season on Earth. She hides the Sun behind dark clouds and covers the Earth with heavy snow. One morning the people from a small mountain village awake and fing their houses buried under the snow up to the roofs.

The people decide that the best thing to do is to send someone to the highest mountain peak, where the good wizard Father Frost lived in his palace of ice and ask him for help. Surprisingly, the Little Girl volunteers to go because she has very little to hold her back.  She believes her warm heart and love for everyone will melt the snow and bring spring. She never considered all the obstacles that would she would meet along her way. Full of varied characters of sizes The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwind is a lovely story.

Again, we’ve added music to this play and teachers seems to like this aspect.  Since this story ends as Spring arrives, it would be perfect for February or even March.

Since first blogging about this subject, I’ve created additional resources to celebrate winter in the classroom. 

The Great Santa Suit Snafu — A Winter Readers Theater Your Students Will Love

Looking for a lively winter activity that builds reading fluency and keeps your students engaged during the busiest time of year? The Great Santa Suit Snafu is a classroom-friendly Readers Theater script that brings humor, mystery, and teamwork together in one festive package. It includes twelve speaking roles with room for extras and sound effects crew.

The Story:  Only one day before Christmas Eve, the elves discover that Santa’s magical suit has shrunk! A frantic team of reindeer, elves, and Mrs. Claus tries everything—from sewing disasters to “unjingling” Jingle Bells—in an attempt to save Christmas. With witty characters, playful dialogue, and an upbeat ending, students will love performing this holiday comedy. (Even includes musical score to help you learn it!) I’ve even included the lyrics to Unjingling the Bells so you won’t have to work too hard to teach it!

Because Readers Theater requires no memorization, costumes, or special materials, it’s ideal for December lessons, substitute plans, or that energetic week before winter break. The script is written especially for upper elementary and middle school students, with clear character cues, accessible vocabulary, and plenty of comedic moments that make even hesitant readers want to participate.

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

Sometimes, my husband and I get crazy ideas.  Rudolph the Rapping Reindeer is one of them.

The story:  Rudolph discovers a unique talent for rapping, bringing a fresh beat to the North Pole just before Christmas Eve. While Santa and the other reindeer are skeptical at first, Rudolph, with the help of the beatboxing elves Twinkle and Jingle, teaches the team to groove and find their rhythm.

Even Blitzen, who struggles to rap, taps out a steady beat with his hooves to keep everyone on track. The fun reaches its peak when Mrs. Claus surprises everyone by unleashing her own wild freestyle rap.

With teamwork and holiday cheer, Rudolph and the crew take flight, spreading joy and beats across the world in the most unforgettable sleigh ride yet.

This 10–12 minute holiday play is perfect for grades 4-6, with 12 speaking roles and room for a chorus.  It  combines humor, teamwork, and joyous fun with a unique musical twist!

Need a good laugh? 

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

The February Doldrums

Want something fun for early February?  Get everyone out of the winter blahs with this fun musical. Best for high school students, Ground Hog Day is based on the film of the same name.  Laugh your way through the learning! You can find it here.

Ground Hog Day the musical is about Phil Connors, a cynical Pittsburgh TV weatherman, who is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in the isolated small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, when he finds himself caught in a time loop, forced to repeat the same day again and again…and again. Note:  This musical because of language is more suitable for high school students. 

The music is great and the story line is funny. We’ve all thought about what it would be like to go back and do something differently, haven’t we? I know I have.

The unit includes everything a busy teacher would need in order to be successful:  themes of the musical, plot, synopsis, creative staff biographies, Broadway and musical trivia, student questions (with a teacher’s key) and several enrichment activities to secure the learning.

Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try

Hello Spring!

One more unit that I think your students will find fun is Buddy and the Evergreen Trees.

Buddy is a little blue bird with a hurt wing. When winter comes, his selfish and thoughtless bird friends leave him behind. Consequently, Buddy is sad, very worried and hurt by their leaving. A group of evergreen trees hear him saying good bye to his supposed friends and decide they want to help him. They befriend Buddy and invite him to live in their tree limbs until winter passes. Buddy heals over the winter delighting in living in the snowy evergreen trees, his new friends. This story teaches the themes of winter, friendship, compassion and generosity. You can find it here. 
File:In the winter forest (5431146866).jpg

Hello Every Month!

