Union+City+Drama+-+Spring+2012

= ** Teaching Artist: Joel Gori ** = = ** Teachers: Mrs. Sherry Keene and Ms. Dianna Walker ** =

** Art Specialist: Cory Wilkerson **




= First Grade - Mrs. Sherry Keene =

click here for video illustrations of teaching to the learning goals in Mrs. Keene's Class
"I can't say enough wonderful things about my experience with Joel. It has far exceeded my expectations. He is fabulous - skilled, professional, organized, and excellent at his job (I could go on and on here). I let him know what skills need to be covered including vocabulary words and he is always prepared. His lessons are fantastic and always cover what is necessary. In addition, he has worked with them on theater vocabulary and acting skills. The children have loved everything we did. This week (Joel isn't here this week) 5 of the children were putting on a play at recess. They sat down and wrote it, cast parts, had directors - it was awesome. I couldn't believe what they were doing - just listening to their vocabulary and how they were incorporating it into their recess time was amazing. I think we can say it was very successful. Their reading skills and vocabulary skills have improved. Joel and I have logged hours after school planning - it has been great getting his perspective on things. I'd love to work with him again." - Sherry Keene

media type="custom" key="15391202" align="center" Music Credit: Vivaldi's //Autumn// Movement 1 - John Harrison with the Wichita State University Chambers Players

Using storytelling, pantomime and improvisation, teaching artist Joel Gori taught the children how to create a character and remember details and story sequence to reenact a story for each other as an improvised drama. Drama class spilled over into language arts as the children created scripts based on the stories they were learning with their teacher Mrs. Keene, then read the stories aloud.

click here for video illustrating teaching to the learning goals in Mrs. Keene's Class

**Life Skills - Ms. Dianna Walker** "It has been a great experience, I will be honest at first I wasn’t sure what to expect, or how my students would react or how they would handle what Joel would be asking them to do. But after persistence, and a lot of small activities and practice, it really shows. The majority of my students are able to remember and re"act' the story that was told, they are starting to remember the dialogue. Some are even improvising. But the biggest thing I have seen is how they carry it over to their regular day. Today at recess 5 of my students were very involved in an imaginary play and interacting with each other. One was a lion, who was sneaking around, and finding the people. To most people that doesn't seem like much, but usually my students don’t engage in play with each other, and the imaginative isn't very creative. They are also doing very well with their language and communication skills." - Dianna Walker

media type="file" key="3 billy goats gruff - speech (2).mov" width="300" height="300"
 * __Highlights from Ms. Walker's Class:__ **
 * -Moments of us practicing sounds:**

media type="file" key="The new kid- social skills.mov" width="300" height="300"
 * -Moments of us using good social skills:**

media type="file" key="dialogue Terrible Tiger of Kaw-Te.mov" width="300" height="300"
 * -Moments of us using dialogue:**

media type="file" key="following directions- making a big snowball.mov" width="300" height="300"
 * -Moments of us following directions:**

__ Stories- Beginning to End: __


 * - The Terrible Tiger of Kaw-Te**

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 * - The Tree Billy Goats Gruff**

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 * - The Lion and the Mouse**

- **Buying New Shoes** media type="file" key="buying new shoes.mov" width="300" height="300" media type="file" key="The new kid.mov" width="300" height="300"
 * - The New Kid on the Playground**

**Planning Date(s)** 12/19/2012 **Teaching Artist observes:** 1/9/2012 **Residency Dates:** weekdays 1/9/2012 - 1/19/2012 and weekdays 2/6/2012 -2/27/2012 except Feb 20th **Reflection Date** 2/28/2012