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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

 

 

 

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

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The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

I’m a member of several Facebook groups for theater teachers.  Other than enjoying reading their posts (which are hysterical sometimes), I am touched by their many questions and how they help each other. During this time of year teachers are looking for plays for young actors–youth theater plays to produce with their students or study in a class.

I can feel their frustration with selecting or even finding a script. Who better to receive advice from than those who has been in their shoes?  That’s me. Here’s the best advice you could ever get about new plays for youth theater

We theater teachers are a different bunch.  Selecting a play for students to read which appeals to most of them is a real challenge. A lot of theater teachers have students dropped on to their rosters who are not interested in theater and that’s another issue. Or a teacher finds a script but it’s juvenile or too mature.  Or they lack merit, or quite frankly, they are just plain stupid. Plus, reading a play written for adults isn’t always the most appropriate for students. And…not everyone wants to read Shakespeare which seems to be a go-to when a teacher/director just can not think what else to do.  That’s an entirely different blog post for another time.

My Background

Since I taught and directed for over thirty-eight years, I’ve had plenty of experience with this problem.  If you want to see my employment resume, go to: Teaching Resume. When I began directing and teaching in the late 1980s, I couldn’t find plays for young actors. I’d pad scripts with extra characters to give students a line or two.  Was it copyright infringement?  Probably, but the play catalogues didn’t carry youth theater scripts at all. If I’m guilty of anything it’s guilty of trying to educate our youth. I rest my case!

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

Finally, out of sheer desperation, I co-developed a national playwriting contest for youth theater plays in 1988.  You can read more about it here: Start a Playwriting Contest Using 20 Questions (part one) and Start a Playwriting Contest Using 20 Questions (part two).

It is my opinion that the youth theater play market became popular in the mid 1990s when Music Theater International unveiled its junior musical category.  Suddenly, theater and vocal music teachers had musicals to perform instead of having to use full length musicals written primarily for adults. With the rise of MTI’s junior musicals popularity, playwrights could see a reason to create scripts for our youth. Now we have many playwrights writing for our youth.

Having taught and directed for all those years and experienced this issue firsthand, I have a good finger on the pulse of what our theater teachers need or require. I know what works and what doesn’t.

I’m so pleased with the number of people who read my blog each day keeping my little blog in the top 5 of the most popular in theater education.  As I’ve mentioned before, I’m here to help.

What’s My Advice?

Although it may easiest just to produce a play you’ve directed in the past, my advice is to try a new playwright.  Be daring and select something that is best for your students even if the community isn’t familiar with it.  That’s the only way people can learn about–you be the first!

When we began our playwriting contest I mentioned above, we didn’t have many playwrights interested in participating.  After several years, the word got out and many plays were entered in the contest.  We’d bring the winner to Columbia, MO and they’d have an opportunity to see their new script performed by our theater school. It was a wonderful way for our community to experience new works and help the playwrights as well.

Consequently, I thought it would be useful to give some playwrights a platform in which to share their scripts.  Here are several plays which I suggest you give a look and perhaps you will want to produce them:

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

The Losers’ Club

The Losers’ Club, published by Eldridge Publishing by Jonathan Turner Smith

One Act (High School Level)

Duration: 40 minutes

Cast: 8 m, 6 w

A group of outcast high sclhool students in a small Texas town have formed “The Losers’ Club.” On homecoming evening, these 12 students kidnap the star football player, Joe Taylor, and homecoming queen nominee, Tawny Harris, who have ignored, bullied, and ridiculed members of the club for years. Lead by Trenton, a 17-year-old Goth, the club members put the condescending Joe and Tawny on trial for “crimes committed against their fellow students.”

Each member of the “jury” details how he or she has been harassed by Joe, Tawny, and their friends, and how their lives have been affected by the abuse. What is revealed in the testimonies and the result of the trial is a surprise to all. An excellent play to serve as a catalyst for realistic discussions about bullying in schools across America.

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

Back to the 80s!

