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Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaSpeaks List

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Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaspeaks List

Recently, I had a wonderful opportunity to chat with a first year teacher as he planned the rest of his school year.  He began the year with the students all learning from home, then his school went to hybrid (which means half were at home and half were in the classroom) and soon he’d have them all in the classroom together.

His questions were standard ones I receive which made me think of some other questions which are frequently asked.  Here are some:

1. Do you always warm-up your students? Why?  

Warming-up your students will help in two ways–it gives the student a minute to shake off whatever occurred in the hallway or last class and also helps him to focus on your lesson to come.

2.  What is a good musical for high school students to perform?

The first thing I need to know is how your administration looks at the theater program?  If they are very supportive and want the best for their students (and they TRUST you), then you can take some chances with more adult musicals–with musicals such as West Side Story and Les Mis’ (know that there are very few roles for females in LM, however.)

By and large, I suggest the classics–The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, Music Man and so forth.  Why?  They are guaranteed crowd pleasers and families will attend because they are familiar with them. Good for everyone’s ego and the box office sales.

3.  Can you recommend a good play for middle school students to perform? 

I like to produce adaptations of classic books such as Anne of Green Gables, Tom Sawyer, The Miracle Worker, Diary of Anne Frank, Bridge to Terabithia or Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. Find out the reasons I suggest Anne of Green Gables here Ten Reasons Why Everyone Produces Anne of Green Gables

4.  What do you think of improvisation exercises?

I was trained as a professional actress and at that time we did not merely improv. for the sake for fun.  Improvisation was used to develop characters or create new art pieces.  I don’t dispense improvistion like candy.  I like it to mean something (a theme) or practice some particular skill like voice and articulation, for instance.

Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaspeaks List

5.  My students are learning from home. Can your lessons be used in distance learning?

Yes, many of my lessons can be used in distance learning.  We have this new cool program on Teacherspayteachers.com called Eastl and it will make any lesson into a digital format.

6.  If you could only teach one musical theater unit, which one would you choose?

For obvious reasons, I would teach Hamilton.  I mean, how can you go wrong with it?  My Hamilton musical lesson is fifty pages and includes everything a teacher might need:  procedure, history of the musical, list of song titles, biographies over creative staff, questions and teacher’s key, trivia and ends with enrichment activities which can be done individually or in groups.

7.  If you could only teach one radio theater unit, which one would you choose?

It depends upon my mood, but I’m pleased with how all of them came out.  The most difficult one is The Frozen Pirate which is best for high school students.  It it set in two different ships and has a narrator who is sometimes a character in the story and sometimes merely narrates.

Another one which I’m proud of is my own–Bow Wow Blues.  BWB is about a group of bumbling bank robbers in the 1930’s who are outsmarted by some quick witted detectives and a couple of dogs who help them.  The characters are broad and easy for middle school students to convey.

8.  Do you charge royalties for your scripts?

No, I don’t.  I only ask that the person producing the script send me a recording and/or photos of their production for my personal uses in marketing. Bookeeping who is producing which script would be a nightmare for me to track at this point in my business.

9.  Do you update your resources?

Yes, constantly!  For instance, let’s say it’s announced Lin Manuel Miranda will be performing in a new movie.  I go in to all the products where he is included and update the information to include a mentioned of the new movie.  Or, a link breaks or vanishes–I go in and find a new one.  Or I add a page to a resource which upon second thought makes the produce more useful to the teacher.

10.  On average, how many new lessons do you create a month?

I create about two new lessons a month and several new bundles.

Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaspeaks List

11.  I want to follow you. Do you have an email list I could join?

You bet!  I’m getting ready to glam up my newsletter in the near future and I think you’ll want to be a part of it.  You can join here on this page up above on the right.

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12.  Are you on Instagram?

Yes, I am very active on Instagram.  I speak about different topics there than on the blog.  You can find me at DramaMommaSpeaks on Instagram.

13.  How about Facebook?

Yes, I am.  I share various arts subjects there.  Check me out https://www.facebook.com/Dramamommaspeaks

14.  Are you ever interviewed on podcasts?

You can learn about them here The Top Reasons to Listen to Podcasts

15. I know Clubhouse is a big thing now.  Would I find you there?

Yup!  Just search Deb Baldwin.