Recently, I found this folk tale and thought it was would be a perfect readers theater unit.  Why? First, there are many speaking roles!  The story will remind you of Cinderella to some degree.  It has a parable that could lead to a class discussion topic.
The Twelve Months reader theater unit and  story concerns a young and beautiful girl (called Marushka in some variations) who is sent into the cold forest in the winter to perform impossible tasks by her evil stepmother. She must get spring violets, summer strawberries and fall apples in midwinter as presents to give her stepsister for her birthday. On her journey, she meets a group of magical people who are the personification of the twelve months of the year.
When she returns home with the strawberries, her step mother and sister don’t believe her.  Finally, the step sister becomes so engaged with anger, she decides that she will go up into the snowy mountains by herself.  Little did she know, her rudeness would come back to ruin her.
Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try
As always, I hope your 2023 year begins with much promise, joy and lots of fun teaching moments.  Teaching and learning should be fun, I believe.  It’s my hope that if you pick up these units, I’ve helped you to do so.
Drama Readers Theater Scripts Folk Fantasy Fairy Tales Literature Toolkit
Save money!  Pick up this bundle here:  Drama Readers Theater Scripts
What units do you teach during the winter season?  Anything thematic?  I’d love to hear about it.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com with your ideas.
Happy New Year!
Five Winter Themed Drama Lessons You Should Try
 

 

 

 

Ten Ways to Teach Reluctant Students in Your Theater Class

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At least once a week, I read of a teacher asking help with, “My beginning theater class is open to all students in the school. However, it has become a dumping ground with students completely disinterested in theater and the study of it. At the same time, I have students who are sincerely interested in the subject in the same class.  What do I do?” Today, I’m going to talk about Ten Ways to Teach Reluctant Students in Your Theater Class.

I know this challenge all too well myself.  Several times in my career, I had students placed in my classroom because the administration thought I demonstrated skill in reaching all students and could reach these students as well.

Do you have any idea how heavy the weight of responsibility for teaching to reluctant students is? Teaching is difficult enough and a theater class poses its own challenges that not everyone is aware of. For instance, when one acts they must share their feelings, real feelings.  That’s can be scary for even the most ardent theater student.

Ten Ways to Engage Reluctant Students in Your Theater Class

Simply put, you need to outsmart your reluctant students.  Remember, you are the professional here.  You’ve got what it takes to be successful (albeit tiring). Wonder how I got to where I am today? Check out: How Theatre Saved My Life

Teach Reluctant Students

  •  You need to survey each and every class to discover whether they are interested in theater or not.  This is true of anyone who teaches any electives from industrial education to art as well as theater. By surveying the students (through a questionnaire on-line or hard copy) you’ll find out their interest level (because you will ask it) and what they hope to learn in the class.
  • After you’ve studied the students’ questionnaire, you can now shape your lessons accordingly. Does this take more time than what you would usually do?  Yes.  Is it worth it?  Yes!  It is better to know your audience (because that’s what they are, essentially) than not and spend most of the year frustrated with their lack of engagement.
  • Use a game as a warm-up. Most students love a game so I recommend playing one at the beginning of each class.  For some students, it is the delight of their day (although they may never share this with you) and it lifts the burden for you always having to teach a concept.  Let the game teach them.  Also, playing a game makes class fun no matter the outcome.  Start with something simple like the Ball Game (Don’t know it? pick it up here).  The Ball Game can be played with students of any grade level. Games give students an opportunity to get to know one another without the stress of a face to face conversation. As the quarter progresses the games you can select games which are more difficult. By the last month of the semester, you should have no problem using an improvisation exercise as a warm-up.
  • Minimize your students’ worries.  Through the questionnaire, you should have a better grasp about what they think theater is as opposed to what it actually is. They may think theater is standing on a stage, wearing a costume (the student may dislike), wearing makeup (even the boys), memorizing gobs of lines and speaking at a volume for the entire class to hear. 

         Let’s not start there if that’s the case.  Let’s do some theater appreciation instead.  Show them video clips of theaters  around the world and either have a class discussion of each theater or give them questions to answer. Here is what I  mean:  Theaters Around the World.