Back to the 80s! published by Playscripts.com publishing by Dean O’Carroll

Parody  (High School and above)
Duration: 60 – 70 minutes
15 W, 7 M,  (11-116 actors possible: 5-99 W, 1-111 M)
Set: Flexible.
(65 productions)

Hold on to your hoverboards, we’re taking a trip Back to the 80s! When modern teen Mary Fitzfry gets sent back in time by an eccentric professor, she finds herself in the middle of a totally tubular cavalcade of 80s pop culture. There’s a lot of familiar faces, from the teens in breakfast-time detention to the guys chasing ghosts and dancing zombies, but the biggest surprise of all is Mary’s own protective mom as a teen. Turns out she’s actually kind of rad – but thanks to Mary’s time travel, she’s in trouble.

Can Mary make things right? This adventure takes you from the mall where everything happens, to a suburban sitcom street, to a cave under the high school – and you can choose who to feature from a flexible throng of characters to bring your audience maximum nostalgia. A hilarious parody to make all ages cheer “I love the 80s!”

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

The Kingdom of Academia

The Kingdom of Academia published by Brookly Publishers by Autumn Owens

Type: One Act (Middle School and up)
Genres: Comedy, Ensemble Cast
Themes: Science & Math, Personifications, Royalty
Duration: 30 minutes
Speaking Cast: 2 females, 1 male, 14 either (17 total cast)
Flexibility: 0-20 extras, gender flexible
All is well in The Kingdom of Academia – a royal land ruled by the much-loved King and Queen and inhabited by loyal subjects like Art, Geography, History, and Philosophy. But when the Board of Education sends Math to become a new subject of Academia, the Kingdom’s peace and unity are threatened as subjects riot against this new addition. The King and Queen, having failed their own math classes as young students, turn a deaf ear to Math’s pleas to join the Kingdom.
It’s up to Math and his newfound friends, Science and the Princess, to convince Academia that Math isn’t so boring and confusing after all. Just when it seems that Academia might have a change of heart, the notorious Board of Education arrives on the scene, offering to take Math back. Will the King and Queen seize the opportunity to send Math home, or can Math persuade the Kingdom that he counts after all?
The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Selecting Plays For Youth Theater

It’s Her Say

Published by Stage Partners

Type:  Drama/Comedy (Middle School and up)

Short Play Collection.

Durations:  Each play is 10-20 minutes.

 Speaking Cast:  10-20 actors, flexible casting

It’s Her Say, a collection of short plays that focus on the female experience, can be used in the classroom for scene study or licensed for production. Ranging from historical fictionto social consciousness to shifting friendships to horror comedy, each play is written by a female-identifying theatre teacher who knows exactly what young performers are capable of and what kind of work they are eager to perform. This collection includes the following short plays:

Some Things Never Changeby Jane Best
I Said Run.by Rachel Bublitz
The Women’s Land Armyby Stephanie Buckley
Beauty Kweenzby Diana Burbano
Talk to Me About Homeby Eugenie Carabatsos
The Bootby Emily Hageman
Angela and Angie and Cynthiaby Patty MacMullen
The Stakeout by K. Alexa Mavromatis
The Un-Help Desk by Emily McClain
Girl, Period by Stephanie Shearer

(These plays can be licensed together or separately. If you license the whole collection, you have permission to pick and choose which plays to perform.)

I hope you take my advice and check out these plays in the near future.  This has been such a successful experience that I plan to blog again about this subject suggesting other plays suitable for our students!  Make sure you are following me so you’ll know when I’ve blogged again. Join here:

What is one of your favorite youth theater plays?  I’d love to discuss it with you.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

 

Drama Class Exercises for the First Two Weeks of School

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Drama Exercises for the First Two Weeks of School

I receive quite a few emails asking, “I have a question about drama exercises for the first two weeks of school. What would you suggest?” That’s a really important question.  After thirty-eight years of teaching various theater classes, I have a pretty good handle on what works for me.

However, I’ve been where you are–staring at a blank calendar anxiously wondering what is most important and where you should begin with your class.  I think it’s only natural that you feel this way. Simply put–get to know your students.

