Ms. Talley’s Drama Class Overview

for Parents and Students

     Welcome to Drama! I am very excited to have your child in my class this year and look forward to a fun-filled, productive year of learning. I would like to share with you a bit about my class.

     Students in junior high school think conceptually and explore the notions of cause and effect, time, comparison, and other complex ideas. They develop the logical structures that explain their physical experiences and initiate the capability of abstract problem solving, yet do not consider all of the logically possible outcomes.

     Seventh graders begin to develop theatre literacy. In theatre, the artist creates an imagined world; it is the role of theatre artists to lead the audience into this visual, aural, and oral world. It is important that students learn to see the created world of theatre through the eyes of the playwright, actor, designer, and director. Through active creation of theatre, students learn to understand artistic choices and to critique dramatic works.  Students play a larger role in the planning and evaluation of their work. The emphasis is on helping students use drama with more facility and productivity in daily living and, as a participant or viewer, to incorporate drama into their lives.

      Theatre becomes a part of the student’s experience of life as a whole. With greater emphasis on reading, writing, and performing scripts, students begin to create plays based on peer issues, concerns, and interests using improvisation and collaboration Likewise, they are introduced to plays and experiences that reach beyond their communities to national, international, and historically representative themes. Students come to perceive theatre as a means of pleasure, communication, and learning.

     This class is intended to stimulate and develop unique intellectual and creative abilities of each student through learning and practicing basic theatre concepts. Students will also gain a greater knowledge of self and others and will begin to develop an appreciation of theatre as an art form.

     The required state competencies that students will be taught this year will be the following:

1. Know and understand the creation of improvisations and scripted scenes based on personal experience, heritage, imagination, literature, and history.
2. Develop basic acting skills required to interact in improvised or scripted scenes.
3. Design by developing environments for improvised and scripted scenes.
4. Direct by organizing rehearsals (during class time) for improvised and scripted scenes.
5. Know that individual experiences play a role in constructing meaning from classroom dramatization and from theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions.
6. Develop methods to apply discoveries from research to support classroom dramatizations.
7. Recognize theatre as an important tool to assist in understanding cultures, times, and places.
8. Study theatre and theatre artists in order to appreciate diverse meanings and values of works of art.
9. Determine relationships between theatre, other arts, other subject areas, and everyday life.

     Essentially, my class is offered to seventh grade students as an introduction to the fundamentals of drama and acting. The class will be centered on a variety of theatre games and activities that will require the student to perform individually as well as in small and large groups. Students will also be actively involved in class activities that will incorporate pantomime, oral interpretation, and reader’s theatre. A public performance (either for an elementary or Biloxi Junior High audience) of a short play will serve as the end of the year project. If students progress more quickly, a short performance may be given in December.

     As we work towards becoming more comfortable in front of a group or audience, developing poise and confidence, learning basic acting skills, and becoming familiar with the workings and vocabulary of the theatre, we will cover several exciting units of study. They include:

Pantomime/Theatre Games

Improvisation

Two Person Scenes

Monologues

Voice and Diction

Reader’s Theatre

Characterization

Group Scenes

Critiquing Plays

History of Theatre

Stage Combat 

Note: If parents have any special talents or skills in the topics listed above, please consider sharing your expertise with our class. We welcome your suggestions and are always willing to incorporate a new strategy or learn a new technique. 

The main thing to remember is that this is a performance/participation class. 

Grades for this course will be based on participation, rehearsals in class, performances, discussions, written work, tests, and written play critiques.

 When absent, the drama student must see the teacher regarding make-up work. However, much of what we do is participation and performance, so good attendance is essential.

 Drama students are expected to:

• Treat everyone courteously, being respectful of differences, personal property, etc.
• Follow directions and follow school and class rules and procedures
• Challenge themselves and work with enthusiasm
• Attend regularly, arriving on time, and prepared to work
• Respect the auditorium, classroom stage, props, and classroom surroundings
• Use good sense when preparing a performance
• Have a sense of humor

  Texts and Supplemental Materials:

This class does not have an assigned textbook. We use a variety of materials/scripts depending on the assignment and the number of students in the class. Occasionally, students are expected to choose their own materials from a number of monologue and scene books. We will spend some time discussing appropriateness before and during any such assignment.

At the start of the year, we will be adding items to create a “prop” box for our classroom skits and performances. Props are used for objects of concentration, inspiration of creativity, and serve as a fantastic teaching tool. If you have anything you’d like to contribute from the following list, we welcome your assistance. 

Prop Box Items 

Large square of white fabric (large enough to be a tablecloth, blanket, or garment)

Hats (princess crown, beret, beanie with a spinner on top, a big floppy lady’s hat, etc.)

Men’s ties

A Slinky

Jar of bubbles

Different types of eyeglasses

A hand mirror

Puppets

Bell

Flashlight

Costumes 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me at

435-1421 or via e-mail at toiresa.talley@biloxischools.net.