“Lots of good advice for the new theatre teacher.” — Ralph Janes, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
“This is an excellent and comprehensive overview of the complex role of the secondary theatre educator. The improvements from the first edition are vast.” — Jackie deMontmollin, University of Houston
170 pages, $27.95 list
1-4786-3231-3
978-1-4786-3231-3
© 2017
paperback
eBook availability
Also by
Jim Patterson
Jim Patterson
Theatre in the Classroom, Grades 6-12
Methods and Strategies for the Beginning Teacher
Second Edition
This latest edition, Theatre in the Classroom, Grades 6–12, equips prospective theatre teachers with key instructional methods and proven strategies for student learning. Building on the previous edition’s strengths, Patterson extensively modified and updated the entire text, incorporating the most recent theatre standards by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards.
This indispensable guide, whose theoretical and philosophical underpinnings and practical classroom applications endow it with a lifetime of use, includes ideas for resource portfolios, checklists, rubrics, and other assessment tools. Of additional value are discussions concerning managing the classroom, linking school play production with classroom learning, and recognizing and responding to classroom diversity. Patterson details important considerations and resources for planning productions, ranging from those available from professional organizations to those found within the community to those generated by students. He believes theatre learning must go beyond the study and performance of established play scripts and stresses the importance of productions written, directed, designed, and managed by students.
End-of-chapter sections include: “Extension Activities”—ways to help prospective teachers further explore the subject in the college-level methods course; “Stay Connected”—websites for additional resource and research materials; and “Professional Development”—suggestions for expanding personal and career development.
This indispensable guide, whose theoretical and philosophical underpinnings and practical classroom applications endow it with a lifetime of use, includes ideas for resource portfolios, checklists, rubrics, and other assessment tools. Of additional value are discussions concerning managing the classroom, linking school play production with classroom learning, and recognizing and responding to classroom diversity. Patterson details important considerations and resources for planning productions, ranging from those available from professional organizations to those found within the community to those generated by students. He believes theatre learning must go beyond the study and performance of established play scripts and stresses the importance of productions written, directed, designed, and managed by students.
End-of-chapter sections include: “Extension Activities”—ways to help prospective teachers further explore the subject in the college-level methods course; “Stay Connected”—websites for additional resource and research materials; and “Professional Development”—suggestions for expanding personal and career development.
Reactions
1. National Theatre Standards: Arts Learning Undergoes Change
1994 Standards / Significant Changes Demanded / 2014 Standards / 2014 Theatre Standards: Grades 6 through 12 / Suggestions / Key Terms / Document the Teaching of Standards
2. Planning: Think Forward—Plan Backward
School Planning / The School Calendar and Planning / Curriculum Planning / Course Planning / Unit Planning / Daily Lesson Planning / Plan for Supervisors / Plan for Substitutes / Plan with Parents / Play Production Scheduling / Monitoring and Adjusting the Plan
3. Plans Become Action: The Teacher in the Classroom
Teaching Methods and Learning Activities / Teacher-Centered Methods / Student-Centered Methods / Four Additional Student-Centered Learning Activities / Some Teaching Strategies
4. Managing the Classroom: Procedures and Expectations
Before Students Enter the Classroom / Establish Procedures when Students Enter the Classroom / The Teacher's Behavior in a Well-Managed Classroom / Managing Student Behavior / Plagiarism / Diversity Issues Impact Classroom Management
5. Assessment: Determining What Students Know
Measurement / Evaluation / What to Assess? / Why Assess? / Assessing Performances, Design Projects, Playwriting, Improvisations, and Similar Activities / Assessing Intellectual Progress: Objective and Essay Tests / Check and Double-Check / Content Validity and Test Reliability
5. Cross-Curricular Teaching: Assisting Discovery
Five Student-Centered Horizontal Projects / Challenges Inherent in Project-Based Assignments / The Teacher and the School
7. School Productions: Philosophical Considerations
Discover What's Happened Before / Production Philosophy / Involve Students / Production Constraints: Censorship / Long-Range Plans for the School Theatre Program / Revisit Choices
8. School Productions: Practical Considerations
Copyright Considerations / Space Considerations / Scheduling and Planning Considerations / Financial and Other Resource Considerations / Directing Considerations
9. Teacher Resources: Discovering the Possible
Classroom Material / Professional Organizations / Books, Journals, and Related Sources / Community Resources
10. Putting the Pieces Together: Why Teach Theatre?
What Can Young People Gain from Theatre Education? / What Qualities Will the Theatre Teacher Bring to Students?
Appendix A: Sample Audition and Rehearsal Communication Documents
Appendix B: Response Form for Play Selection
Appendix C: Rubric: Resource Portfolio Rubric
1994 Standards / Significant Changes Demanded / 2014 Standards / 2014 Theatre Standards: Grades 6 through 12 / Suggestions / Key Terms / Document the Teaching of Standards
2. Planning: Think Forward—Plan Backward
School Planning / The School Calendar and Planning / Curriculum Planning / Course Planning / Unit Planning / Daily Lesson Planning / Plan for Supervisors / Plan for Substitutes / Plan with Parents / Play Production Scheduling / Monitoring and Adjusting the Plan
3. Plans Become Action: The Teacher in the Classroom
Teaching Methods and Learning Activities / Teacher-Centered Methods / Student-Centered Methods / Four Additional Student-Centered Learning Activities / Some Teaching Strategies
4. Managing the Classroom: Procedures and Expectations
Before Students Enter the Classroom / Establish Procedures when Students Enter the Classroom / The Teacher's Behavior in a Well-Managed Classroom / Managing Student Behavior / Plagiarism / Diversity Issues Impact Classroom Management
5. Assessment: Determining What Students Know
Measurement / Evaluation / What to Assess? / Why Assess? / Assessing Performances, Design Projects, Playwriting, Improvisations, and Similar Activities / Assessing Intellectual Progress: Objective and Essay Tests / Check and Double-Check / Content Validity and Test Reliability
5. Cross-Curricular Teaching: Assisting Discovery
Five Student-Centered Horizontal Projects / Challenges Inherent in Project-Based Assignments / The Teacher and the School
7. School Productions: Philosophical Considerations
Discover What's Happened Before / Production Philosophy / Involve Students / Production Constraints: Censorship / Long-Range Plans for the School Theatre Program / Revisit Choices
8. School Productions: Practical Considerations
Copyright Considerations / Space Considerations / Scheduling and Planning Considerations / Financial and Other Resource Considerations / Directing Considerations
9. Teacher Resources: Discovering the Possible
Classroom Material / Professional Organizations / Books, Journals, and Related Sources / Community Resources
10. Putting the Pieces Together: Why Teach Theatre?
What Can Young People Gain from Theatre Education? / What Qualities Will the Theatre Teacher Bring to Students?
Appendix A: Sample Audition and Rehearsal Communication Documents
Appendix B: Response Form for Play Selection
Appendix C: Rubric: Resource Portfolio Rubric