Responsibility in Drama Class
January 28, 2004
Mary Jane McElroy, a theater and speech teacher at Weir High School in Weirton, West Virginia
I have taught theater for many years and have sometimes had similar students with behavior/emotional problems in my classes. The first thing I do is try to talk with the student (in the hall or before class) to let him/her know that I care and am interested in him/her. However, I have had the most success by trying to involve these students in physical tasks that give them some responsibility, and for which they can feel successful and important. For instance, I try to give this student little jobs in the classroom to help him/her feel special. Or if we are going to do a play, I will assign the student a small part in the play that I believe he/she can master. Or I will have the student be part of the stage crew or even work in the light booth with supervision. If we are doing a puppet show, I ask him/her to help me assemble our puppet stage and possibly be the MC for the show. I have found that these special students who find some measure of success in the theater take great pride in themselves and will behave for me in the classroom.
Mary Jane McElroy, a theater and speech teacher at Weir High School in Weirton, West Virginia
I have taught theater for many years and have sometimes had similar students with behavior/emotional problems in my classes. The first thing I do is try to talk with the student (in the hall or before class) to let him/her know that I care and am interested in him/her. However, I have had the most success by trying to involve these students in physical tasks that give them some responsibility, and for which they can feel successful and important. For instance, I try to give this student little jobs in the classroom to help him/her feel special. Or if we are going to do a play, I will assign the student a small part in the play that I believe he/she can master. Or I will have the student be part of the stage crew or even work in the light booth with supervision. If we are doing a puppet show, I ask him/her to help me assemble our puppet stage and possibly be the MC for the show. I have found that these special students who find some measure of success in the theater take great pride in themselves and will behave for me in the classroom.
