What? This week, we learned about how we can use and incorporate the art of drama into the classroom. Did you know there are dozens and dozens of drama games and activities teachers can use for dozens and dozens of reasons? I didn't. Drama promotes creativity and participation in the classroom.
So What? I can see myself mixing many drama activities into my future classroom. I think they work fantastically as warm-ups or starters, brain boosters, or if students just need a quick break to get refocused. I loved all the drama group activities we did in class, and I could easily see myself using lots of fun group activities. Using drama in groups encourage creativity as well as teamwork. Drama can also be used as a great formative or summative assessment strategy.
Now What? Children need creative drama as a way to express themselves in their school setting. Drama gets children up and out of their seats to learn while letting them express how they interpret the world. I know when I was in grade school, I loved when I had the chance to be unique and creative, and that's exactly what drama allows students to be. It gets them up, makes them smile and laugh, and let's them create. What's not to love?
And...This group project went well. I feel like I almost took the backseat for this project and was told what my part was, which was just fine. Everyone in the group did what they were supposed to do, and they did it well. We divided our book into equal sections, created our own activity for those pages, and then each presented for about two minutes. When it came to the actual presentation, I felt as though it didn't flow as well as I had hoped it would, but I believe that has mostly to do with the time restrictions. I learned how valuable and useful process drama for a text can be. It really involves the learner and connects them to what is being taught, which I love. All in all, I enjoyed working with my group and I think we worked well together.
