Diverse Narratives, Inclusive Spaces: A Journey in Drama Teaching

  The countdown is on—just three more days, and it feels like there's still a mountain of things to do. You know how it is when you're going home? You have this grand vision of everything you'll accomplish, but then time just slips away. Sometimes, all you really want to do is just be home, and do absolutely nothing. I guess that's the trade-off we make as international teachers. Honestly, when I'm back home, all I really want is to immerse myself in theatre and help others hone their skills—whether it's students, fellow teachers, or even local schools. This trip, despite the time crunch, was still incredibly fulfilling. My wife, Annette, finally got to see my hometown, which I've missed terribly. We managed to plan my parents' wedding anniversary, and I even got to lead a student theatre workshop. That's something I genuinely love doing—it feels good to give back to the community that shaped me. We also made it up to Baguio City, which holds a speci...

  This school year, I'm going to be sharing my experiences as a Theatre teacher at an international school. I've been working in international schools for nearly a decade now, so I'll be taking some time to look back on everything I've learned, push myself to try new things, and frankly, just share the good times and the not-so-good times that come with the job. It's going to be a real journey, and I want to capture what it's truly like behind the scenes. We'll explore the unique joys of teaching theatre to a diverse group of students from all over the world – the moments of creative breakthroughs, the shared laughter, and the powerful connections that form in a rehearsal room.  But I also plan to be honest about the challenges. That might mean navigating cultural differences, adapting to new curriculums, or even just the everyday frustrations that every teacher faces. My hope is that by sharing these reflections, both the triumphs and the stumbles, it will ...

  The traditional classroom often needs help to appreciate cultural artifacts' richness fully. However, by incorporating visual arts, music, and drama, we can create a dynamic and engaging environment that allows students to explore these treasures. This method fosters a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, promotes empathy, and enhances critical thinking skills (Bales, 2019). Topic: Cultural Artifacts Grade: Upper Elementary Essential Questions: • How can dramatic performance be used to embody and interpret cultural artifacts? • How might technology be utilized to research and present cultural artifacts through drama? • How can selecting culturally diverse literature and artifacts inspire original dramatic works that promote empathy and cultural understanding? Disciplinary Literacy • Visual Literacy: The traditional classroom often finds it challenging to fully appreciate cultural artifacts' richness. However, by incorporating visual arts, music, and drama, we can create ...

  The internet and social media have transformed my drama classroom, not by replacing traditional skills but by broadening the definition of literacy itself. Gone are the days of merely memorizing lines. Today's students, as Zhou and Brown (2017) suggest, are active knowledge builders. Literacy now includes the ability to analyze and deconstruct information across various formats—not just text, but also images, videos, and even interactive experiences. A student who can dissect the comedic timing of a viral skit or critically evaluate an online performance is showcasing a new form of dramatic literacy. This shift presents exciting possibilities. Technology enables us to explore drama in ways that were once unimaginable. Imagine using tablets to create digital storyboards, collaborating with students from around the world on online performances, or analyzing the social and emotional impact of a piece through online surveys, as Thompson (2018) emphasizes. These activities not only en...

  Cognitive criticism offers a valuable lens through which to examine the cognitive and emotional benefits of reading fiction. Readers construct meaning by engaging with fictional narratives, activating various cognitive processes. As Nikolajeva (2014) suggests, this mental exercise stimulates critical thinking, problem-solving, and imagination. Students who delve into a play analyse character motivations, plot developments, and thematic messages. This cognitive engagement enhances their ability to think critically, make inferences, and form connections between disparate ideas. Reading fiction can enhance empathy and emotional intelligence. According to Turner (2024), "reading fiction can improve empathy" (p. 45). By immersing themselves in the lives of fictional characters, readers gain a deeper understanding of human emotions and experiences. This allows them to step outside their own perspectives and view the world through the eyes of others. From a drama teacher’s perspec...

  Last month, I decided to liven up my drama class. We were deeply involved in developing characters for our upcoming school play, and the energy in the class seemed stagnant. So, I introduced a new activity called "Improvisation on the Fly." Students were split into small groups and given a random scenario and a prop (drawn from a hat) to use in a short, improvised scene. The catch was that they had access to iPads loaded with a green screen app, allowing them to create imaginative backdrops for their scenes, turning an empty classroom into a spaceship, a pirate ship, or a bustling marketplace. Reflective Observations: The Power of Play and Technology Witnessing the students' excitement while exploring the green screen possibilities was genuinely inspiring. Their creativity soared as they brainstormed scenes using the props and backdrops. Shy students, who usually remained on the sidelines, came alive, confidently taking centre stage. It was clear that technology, used e...