Everything, and I mean, everything will go much better if you get to know your students!  I don’t advise jumping on a bunch of rules unless your list is short like mine (Three R’s–respect, responsibility and ready to learn.) Just about every situation can be addressed using the three expectations.  But that’s me.

Pick up this  ready-to-go 5 Day of Middle School Drama Lessons.

If you need a scope and sequence for middle school students, here is one: Drama Curriculum Scope and Sequence 

 

GROUP HUG AFTER WILLY WONKA (I’M THE BLONDE HEAD IN THE MIDDLE)

Building Teacher/Student Relationships

When I was looking around for information concerning building teacher/student relationships, I stumbled upon this quote from the EducationNorthwest.org:

“When teachers make an intentional effort to get to know each of their students, it can foster in students a sense of belonging and connection to school—which can then build a foundation for academic success. Positive teacher-student relationships lead to increased cooperation and engagement in the classroom.”

Here’s another quip I appreciate from Reach.com: “Understanding your students’ interests will help you to provide them with quality learning opportunities. By giving them the opportunity to explore areas they are interested in – for example, the environment – they will be more likely to engage with the learning process.”

I believe that getting to know your students and vice versa, is imperative to everyone’s success!

Here’s a recent Instagram interview where I speak about particular games. https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChsDNC8MMgh/?igshid=Y2ZmNzg0YzQ=

Elementary School Creative Dramatics Class Warm-Ups

Drama Class Exercises for the First Two Weeks of School

Elementary students are so sweet and enjoy just about everything you share with them.  One old standby of mine is Wax Museum.  Most people know this game, but if not check it out here:  Wax Museum 

When I Go to California is a terrific game for a smaller to medium size class.  The more outlandish the objects the students “take” on their imaginary trip, the better.  It goes like this:

Two of the most important skills an actor needs is the ability to concentrate and memorize. This exercise will do just that!⁣
You need an open area to play this. This game takes no materials and that’s always a nice thing, huh? ⁣
⁣
First, students sit in a circle on the floor. ⁣Person A stands and says, “WHEN I GO TO CALFORNIA, I WILL TAKE MY ____” and pantomimes something unusual he would take on a trip. (i.e. an elephant) Person A should make the sound of the object if it makes one. ⁣Person A sits again. ⁣

Person B stands and says, “When I go to California, I will take my (Person As object)  and my________” and pantomimes another unusual object. ⁣
⁣
The game continues until everyone has a chance to participate. ⁣An object can not be copied by another person as their choice for their object.  You also may need to help students when they forget objects. (I encourage students to help as well.)

If you are looking for a week’s worth of drama lessons to begin your school year, check out: First Week of School Drama Class

Or check out this one-which is a good one to use the first week of classes in elementary and middle school:  Drama Circle
⁣

Drama Games for the First Week of School

Middle School Drama Class Warm-Ups

I will admit that I enjoy teaching middle school students the most. Here’s a recent Facebook Live where I speak about teaching theater to students: Facebook Live with Deb the Storyteller

Middle School students can be shy or extrovertive.  Every class is different, so adjust your expectations according to what you observe right off the bat.  When your students enter your classroom, do they appear to be familiar with anyone (make a B line to sit with them), sit at the back or maybe the front of the room?

Nevertheless, middle school students love games of any sort.  Usually, I get them up on their feet and run through the Alliteration Name Game (you may know it by a different name). You can read about this game here: Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

This exercise will take atleast 20 minutes.  It’s important to take your time and if you find there is a student who can’t come up with an idea for their name, others may help him. Also, I require that students applaud after each person shares their  name. Why?  Because it establishes that everyone is equal and we appreciate everyone’s talent in the class.

Drama Exercises for the First Week of School

Elementary School Creative Dramatics Class Warm-Ups

This exercise that will take several days to finish– 3 Things About Me.  It goes like this:

You, the teacher, bring in 3 things which are important to you–maybe a family photo, your first doll, a medal for something you entered and won–that sort of thing.  Take about 5 minutes to explain the items.  Hand out sign up sheet for several days.  Students sign up for a particular day. When I assign this, I encourage the students to have at least one really unusual thing to share with the class.  That makes it far more interesting. I give participation points–a blanket 10 points.

