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Eleanor Albert
educational theory stresses • builds skills in reading and oral and cause their common goal is to keep the play
the importance of exploration and writtenlanguage going. In theirroles they capture the speech
Currenthands-on activity in learning. Be • increases student motivation and attitudes of others, developing the abil
ginning with exploratory play in infancy, • ityto view the world fromdifferentperspec
improves group interaction by using
and sociodramatic play in early childhood, formatsof groupwork and cooperative tives. They share and learn fromeach other.
individuals continue to learn through play
learning and avoids pitfallsofthese for They create S context in which they must
ing with (or experimenting with) things, mats by showcasing each individual's expand theirskills in oral language, vocabu
ideas, and language in a social setting. contribution to the group effort lary,storytelling,and social interaction.And
In an effortto apply this theoryto prac • individualizes instruction,allowing for they have fun doing all this.
tice, educators have tried new techniques remediation or enrichment through Middle schoolers working on a dra
and curricula. Interactive work with com choice of materials matic scene experience the same involve
puters and hands-on experimentation are • utilizes classroom texts and materials ment and satisfaction in their "play." They
replacing workbooks and lectures in many for scriptwriting create a context and assume roles as they
classes. In this movement away from soli • uses performance-based assessment constructa communal rendition oftext.They
tary activities, learning becomes a social ac rather than test-based grading learn fromeach otheras theyanalyze charac
tivitywith group work, cooperative learning, • involves students in decision-making ters, compare points of view, or create a
and peer tutoringcontributingto progress in • story.And they develop social skills as they
encourages creativity
heterogeneously-grouped classrooms. • elicit empathy, examine multiple perspec
develops critical thinking and analytic
For the teacher of language arts, where skills in study of character and script tives, and engage in negotiation and com
does the hands-on experimentation occur in •
encourages understanding and toler promise.
the study of literature? How can students ance of differencesby having students
play with, manipulate, and experiment with assume a variety of roles and listen to a Drama meets middle schoolers' needs
text?Writingassignments ofteninvolve vari While drama work is a useful teaching
variety of voices
ous ways of responding to textand "playing • involves parents as audience forperfor strategyforlearners of any age, it is particu
with" language. But for the middle school mance larly well suited to classes foryoung adoles
student, this still does not provide necessary cents.Drama offersopportunitiesforphysical
action-oriented learning. Drama in the class Drama and play activity and social interaction. It fills the
room can provide action; experimentation; If these claims sound inflated,consider dual, and often contradictory, needs of
exploration of character, motive, and text. the earliest evidence of dramatic play. A middle schoolers to be valued members of a
Because it provides expanded contexts for group of four-year-olds is playing doctor, group while developing individuality and
language learning in a cooperative social house, or firefighters.Think of the serious independence and receiving recognition for
setting,drama in the classroom offerseduca ness and interestwith which they approach personal achievements. Drama work groups
tional benefits in every area of current con this "play." They negotiate and deal with formcohesive, supportive units working for
cern: conflicts regarding roles or story line be group goals; yet, individuals render their
are presented, so students have starringroles tensionin it. What I liked best about
counseling office and into the classroom
thisscene was theway thatthe Chief
in their scenes. Although students do not where small groups of students meet with
Rabbit talked to Fiver as if he were a
create the script, scene presentation still re teacher-advisors to create support networks.
baby. We had to practicea lot.I found
inforces skills in reading, writing,speaking, Drama activities can be used with these
thateatinglettucequicklyenough so I
and groupwork. groups to help students verbalize concerns could say mylines was extremelydif
and problems while maintaining the dis ficult.
Drama and integrated curriculum tance that drama allows. Students can ques
Drama activities can be used with great tion, react to, discuss, and reflecton issues
My own enthusiasm fordrama in the class
success in science, social studies, geography, framed in the drama that they might be room is fueled by the excitement of my stu
math, and foreign language classes or in hesitant to deal with on a personal level. Role
dents, and by seeing how much the program
interdisciplinaryor integratedclasses. These playing can help students develop skills in contributes to their development. Most stu
activities provide a focus for integration of conflictresolution. Differentsolutions to in dent evaluations of the drama unit mention
language skills with other subjects while terpersonal problems can be triedby ending the rewards of personal success and group
broadening and enhancing the learning in the scenario in differentways. This "dress
support. However, for some students the
all the disciplines: rehearsal" through drama, helps prepare
experience becomes a turning point in the
students for real life performance.
struggle for self-expression and group ac
•
Monologues using historical docu ceptance:
ments,letters,journals, or excerpts from Getting started in classroom performance
autobiographies reveal the human ele theater
Play Nightgave me an opportunityto
ment in work in science, math, or his Short drama activities are fairlyeasy to show some of my talents that my peers
tory. incorporate into classroom work, but pre did not know about. They thoughtI
• Creative drama scenarios encourage ex was quiet and shy. I thinktheywere
paring a full scale performance foran audi
ploration of the complex contexts of ence may seem more daunting. Stories on surprisedthatI was good at actingand
scientific discoveries or political deci Stage makes the job easier because it pro speakingin frontofan audience. After
sions. vides an endless supply of scripts tied to Play NightI feltan innerrespectfrom
• some ofthemthatthrilledme.
Improvisation provides a means to curricularmaterial, and itinvolves everyone
speculate about possible solutions to in short scenes. While you are experiment
currentconcerns, to practice foreignlan Suggested Materials for Drama
ing with the program, you can have your
in the Classroom
guage vocabulary, and to encourage students perform for other classes in the
creative problem-solving. school. Evening performances for parents
Storytelling
• Stories on Stage scriptsdramatize scenes can be arranged when you and your stu Pellowski, A. (1990). The World of Storytelling. New
fromyoung adult literaturedealing with dents feel ready to plan a formal theater York: The H.W. Wilson Company.
language. the flagging interest of students, it offersa Tarlington, C, & Verriour, P. (1991) Role Drama. Ports
• mouth NH: Heinemann.
Role-playing conveys the multiple per refreshing change of pace for teachers, as
Reader's Theater
spectives involved in political or social well. It has given me the opportunity to
Laughlin, M. K., & Latrobe, K. H. (1990) Readers Theatre
decision-making. Interview "famous encounter the creative, the individual, and
for Children. Englewood, CO: Teacher Ideas Press.
people," or involve proponents of a the fun-loving side of every student. And it
cause in a face-to-face meeting with is full of surprises. Students have asked for Eleanor Albert teaches at the University of
opponents. help with a variety of skills from using a Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.