16. Where could I see some reviews of your products?

You can find review of my products here Dramamommaspeaks

Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaspeaks List

17.  On average, how pages are your lessons?

Most lessons are around 15 pages in length.

18.  On average, how days’ long are your units?

Some units are three days in length and several are three weeks long.

19.  Do you have drama lessons for elementary students?

Yes, although not as many as I’d like.  I create lessons where the interest is–meaning if a lot of products which are purchased for the month seem to be for middle school, I will make another middle school lesson that month.

20.  Do you have drama integration units?

Yes, I have readers theater and play scripts which are perfect for drama integration. Here’s a blog post about drama integration, too.  How Do I Use Arts Integration in the Classroom?

21.  Who writes the music for your short plays?

My husband of thirty-eight years composes the music.  He is an award-winning instrumental music teacher, taught for forty years and composes as well.

22.  What is the price range of your materials?

Some products are $3.50.  The most expensive product I have are bundles which lasts a semester or even a year.  They are around $100.00

23.  Do accept suggestions?

For things to add to a product or if something needs more clarification?  Yes, but I’d rather the person emailed me than put it in a review.  It confuses the next buyer.

24.  If a teacher wants a particular lesson which you have not created, will you develop it for them?

Yes, I create lessons for teachers on occasion.  The lesson becomes my sole property, but I give the person acknowledgement in the lesson for their idea.

25.  How long does it take to create a radio theater script?

It takes about sixty-five hours to write a script. There is no playwriting template for a radio theater script, so I must set up every page by hand.

26.  Do you have any lessons about people of color?

My Famous Theater Artist Biographies and One Pager Assignment include many people of color–Denzel Washington, Audra McDonald, August Wilson, Camille A. Brown, etc. Here is a blog post concerning my thoughts

27.  Do you have lessons about technical theater?

Of course!  Everything from costume to set design. Here is one: Set Design Fairy Tales

28.  What’s next for you?

Oh…..I can’t tell you yet!  Just make sure you join my email list, look for my free products coming out soon and some other great plans.

I hope these answers help you.  Please feel free to contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or my website at DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin of DramaMommaSpeaks

 

 

The Reasons Reader’s Theater is Successful with Our Students

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The Reasons Reader’s Theater is Successful with Our Students

When I was a little girl, I loved to read aloud.  I was good at it, too!  I think it’s where I realized performing was something I loved because by reading aloud it gave me an opportunity to try out characters and voices.

My teachers readily noticed this about me, too. As a result, I was always asked to read aloud.  I felt very special at the moment.

Because I am very creative and drill work absolutely bores me, I wasn’t always the best student.

But reading aloud?  Oh, that’s so me….

I was looking around the internet to find some other educators (which there are many) who believed as strongly as I do about reading aloud.  My favorite method is through reader’s theater.

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

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

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

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

Yes, yes and one more yes!

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

Here are the Reasons I think Reader’s Theater Works:

  1.  It strengthens one’s reading–repeated reading of words makes them familiar.
  2.  It’s a safe way to involve reluctant readers.
  3.  Generally, the stories are short and highly engaging.  (No one wants to read a boring script aloud!)
  4.  It’s a great way to read different genres without having to commit to an entire book.
  5.  It “feels” like you are performing, but in a non-threatening manner.
  6.  Because students feel safe, their inner performer is more likely to emerge.

My only advice: I wouldn’t suggest putting kids on a stage to try out reader’s theater.  You have just shot yourself in the foot!  I promise, it won’t go well.

The Reasons Reader’s Theater is Successful with Our Students

Here is more from Education World.

Judy Freeman a literature consultant states,

“Reader’s Theater allows children the luxury of lingering over a story; acting it out many times so they come to understand all its nuances,” Freeman explained. “Too often, children read a story and only understand it at its most superficial literal level. With Reader’s Theater, they’re not just reading a story; they’re living it.”

 

“Always perform a Reader’s Theater script at least twice,” she advises. “The first time, the children will be struggling with words and their meanings, and with making sense of the play. It’ll be rough, but who cares? The second time, they’ll be able to focus on enjoying the performance and their parts in it. You can, if you wish, carry it further, adding props, costumes, and scenery; memorizing lines; or even putting on the play for other groups. You don’t have to, though. It’s the process that’s important here, not a finished product.”

That’s an important statement–it’s not a finished product.