Ten Ways to Engage Reluctant Students in Your Theater Class

Teaching Reluctant Students

  • Study technical theater with them--set, sound, stage properties, stage makeup or costume design.  Many students just need a backdoor into the subject. Technical theater is nonthreatening.  Most assignments are meant to be completed individually and not with a group.  This helps those students who do not speak English as their first language, especially.  I really enjoy teaching technical theater. Through its study, I usually find a student who no one knew very well that turns out to be a fabulous artist! Their creativity and talent can shine in technical theater and suddenly the other student take note of them.  It’s awesome. Here are a few technical theater units which may help you: Technical Theater Units or begin with Set Design, the Rendering
  • Reader’s theater is a good choice for your class.  Readers theater is successful in a class with various levels of interest, because there is no line memorization, no costumes, etc. Everyone sits together on the stage, so there’s that “safety in numbers” thing. Plus, if you wait until near the end of the second quarter, readers theater should not be difficult for your reluctant ones.  (Read my article in One Classroom Over about reader’s theater) You’ve given them plenty of time to adjust to the class. Here’s a funny script for them:  The Brave Little Tailor Unit.  Great for grades 5 to 7.
  • Radio theater is a super choice, too. Personally, I think radio theater has everything a play does!  That’s the reason I suggest it to teachers. Radio theater is highly imaginative from the many character voices actors create to the sound effects. Plus, it is a super tool for strengthening reading skills! It is easy to keep everyone involved, because they are on the stage the entire length of the piece. It can be as simple or as theatrical as you like.  And yet again–no line memorization! This is another unit I would teach near the end of the semester or year. If you are interested in radio theater, check out: Radio Theater Units and Lessons  Don’t know how to direct one?  Go here and pick up all of the training you need: How to Direct Radio Theater
  • Use movement exercises instead of acting ones.  Movement takes no sound and no verbal reaction.  Students like the physical activity, too. The Magic Circle is a good exercise to use for movement.  (Don’t know it?  Pick it up here)
  • Turn down your classroom lights. You won’t believe how dimming the lights will ease students’ anxieties. You just want the classroom light to be dim–light enough you can everyone but no so dark you can’t keep an eye out for any inappropriate behavior.
  • Play some classical music in the background.  Classical music works because there are no lyrics for the students to notice. It can express mood without anyone saying anything.  I think of it like a comforting blanket. In those awkward moments in a game, acting exercise or lesson they can help ease any anxiety that rears its ugly head.

Want some additional tips from me?  Check out Double Casting a Show? Here’s Advice

Ten Ways to Engage Reluctant Students in Your Theater Class

Advice for the Core Subject Teachers

Many of the suggestions I’ve made above work strictly in a theater classroom. Some of them will work for you as well.

Here are a couple of other suggestions for you:

Sometimes our students just need space away from others.  Offer that space in your classroom if a student needs it.  You want them to feel safe and accepted in your classroom. I say as long as they are focused on their work, this is acceptable.

Giving students choices is always a great idea, too.  Remember you have worked out the choices ahead of time so you are comfortable with whether they select once choice over another.  Choice Boards are super for this.  Here are some of mine as an example. This bundle is very popular with teachers: Choice Boards

Ten Ways to Teach Reluctant Students in Your Theater Class

You can even pick up a sample of them right here.

Or pick up a technical theater unit for high school students here: Technical Theater Units, High School

So, there you have it!  Teaching is a wonderful profession when everyone is treated with respect. Even the reluctant students can learn that respecting your art form is possible and believe it or not–enjoyable!  I discovered that once my students knew I had their back and understood them feigning disinterest in theater, I could work with them.  Lots of times, it’s just noise on their part.  Remember that–it’s just noise.

I’d love to know what you’ve found is successful with reluctant students in your classroom?  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com.

 

Seven Facts About Teachers’ Wishlists That’ll Keep You Up at Night

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Seven Facts About Teachers’ Wishlists That’ll Keep You Up at Night

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night

I thought it was time to talk of the seven facts about teachers’ wishlists that’ll keep you up at night. Two weeks ago, I experienced something I wasn’t aware was a big problem, but it is my friend.

As a former teacher myself, I remember the materials I purchased which I asked my admin to pay for.  Sometimes these materials may have seemed extravagant (such as the Cirque De Soleil book on Costumes) or merely for fun (such as the video of the live version of Come From Away) but they were not.

Theater teachers have an unusual skill set–we must be familiar with directing, acting, sing, dancing, music, set, costumes, props, lights, sound, box office, front of house and much more.  Because of this, we need different materials than some.

As I mentioned previously, I had an eye opening moment when I found out a business I am involved in was willing to fulfill some teacher’s wishlists for their classroom.  Hooray! Knowing this, I jumped on Facebook and posted that I had this resource for teachers needing materials for their classroom.  Within an hour, thirteen teachers had contacted me!  Thirteen!!! Plus, there were several more that I had to turn away–that killed me.

Luckily, I was able to fulfill these wishlists for these teachers or at least get them partially fulfilled.  It was very gratifying and of course they were all very appreciative as I expected they would be.