I’d advise warming up the class each day.  This tag is a really good one for day two or three.  You can pick up here for free: Firecracker Tag.

Another warm up which is good is the Three Word Improvisation.  I would use this on about day five with older middle school students.  Go here to pick up this game:  Three Word Improvisation 

If you’d like some more warm ups, go to my Instagram guide.

 

High School Students Theater Class Warm-Ups

Elementary School Creative Dramatics Class Warm-Ups

High School students are great to teach, too. I’ve had some amazing high school theater classes.  Hopefully, students enrolled in your high school theater class are there because they signed up for the class which is not always the case with middle school students. If the students elected to take your class, then I’d start right in with your lessons.

If your students are new to theater (such as a Theater 101 course) a really great warm up for them (and quite difficult) is Name Volleyball.  You can pick it up here: NAME VOLLEYBALL PDF

Elementary School Creative Dramatics Class Warm-Ups

Or another is Curveball Story

Description: (many thanks to Hoopla.com for this one) This is played in pairs (trios work too). One person makes up a story. As they tell it, the other will call out random words that need to be incorporated into the story. Wait for the last word to be folded in before giving another. (Honestly, I think even elementary students can play this game, but I thought it would be really funny with older students.)

Variations
Similar to What If? where the other person says something like “what if it started raining?” “What if you jumped on a boat?” and they incorporate that into the story.

Want a game that can last the entire class period?  This is the one! For years, I  have used this game which was titled, Hang Man Charades.  However, that is an offensive name so I call it Dancing Man Charades. Pick it up here:  DANCING MAN CHARADES PDF

My Recommendation for Theater Teachers

Elementary School Creative Dramatics Class Warm-Ups

Recently, in a teachers Facebook group a drama teacher asked, “Do I really have to do warm ups every class period?”

No, you don’t especially if you think you have their attention.  However, warm ups usually help everyone–there are lots of laughs (which for some students is the only time they laugh their entire day), acknowledge a person’s skill that no one was aware that they had (like the shy kid who can tell a heck of a story.) They even help you!

I could be shooting myself in the foot here, but for warm ups for elementary and middle school students I recommend Theater Games for the Classroom by Viola Spolin.  One of the assets of this book which  I like is the use of side coaching.  Because of this book, I learned to side coach my students which is inordinately vital with elementary and middle schoolers. For high school, pick up her Improvisation for the Theater.  Equally as useful and powerful. Grab a free collection of warm ups for middle school here.

What games and exercises do you like to use at the beginning of the school year? I’d love it if you would share them with me?  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

 

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

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Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

Congratulations!  You’ve been hired to teach theater and direct several productions a year. You probably have the class curriculum nailed down or you are in the midst of it.  However, you realize that although you have some experience on stage as a performer, you may need some help with other facets of a production.  This post should help–Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

When I majored in theater at Stephens College about a 100 years ago, although I was mostly interested in performing we were expected to work backstage for the first semester.  I still think that’s an excellent idea. Some students who began as performance majors find they are more suited to stage management, costume or set design for instance. Plus, an actor needs to understand what goes into mounting a production.

Too many people get out there and think they are going to end up on the Broadway stage after their first audition. Many give up too quickly, but perhaps if they’d found another way to be involved with theater they would have stayed with it.

I love theater so much, I didn’t care if all I ever did was sweep the stage–it was that important to me.  If you want to know how theater saved my life, go to How Theatre Saved My Life

Newbie Theater Teacher Expectations

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

It’s only natural to think that when you enter your first teaching position in your career, everything is provided for your classroom and stage.  You may have come from a high school or certainly college which fully supported the theater arts department.  That’s understandable and certainly the way it should be.

Some high schools even have technical directors who oversee the technical aspects of productions and teach the technical theater classes.  That’s terrific!

You expect to have a lot of materials and resources all ready organized–set pieces, costumes, makeup, storage space, etc.  If the school and their theater department has been in existence for several years, you should expect to take what was left from the previous teacher and grow from there.

