Spotlight on Drama

    Throughout the year my students dramatize poems, choral readings, and skits.  Drama is such an important part of a child’s development.  It is a unique tool to explore and express human feeling through movement and voice.  Drama improves reading, listening, speaking, memorization, and writing skills.  It increases reading skills such as fluency, vocabulary, characterization, expression, and comprehension.  They are not only memorizing their own poems, but they automatically start memorizing their classmates’ poems!  It is so cute to watch the students recite the other poems as they are walking around the room or in the hallway. 
    Drama is such a wonderful way of getting students motivated to read.  Poems and literature become more alive and real.  It exposes them to some of the most delightful literature that they might not have sought out on their own.  Children learn to love the written language and become fascinated with it.
     Active participation in drama develops self-esteem, creativity, imagination and improves attitudes toward learning.  When a student takes on a different personality in a dramatic  piece, the power of self-expression unfolds.  It builds confidence and lets them know that their ideas and feelings are important.  It gives the students a chance to explore who they are and develop a sense of self.  When students explore who they are, they become more aware of their own surroundings which will in turn, help them to be more socially aware in the future.  They become more perceptive and considerate of others, improving their relationships.
    Drama also teaches critical thinking skills and helps children  solve problems together in a thoughtful way.  When we are practicing, they get so excited when they come up with an idea to add to another’s performance.  I get just as excited as them when I hear an idea or suggestion that I didn’t think of.
    Concentration also plays an important part in drama.  Students must block out all outside stimuli when performing and memorizing.  They not only have to concentrate on what they must do, but what the group as a whole is doing.
    I am looking forward to many educational and fun experiences with them and watching them grow into unique individuals.