Our teachers are using their own hard earned money to purchase materials for their classrooms.

Now, I knew some of this occurred with most teachers because teachers are always on the search for materials which will engage their students and make it easier for them to learn.

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night

Here are the facts

  1. The average teacher is spending about $560 out of pocket on their classrooms this year; up from $511 last year. CJOnline.com
  2. Just under half of teachers told us that supply lists provided to parents include items specifically for classrooms, but only one-quarter of teachers get most of what they need. Of course, parents are also dealing with higher school supply costs, and many of them may have been negatively impacted by the expiration of expanded child tax credits, which expired in December 2021. Savings.com
  3. Nearly one in four teachers say they’ll spend more than $750 of their own money during the 2022-23 school year.
  4. On average, elementary school teachers receive about $11 per student from their schools’ budgets, but they spend an additional $33 out of pocket on each student. And get this: one in four teachers said their schools didn’t allocate any funds for classroom items this year.
  5. In Kansas (for example where I live), public school teacher salaries increased by 16.6% but that’s misleading.
  6. In general teachers are bringing home on average $2,179 less per year than they did a decade ago, when adjusted for inflation. NEA.org
  7. Despite the fact that most people agree teachers are underpaid, they are still expected to dig into their own household budgets to provide items necessary for classroom instruction. And these costs are going up, slightly higher than the overall rate of inflation. ( I don’t know about you, but I bet business executives aren’t expected to bring their own tissues to their office.)

Seven Facts About Teachers’ Wishlists That’ll Keep You Up at Night

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night

Why is this occurring?

According to an article in https://www.businessinsider.com:

“Teachers will often purchase supplemental materials to help students struggling to grasp the curriculum. These additional resources are not always subsidized by schools. Although they follow a curriculum, and create their own lesson plans,  for some students, this is not enough for them to truly grasp the material.

Supplemental materials don’t just include supplemental lessons. Sometimes tactile activities are needed to help kids learn lessons, or, in the case of kindergarten and preschool classrooms, learn motor skills.”

How can we help our teachers?

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night

As a former teacher myself, I remember the materials my administrated purchased for me. Sometimes these materials  seemed extravagant (such as the Cirque De Soleil book on Costumes) or merely for fun (such as the video of the live version of Come From Away) but they were not.

Theater teachers have an unusual skill set–we must be familiar with directing, acting, sing, dancing, music, set, costumes, props, lights, sound, box office, front of house and much more.  Because of this, we need different materials than some.

As I mentioned previously, I had an eye opening moment when I found out a business I am a part of was willing to fulfill some teacher’s wishlists for their classroom.  Knowing this, I jumped on Facebook and posted that I had this resource for teachers needing materials for their classroom.  Within an hour, thirteen teachers had contacted me!  13!!!

Luckily, I was able to fulfill these wishlists for these teachers or at least get them partially fulfilled.  It was very gratifying and of course they were all very appreciative as I expected they would be.

This got me to thinking–we should make teaching easier for our teachers not lop on financial constraints on them. Looking for fundraising ideas for your next production? Check out Turn Your Theater Department Fundraising Into A High Performing Machine

I looked around the internet and was surprised to find several organizations which offer financial support to teachers.

Seven Facts About Teachers’ Wishlists That’ll Keep You Up at Night

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night

1. Classful

Classful is a website designed to allow teachers to collect funding and donations for their classrooms (as well as a little extra for being fantastic educators!). The site places emphasis on the importance of the teaching profession and aims to empower and thank teachers for doing what is often under-appreciated work.

2. Apple

K-12 educators (and those in higher education) can get as much as $150 in Apple gift cards for purchasing certain models of iPads, MacBooks, and iMacs.

3. Target

Kindergarten through grade 12 and homeschool teachers can get a 15 percent discount on school supplies at Target through Sept. 10.

4. Michaels

Educators with a valid school ID can get 15 percent off their purchase at Michaels.

5. Association of American Educators classroom grant

Apply by October 8 for a $500 grant which can be used to purchase books, software, calculators, math manipulatives, art supplies, audio-visual equipment, lab materials, and more.

6. AdoptAClassroom.org Spotlight Fund grants

This organization offers grants in several categories for educators. STEM teachers, art teachers, and teachers of color can apply for unique grants, as well as teachers who need support to make their classrooms more inclusive for students of all types.

7. Funds for Teachers

Funds for Teachers aims to invest in teachers’ professional development and growth with a view to boosting student success rates, improving teacher practice, and generally strengthening schools and their communities.