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

 

The Reality

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

Here is the reality– In many school systems, the theater department and arts in general are looked upon as unimportant. (Because the general public does not understand what it takes to teach theater much less produce a play or musical.) Generally, the arts play second fiddle to sports. It’s not fair and not right but it happens all. the.time

If you find a school, which is not a performing arts school, who supports the arts you are lucky to teach there.

I can’t even count how many times people have said, “This school doesn’t have a budget for me!  They don’t have materials or resources for mounting a production. What do I do?”

Tip:  One question you need to ask when you interview for any teaching position should be about the budget for your classes and/or productions.  If the administrator doesn’t know the budget, this is a red flag. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a budget, but this is easy to ascertain for them and they should be willing to divulge it.

Tip:  When you interview, ask to see the stage and check out backstage as well. See if they have any costumes, props or set pieces.  Do they have stage lights, light trees and amplification equipment? Does anyone else use the stage other than the theater department?  Who and how much time do they use it?

Tip:  Find out if there is a parent booster club for the arts. They are invaluable to your success at this particular school. They can help you in many ways–fundraising, building sets and sewing costumes, advertising and box office.

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

If the school doesn’t have a production budget, the first thing you will need to do is raise money to pay the expenses of the production.  These expenses can range anywhere from $500 to (gulp) $10,000 a piece.  Consider ticket prices and talk with other teachers in the district to see what they charge.  Check out my fundraising suggestions here: Turn Your Theater Department Fundraising Into A High Performing Machine

If your set inventory doesn’t have much to offer, then you may need to build flats. There are many ways to do so.  I’d check out this video for instruction on building a Hollywood flat. Or you can build a muslin flat.

I’d suggest watching the Cal State A & L videos on youtube.com  They teach just about everything you’d need to know in a clear and concise method.

If you need help with costume design, check out my post: Critical Steps in Producing a Play or Musical: Costumes

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

One of my lesser strengths is light design. I know what I want, but I don’t know how to make it happen.  I defer to my husband about light design because he’s designed for me for years. (See the photo above)  In your case, I’d check Cal State for help there.

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

My Most Important Advice

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

Many directors of school productions think they have to produce their shows having the quality of a Broadway production.  Not only is this unreasonable to expect of yourself, but not necessary.  If you do a good job and balance the production so that everything is of equal quality (your show is imbalanced if the only set piece which was completed for your set is the staircase you spent all month building for your play), then you can rest knowing you did your best under the circumstances.

You should not be expected to do more with less.  Just do the best you can understand the circumstances. You shouldn’t spend all weekend for several months working on one production. You shouldn’t be doing all the work yourself. Don’t forget that without YOU, none of the magic happens and the students need YOU the most. 

What is most important is what your students learn from the experience, right?

Here are a few blog posts that can answer some questions or help you:

Critical Steps in Producing a Play or Musical: Stage Makeup 

Critical Steps in Producing a Play or Musical: Costumes

 

My Advice for FREE

Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality

I am willing to advise you for free.  You can find me many places– on instagram @dramamommaspeaks, Facebook @dramamommaspeaks or email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com.  I have been where you are now.  Luckily, you have someone like me to advise you.

No one learns much of anything completely by themselves.  A good teacher asks for advice and help.  You will be a better teacher for it, I promise!

If you’ve had any experiences you’d like to share, please hit reply and share them with me.  I’d love to hear from you.

You can contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

 

A Baker’s Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

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A Baker’s Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

Here are a baker’s dozen of teaching ideas for the frazzled drama teacher which I hope will help you. I know you.  I’ve been there, too. There is nothing worse than feeling overwhelmed and exhausted with no brain space to plan or organize yet another lesson for your students.

There are one or two weeks in the school year which nearly put a drama teacher over the edge–technical week of a production. Or particular months such as  October or December?  Those are challenging times, too. 

A Baker's Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

It’s very difficult for people to understand the ammount of details and responsibilities that rest on a theater teacher during this challenging time of a production. Need a director’s helper checklist? Get it here FREE.

It’s a large number, yes?  Every part of a production has details, understandably.  But the details have details! And on top of that, the teacher must attempt to teacher her classes and deal with student behavior. In other words, you have two jobs–one the classroom and one directing a production

I mean…come on!

