Engaging Reluctant Students in Drama Class
Engaging Reluctant Students in Drama Class This blog post, Engaging Reluctant Students in Drama Class, began with considering every drama teacher eventually faces: students sitting in class who never intended to be there in the first place. When I taught a large middle school drama class which was a pre-elective, more than 500 sixth graders […]
Teach Playwriting with Norman Rockwell Paintings
Teach Playwriting with Norman Rockwell Paintings When I taught playwriting, one of the biggest challenges was helping students move past the blank page. That’s why I began to teach playwriting with Norman Rockwell paintings, using images filled with character, emotion, and story to spark student ideas. Instead of asking students to invent everything from scratch, […]
Why Masks Help Reluctant Students Shine in Drama Class
Why Masks Help Reluctant Students Shine in Drama Class There was always room for creativity in my drama classroom. That is part of my mission—to approach theater from every angle, not just through acting. And like every drama teacher, I knew that student—the one who quietly hoped I wouldn’t call on them. They avoided eye […]
Why Drama Is the Ultimate Life Skills Curriculum
Drama Is Life Skills: How the Classroom Becomes Real-World Practice I believe drama class is life skills. One of my favorite classroom memories explains exactly why Drama Is Life Skills: How the Classroom Becomes Real-World Practice — and it doesn’t involve a standing ovation. It involves a triangle. The Power of Being Needed Years ago, […]
Beyond the Stage: Theater Arts Projects for Students
Beyond the Stage: Theater Arts Projects for Students When teachers think about theater education, scripts and stage lights often come to mind first. I do, too! But Beyond the Stage: Theater Arts Projects for Students is about something broader—projects that invite movement, rhythm, silence, collaboration, and risk-taking. These experiences often engage students who may not […]
Should Middle School Directors Cast Every Student?
Should Middle School Directors Cast Every Student? Part of my weekly activities is reading various Facebook drama teachers group posts. One subject is mentioned at least once a month. So let’s discuss Should Middle School Directors Cast Every Student? No matter the grade level, whenever you direct (and produce) a youth theater play, one of […]