Funds for Teachers allows users to write grant applications according to a template tailored for a specific state’s professional development requirements, as well as requirements for supplies or new technologies. Teachers can even take a look at successful grant proposals for inspiration.

Seven Facts About Teachers’ Wishlists That’ll Keep You Up at Night

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night

8. National Endowment of the Humanities

If you work within a humanities discipline, the National Endowment of the Humanities could provide opportunities for you to travel in order to broaden your horizons and learn new things. Trips can be taken domestically or abroad and all expenses will be paid (including accommodation, air travel, daily meals, and excursions). Making the most of this opportunity could help to develop your teaching practice by opening you up to new ideas and cultures.

9. The National Endowment for the Arts

Are you an art teacher with some ideas for a new project to involve your students in? The National Endowment for the Arts could be a great place to seek funding. The organization offers a selection of fellowships and grants for people that teach arts-related subjects such as English, art, or creative writing.

10. GetEdFunding

GetEdFunding is an invaluable site that helps educators and schools identify the kinds of funding they need when finances get tight through a special grant-finding search tool. The site hosts thousands of grants for educational purposes including awards for outstanding educators, grants for teachers in need, opportunities for an array of public and private schools, grants for administrators, and special educational programs.

Teachers can also develop themselves professionally by browsing the site’s scholarly articles and selection of free webinars and videos. There is are also online communities that teachers can visit for support and a virtual teacher’s lounge to enjoy during a few minutes of precious downtime.

11. The National Education Association Foundation

Not to be confused with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation is a public charity that was founded by teachers and for teachers to boost the caliber of public education for students across the country.

The organization offers grants to teachers,including teachers wishlists regardless of whether they are members of the NEA or not. Over the past decade or so, they have awarded over $7 million in funding to almost 4,500 public school teachers in order to enhance the quality of their teaching. The NEA also provides free scholarly resources and professional development advice online.

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night
 

12. Teach.com

Teach.com is an online database offering teachers an array of helpful resources covering topics such as professional development and improving student attainment. It also offers a helpful guide to ways that teachers wishlists can source funding to improve their teaching practice and help students.

13. The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation

The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation offers grants to small groups of teachers to attend intensive professional development courses that will allow them to bolster student achievement in their schools.

14.  Donors Choose

Donors Choose is a site founded by Charles Best, a history teacher who channeled much of his salary into funding classroom supplies. He set the website up in the year 2000 with the aim of helping teachers to collect donations to fund their classrooms. In 2003, Oprah Winfrey plugged the site on her television show, and it attained instant popularity, with around $250,000 going straight to educators.

The site itself is very easy to use. Teachers can post projects that they feel their schools need such as field trips, extra classroom supplies, or new software. Users can then donate as much as they are able to the project. Donors Choose will then order the necessary supplies and ship them directly to the school.

An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night

In case you aren’t aware, I am an idea person.  Hence, I want to take this a step further for theater teachers but similar to Charles Best.

Part of my DramaMommaSpeaks business mission is to make theater user-friendly in the classroom while maintaining the integrity of the subject.  To my mind, this idea would be an extension of that mission.

I’m thinking about establishing a not-for-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide funds for United States’ theater teachers wishlists in the classroom. (And if you don’t know me, if I think it and say it,  I usually do it!)

In the past, I’ve submitted and been granted not-for-profit status for a youth theater company in Columbia, Missouri called Performing Arts in Children’s Education. During that time, I allocated funds for students seeking scholarships to participate in our company. In addition, I also have seven years of experience writing program grants for a community theater, Columbia Entertainment Company.

Seven Facts About Teachers’ Wishlists That’ll Keep You Up at Night

Seven Facts About Teachers' Wishlists That'll Keep You Up at Night

My idea is to set up a website for teachers’ wishlists much like Donor’s Choose but only theater teachers may ask for donations for their classroom. I would publicize this website in social media and here on the blog.  Initially, I would foot the bill of creating the website. Of course, I’d have to find out any legal policies in administrating something like this, but that doesn’t deter me since I have past experience with both sides of the donor process-both as an administrator of a company and as a representative for a company seeking funds.

Like Donors Choose, a theater teacher could submit to this website an itemized teachers wishlist of their needs, a short description of the reasons for requiring help, their location, their school’s population, etc. This teacher could be teaching at any grade level and those who also teach musical theater classes could apply as well.

What do you think of my idea?  I’m pretty excited about it.  I can plan this idea out in the next few months and build the website in December.  Anyone want to help me or be involved?  If you’ve never checked out how theatre saved me, go to: About MeContact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com