Are you an IG user:  Follow me here 

A Baker's Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

Frazzled Teacher Days Suggestions

For those days when you are frazzled, here are my suggestions of subjects your students can learn about*:

  1.  Play analysis–read, analyze, present, create an stage property.
  2.  Broadway musicals–study and compare them
  3.  Stage properties— learn about and create one for your show (that’s an awesome idea!)
  4.  Radio Theater–work in small groups and create their own radio theater performance (pick up FREE this live sound effects checklist) 
  5.   Costume design–read the production you are rehearsing and design for the production
  6.   Set design–-study design and create a model for your production
  7.   Famous theater artists–learn about and portray him or her through a short monologue about their life such as James Earl Jones
  8.   Devise a theater piece— focus on the themes in the play or musical you are producing but take a different slant structuring an improvisation
  9.   Technical theater–view video clips about various Broadway productions. I have a blog post about this at Never Underestimate the Influence of Teaching with Videos
  10.  Choice Boards–students study what they are interested in giving them more feeling of ownership.  You can use mine at: Bundle of Choice Boards
  11.   Playwriting–animate a short story (with dialogue) or scene from a play.  Check out this software program at Celaction. (They have educational licenses available.)
  12.   Sound Design–develop a sound scene focused on a particular holiday or important day in history
  13.   Producing–project an imaginary budget for a production from start to curtain closing–advertising, script rental, royalties, show budget, etc. This is best for high school students.  Check out this blog post for more ideas–Drama Lessons for High School from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Or maybe you need something that could last for two weeks?  Check out  Theater Class Emergency Sub Plan Bundle

*Most of these suggestions have limited teacher-to-student contact which is what you are looking for, essentially.

I have a bundle with virtually all of these and several more.  You can find it here: Bundle Drama Units for High School Tech. Week

OR a larger bundle at: Bundle Drama Units and Lessons for High School

A Baker's Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

Pre-Planning Your School Year

A word of advice:  the minute you select your dates for your production I suggest you count back ten days and begin to plan those days of your instruction to your classes.  That way, you have carved out a reasonable amount of days to keep the students occupied and engaged without you losing your mind. Here’s a new lesson which might come in handy on a day you are planning your production. Arianna De Bose Biography

There is a lot of research about the distracted mind and why it’s a problem.  I searched about on the internet to find something which applies to this particular case.  Here is what I found in an article on www.inc.com:

“Psychologists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert found that the human mind is actually wired for this state of continuous distraction. In a study conducted with 2,250 adults, they concluded that we spend around 47 percent of every waking hour “mind wandering.” Also called “stimulus-independent thought,” mind wandering is an experience that so ordinary, so natural to us, we don’t even notice it.”

A Baker's Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

A Baker’s Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

Whoa…

Here is something else, according to an article in www.theGuardian.com, 

“The impact of interruptions on individual productivity can also be catastrophic. In 2002, it was reported that, on average, we experience an interruption every eight minutes or about seven or eight per hour. In an eight-hour day, that is about 60 interruptions. The average interruption takes about five minutes, so that is about five hours out of eight. And if it takes around 15 minutes to resume the interrupted activity at a good level of concentration, this means that we are never concentrating very well.”

When you are working on a production, how many distractions take your attention from the show?

I’ve discovered something important about myself. If I have important details on my mind, anything I can do to eliminate less important things from my brain or checklist allows me to better concentrate. By planning ahead, I can help my mind to focus easier and with less struggle.

Are you this way as well?

A Baker's Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

It’s Tiger Time

One activity you can do for yourself is use “Tiger Time”.

Tiger Time is a habit used in working:  turn off all distractions, close your door, put a sign on the door that you are unavailable until a particular time and take on one thing on your list.  Yesterday, I used Tiger Time to create a new product for my store.

If you want more information and a free checklist, check out AmyPorterfield.com. Amy has a huge on line business teaching entrepreneurs how to create a webinar for an on-line course.  She explains it the best.

