Literacy through Drama in K-12 Classrooms

About the Program  ·  Instructor  ·  Testimonials  ·  Schedule and Fees  ·  How to Register  ·  Tax Credits  ·  Accommodations for Disabilities  ·   Questions

Learn how to increase students' literacy skills and strategies by integrating drama into your current reading instruction.

When students engage in drama during reading instruction, they make meaning out of texts, engage in deep discussion, and collaborate with peers to show understanding. Based on research and proven classroom practice, this hands-on course will arm teachers with tools to engage students in vocabulary, comprehension and oral reading fluency through texts and dramatic techniques that are accessible and easy to incorporate into the classroom.

The process of drama fosters reading improvement as students become talking statues, collaborate to create a series of frozen images depicting story structure or meaning, get into the mind of the author and characters while on trial and through role plays.

Inherent in theatre arts is the process of reflection and revision. Students become critical thinkers as they analyze what they see and hear in order to make meaning from the text. In short, drama is the vehicle through which teachers and students actively engage in literacy learning.

Readings will be drawn from the following authors:

• Strategies That Work - Stephanie Harvey & Ann Goudvis
• Action Strategies for Deepening Comprehension - Jeffery Wilhelm
• A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension - Lenore Kelner, Rosalind Flynn
• I Read It, But I Don't Get It - Cris Tovani

• Classroom management with drama, e.g., moving desks, volume, focus
• Core theatre concepts and dramatic techniques
• Frameworks for developing dramatic literacy curriculum - the relationship between reading strategies, text, and drama
• Motivation, critical and strategic thinking, listening, responding, collaboration
• Assessment, reflection, revision
• Time to develop and attempt your own dramatic literacy ideas

Gail Frasier is a professional theatre teaching artist working with teachers to integrate drama into reading and content instruction through professional development. Since 2002, Gail has worked with 74 teachers and 1,850 students to implement drama into their classroom learning. For the last 2 years, she has exclusively developed literacy-based dramatic curricula with teachers.

In addition to her work as a teaching artist, she is the Program Manager for ArtsEd Washington - a non-profit organization committed to all students learning in and through the arts by advancing art education through leadership, partnership and communication. She was formerly the Education Director for Book-It Repertory Theatre and graduated from the University of Washington in Curriculum and Instruction: Language, Literacy and Culture.

Testimonials from Second and Third Graders

I think having drama and reading is a blast! You're acting and learning at the same time. ~Jordan

It's fun, interesting and also educational. Reading and drama together makes learning more fun! ~Pavan

It's fun to be taught drama and reading at the same time without knowing! ~Ivy

I really like reading and drama put together. I think it is fun and educating. I would also persuade other teachers to teach their students about it. The students have great fun and the teachers have fun too! ~Kathleen

I think learning reading with drama is challenging and fun. It feels so fun you don't feel like you're learning. ~Alan

It is very fun to learn reading through drama. I strongly recommend using drama and reading together. I think other students would like it too. ~Taliah

I LOVE Drama with Ms. Gail because it's very active with really fun games that any kid would like. ~Peyton

Testimonials from 11th Grade Students, Chief Sealth High School

Now when I am reading I start to picture things in my head, ask questions, and re-read much more.

As I keep reading I will be able to use what I've learned to see the characters views better. Because we did the stuff with the poems and by using tableaux, we could really see what was happening.

Testimonials from Teachers

My fifth graders put more energy into using their reading strategies as they plan how to show story parts through drama. Students practice and develop cooperative skills, gain self-confidence, and learn to be effective communicators through their bodies and voices. We all look forward to theater-arts activities." ~Mary Talevich, St. Louise School, 5th Grade

Unlike some of the professional development courses teachers take, you will leave this one with tangible and practical ideas that you can implement as soon as you return to your classroom. This course has enabled me to integrate drama, social studies, and reading instruction in ways that are thrilling for students as learners, and invigorating for me as a teacher. ~Kelly Feldman, Kennydale Elementary, 3rd Grade

Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., June 23-July 3, 2008; UW Seattle campus

For Credit: EDC&I 495, (registration # 94983), $642, 3 credits.

For Non-credit: EDC&I 300, (registration # 94974), $565, 30 clock hours.

Course registration # 94983 & 94974

• By telephone: Register using VISA or MasterCard by calling 206-897-8939 or 1-800-506-1325, Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

• By mail or fax: Print and mail or fax a registration form.
  
  
• In person:
  
  
  • UW Extension, University District, Seattle
    (Administrative offices for UW Educational Outreach)
    4311 - 11th Ave. NE (see map)

    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

  Parking: Free visitor parking is available in the building garage (entrance on 11th Ave. NE), in stalls marked "UW Educational Outreach."
  
  

Registrants who request to withdraw by March 7, 2008 will receive a full refund minus the $35 registration fee. From March 8 until March 21, registrants requesting to withdraw will receive 50% refund minus the $35 registration fee. No refunds will be granted after March 21, 2008. Withdrawal notices should be sent to: UW Extension Registration Services, 4311-11th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105-4608. Requests can also be placed by calling UW Extension Registration services at: 206-897-8939 or 1-800-506-1325.

Eligible taxpayers may claim a tax credit of up to $2,000 on UW Extension courses. For more detailed information, please refer to IRS Publication 970, "Tax Benefits for Higher Education."

For purposes of the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits, federal law (section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code) requires the University to obtain your Social Security number.

The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation, contact UW Extension at 206-897-8939 or the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 (voice), 206-543-6452 (TTY), 206-685-7264 (fax) or dso@u.washington.edu (e-mail) at least 10 days before the workshop.

For more information about this, please call 206-685-8936, 1-800-506-1325, e-mail certificate@extn.washington.edu.