To sum up in one phrase–Reader’s Theater allows for trial and error when reading.

Multicultural Folk Tales Reader’s Theater Scripts

I’ve penned several reader’s theater scripts.  Each is based on a multicultural folk tale.

Reader’s Theater:  The Sprightly Tailor

If you are looking for some different reader’s theater scripts, I’m your gal.  Because of my extensive experience teaching and directing (38 years–yikes!), you can trust the quality of these scripts.

AND HERE’S SOMETHING ELSE…

Each of these units comes with original songs written especially for the piece.  How cool is that?

This is not just a script, it’s a unit!

Here’s what you receive:

  •  Letter to teacher
  •  Warm up exercise
  •  Advice in directing reader’s theater
  • Blocking plot for teacher’s staging needs
  •  Scripts with roles for large classes
  • Original song

Does this sound good to you?  Check them out at:  Dramamommaspeaks Store

Here’s a new bundle you may enjoy:  Comical Reader’s Theater Scripts and Units

The Reasons Reader’s Theater is Successful with Our Students

When I taught at Smithton Middle School in Columbia, MO I used reader’s theater with an after school Drama club for ESL students.  This was about fifteen years ago.  At the time I used one of Aaron Shepherd’s scripts.  They are terrific.

Another time, I used a reader’s theater script version of Holes.  We invited reluctant readers to be involved.  I asked several administrators and teachers to play the adult roles.  It was absolutely awesome and we performed the script for the entire school.

What a boost in self confidence this was for those boys.

I co-created a youth theater program in Columbia as well–P.A.C.E. or Performing Arts in Children’s Education. We performed A Christmas Story as a stage reading.  Stage readings are very similar to reader’s theater.  You might think performing with script in hand would distract or detract from the performances.  Nope.  The audience loved it anyway.

So, I hope you’ll give reader’s theater a try whether you are in a drama class, high school language arts or social studies.  It’s not just for elementary students anymore.

What reader’s theater have you done in your class?  I’d love to hear about it.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

Abdullah’s Gold
The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds
Saturday, Sunday and Monday
It Could Always Be Worse
Li Chi the Serpent Slayer
Sedna, an Inuit Tale
The Brave Little Tailor

Fairy Tale Lessons for Drama Class

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Fairy Tale Lessons for Drama Class

About fifteen years ago, I taught at Smithton Middle School in Columbia, Missouri.  I thought I’d probably end up teaching in high school, instead I taught in a middle school–a large one at that! It was a great experience.

Fairy Tale Lessons for Drama Class

Every five and a half weeks, seventy-five sixth graders would roll into my class eager (or maybe not) to learn about drama. (If you are doing the math, that’s around 400 students each year!)

I taught them about the components of theatre–storytelling, tableau, movement, chanting, costumes, masks, improvisation, sets, sound effects, etc.

While doing so, many classes focused on fairy tales.

Why fairy tales?

Everyone knows at least one fairy tale–usually they know Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Snow White, etc.

When you teach the same concept over and over it gets stale.  This is very hard on a creative person like me and over time I was becoming bored.

I HATE to be bored.

So, I got to thinking…………

Hmmm.  What if I used one theme for the entire twenty-five day rotation? I wonder if the students (and I ) would appreciate it?

Aha.

Fairy Tale Lessons for Drama Class

 Fairy tales weren’t as popular fifteen years ago as they are now (thank you Disney.)  But boy, were the kids totally engaged.

Why should you take my word for it?

I did a little research to see what I could find about the reasons the study of fairy tales is useful with our students.

Wow!  There is a lot of information out there—-

Research on the Importance of Fairy Tales

Now I have costume design lessons for grades 3 to 5 as well.  Check them out here:  Bundle Costume Design with Fairy Tale Characters Elementary Grades

And a spanking new Broadway musical unit for Peter Pan!

If you’d like to know about other Dramamommaspeaks products, check out these posts:

The Reasons to Teach Drama Class with Unique Lessons

Creative Dramatics Lesson Plans: Nine Reasons to Teach Radio Theater

Cirque Du Soleil Lesson Plans–a New Twist for Drama Classes

What are your favorite fairy tales?  For some reason I like The Red Shoes fairy tale and The Steadfast Tin Soldier the most. They are both very dramatic. That must be why. 😊