A Baker's Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

The Pomodoro Technique

Another time management method of working is the Pomodoro Technique.  I like the Pomodoro Technique because it’s simple. You work on a task for a fixed amount of time (a pomodoro, e.g.: 25 minutes) without any distractions and take a short break after (such as 5 minutes.) Then, after a certain amount of pomodoros (e.g.: 4), you take a longer break.

I think it’s more fun and kind of like a reward!

Here’s a great time from Todoist.com–-Keep an “Overlearning” project in Todoist with a list of tasks you can quickly choose from the next time you find yourself with pomodoro time to spare.

Generally, I’m more the Pomodora method type of girl.  Although I’m guilty of making my breaks shorter, because I’m usually inspired and just don’t want to stop.  How about you? 

Be Careful Not to Over Plan

Be careful that you don’t over plan your day. I like to take care of the most pressing responsibilities I have and then work from there.  For instance, today I needed to compose an email for my email list folks and this blog post. These go out on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.  This is Monday.

By the end of the week, I need to have a new radio theater play script written.  If I get these two bi-weekly responsibilities out of the way today, the rest of the week is more relaxed. Luckily, I don’t procrastinate tough jobs.  I put them on paper and give myself time to “percolate on them”. While I’m composing the email message and scheduled and writing this blog post subconscious brain is considering the story I’m going to adapt and how I want to adapt it.

Plus, give yourself some grace if you didn’t make the deadline you’d made for a project.  It’s okay.  You are human.  You just do the best you can at the time–that’s all anyone should ask of themselves.

A Baker's Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

My Free Director’s Helper Checklist

If you want some help with organizing your backstage crew chiefs or parent volunteers, pick up my checklists at Director’s Helper Checklists

Remember, I’ve been you and I know what’s like to try to juggle a multitude of details all at once.  It is my hope all of these suggestions and time management techniques come in handy for you.

What questions or comments do you have?  Please feel free to contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

A Baker's Dozen of Teaching Ideas for the Frazzled Drama Teacher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

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The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

If you are considering plays for the next school year, I’d like to recommend you take a look at this marvelous play. Here are the reasons I love The Giver play. Published by Dramatic Publishing, The Giver is adapted by Eric Coble from Lois Lowry’s book of the same name.

Reason Number #1

The story line of The Giver is intriguing from the very first line. Jonas’ world is perfect. Everything is under control and safe. There is no war or fear or pain. There are also no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. But when Jonas turns 12, he is chosen for special training from The Giver—to receive and keep the memories of the community. The Giver is the only person who holds the memories of real pain and real joy. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life—and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. Through this astonishing and moving adaptation, discover what it means to grow up, to grow wise, and to take control of your own destiny.
The play has roles for 4 men and 2-4 women and extras.
The Reasons I Love The Giver Play
This novel is very popular with upper elementary and middle grade students. To that end, I’d suggest that high school theater programs mount the production and offer day performances for your area schools.

The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

Reason #2 The Author

I dug around for information about Lois Lowry and found her website, Loislowry.com which states,, ” Born Lois Ann Hammersberg on March 20, 1937, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Lowry is one of America’s most popular and versatile children’s book authors. She has written in a variety of fictional forms, from the WWII tale Number the Stars to the lighthearted adventures of Anastasia Krupnik to the fantastical The Giver.
The Giver was seen as controversial by some for its violent themes, sexual content (not mentioned in the play) and depiction of infanticide and euthanasia. Others, however, heaped praise on this remarkable work, and Lowry won the 1994 Newbery for the novel. Over the years, Lowry added to this examination of a dystopian future with Gathering Blue (2000), The Messenger (2004) and Son (2012).”

The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

The Reasons I Love The Giver Play
Reason Number #3 The Playwright 
Eric Coble was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and raised on the Navajo and Ute reservations in New Mexico and Colorado. His scripts for adults have been produced on Broadway (Tony- and Pulitzer-nominated The Velocity of Autumn), off-Broadway (Bright Ideas), in all 50 states of the U.S., and on several continents.
His plays for young audiences include award-winning adaptations of Lois Lowry’s The Giver and Gathering Blue as well as Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars, Ghosts in the Machine, Swagger, Cinderella Confidential and a dozen other published scripts that have been produced at The Kennedy Center, Dallas Children’s Theatre, Childsplay, Metro Theatre Company, Oregon Children’s Theatre, First Stage, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Cleveland Play House, Adventure Stage, Alliance Theatre and many others. Awards include two AATE Distinguished Play Awards for Best Adaptation and the Charlotte Chorpenning Award for the body of work of a children’s playwright.
These two power house creatives alone make this play one you should seriously consider producing.

The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

Technical Challenges of the Play

When designing the set, I’d suggest dividing your stage into two places–Jonas’ home and the Giver’s home.  Give more space to the Giver’s home as most of the action occurs there.  Several scenes can be played in front of the curtain or neutral space between the two sets.
As the play progresses, Jonas begins to understand the Giver, more and more things begin to have color.  That’s a challenge.  We considered several ways to depict the changes and finally landed on  a technique magicians use–distract the audience and intrigue them to look where you want them to focus.
The Giver’s home requires bookcases full of books.  Among other things, we painted four flats to look like identical.  However, each flat was just a little different–the first book case flat was painted with all gray books.  The second flat had several books painted in red or blue while the others were gray and so on until the last flat’s books has most of the books were any color but gray.
To accomplish this, my designer hung the flats in order, one in front of the other on a track (like a closet door track in your house). In the photo above you can see the flat, upstage behind the Giver. As the scenes progressed, the crew merely slid the first flat over past the stage curtains.  Consequently, that left the second flat showing. This continued until every flat had been used.  At the same time, the crew switched out a few props on the standing bookcases, so they began to be more colorful, too.
To help contain the action, we hung pieces of grey cloth (of varying shades of gray) from the light battens. Sometimes the  stage lights would shine on the cloth and sometimes not.
The Reasons I Love The Giver Play
As you can see the costumes are simple.  You just need grey or shades of it for everyone.  Most of my cast found their own costumes and it worked just fine. We made the Giver’s costume and an older woman character’s costumes (used a bible character sewing pattern).
The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

The Biggest Challenge

The most difficult parts of this play are the sound and lights.  Since this was a community theater production, we had access to skilled lighting and sound board operators.  There are many light and sound cues and they are vital to the production.  However, if you don’t have access to both using simple lights which can dim and even live sound effects will work.
Audiences will stretch their imaginations if you are consistent in the sound and lights you choose.
The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

My personal thoughts about the play

I won’t lie here.  This is a challenging play.  The main characters have many lines. The scenes change quickly from one place to the next, the plot contains mature themes and forces audiences to seriously consider what is presented in from of them. The best comparison I can make to The Giver is The Hunger Games.
But friend, this play is worth it to produce. 
A few years ago, I was interviewed about my production,   “This production is quite a different kind of production for the Fine Arts Guild,” director Debbie Baldwin states. “Although the play appears simple to produce because the set is sparse and the actors don’t change costumes, there are lots of props that were a challenge to find. The entire show is ‘gray’ — everything! Three gray bicycles, probably a hundred gray books, a gray globe and a gray apple, for instance.”

The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

I continued, “Plus, it is filled with many particular sound cues (a heartbeat, a baby crying, a horse galloping, an elephant trumpeting, etc.) that require the actors as well as the audience to use their imagination, because there is nothing visual to draw upon for the suggestion. Jonas, the main character, sees things in color that no one else sees. From a lighting point of view, that’s difficult to portray. ‘The Giver’ speaks about falling snow and warfare. Those aren’t things that we dramatize in a play very often.
The question that we discussed was not where to find these sounds to record, but rather which sounds would evoke the emotion most effectively? The show lends itself to much creativity on our part and that’s why I enjoy directing it. It’s very inspiring.”
If you’d like some directing tips, check out Play Production for Newbie Theater Teachers: Expectations Versus Reality Or maybe you’d like to read my advice about another play I recommend. Check out: Ten Reasons Why Everyone Produces Anne of Green Gables
Have you directed The Giver?  I’d love to know your thoughts about it.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com
The Reasons I Love The Giver Play