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Chloe Nordick

DOING LITERACYArt is the literacy of the heart -Elliot Eisner

Does Creative Drama Improve Literacy? Yes It Does! | English Language Curriculum - Where does

Creative Drama fit in? | How does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Reading? | How Does

Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Speaking? | How Does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in

Writing? | How Does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Media Literacy? | Lesson Plans |

Assessing the Students with Creative Drama | References

Does Creative Drama Improve Literacy? Yes It Does!

Literacy involves much more than just reading and writing.

The curriculum document for Elementary Arts states that:

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Literacy is defined as the ability to use language and

images in rich and varied forms to read, write, listen,

view, represent, and think critically about ideas. It

involves the capacity to access, manage, and

evaluate information; to think imaginatively and

analytically; and to communicate thoughts and ideas

effectively. Literacy includes critical thinking and

reasoning to solve problems and make decisions related to issues of fairness,

equity, and social justice. P.51

Creative drama goes hand in hand with improving literacy skills. So why are so

many teachers hesitant to incorporate drama in their English classrooms? Not all

teachers have experience or an abundance of knowledge regarding theatre arts.

However, the reality is that using drama in the classroom does not require a

background in theatre. Creative drama can and should be applied to any area of

curriculum, regardless of the teaching subject. Podlozny stated that classroom

drama is used as a way of supporting the curriculum and is an integral part of the

curriculum. Creative drama improves literacy in all aspects.

The first step in helping a child improve their

literacy skills is to motivate them to learn.

This can easily be accomplished by using

drama as a tool for teaching. The use of

drama as a teaching tool is based on the

simple premise that an involved child is an interested child, and interested child will

learn, and drama directly involves the child (Smith, 1972). Drama provides an

outlet in which students can take risks through performance, explore symbolism in

texts, and express relations to characters and situations. In short, it allows them to

use their feelings, their thoughts, and their imaginations in order to express

themselves, all while improving their language skills. Wagner states that drama has

a positive effect on personal attitudes often associated with language growth: self-

confidence, self-concept, self-actualization, empathy, helping behavior and

cooperation. In an article entitled “Doing Literature: Using Drama to Build Literacy”,

Jennifer Catney McMaster states that:

Drama is an invaluable tool for educators because it is one of the few vehicles of

instruction that can support every aspect of literacy development. Drama

encompasses all four of the language arts modalities and is an effective medium

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for building, decoding, vocabulary, syntactic, discourse, and metacognitive

knowledge. P574

English Language Curriculum - Where does Creative Drama fit

in?

Teachers can no longer use the excuse that

they do not have time to incorporate fun

drama activities into their classroom, it is a

requirement! The Ontario Curriculum

documents for English Language include a

variety of dramatic activities that are labeled

as specific expectations which must be met.

These expectations can be found throughout the curriculum documents for

elementary and secondary grades. This should come as no surprise. The arts

are an integral part of the learning process for students. In fact, English

Language teaching should be labeled as "Arts Infused English Language

Teaching" ! Incorporating drama in the classroom is not only a useful way to get

students excited and interested in learning, it enhances their learning. There are

countless creative drama activities that teachers could use to assist literacy

learning. Below are some specific expectations taken from the grade 7 English

Curriculum document followed by suggestions of fun activities that could be

used in order to meet those expectations. These examples could be used to

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meet the curriculum expectations of any grade in order to help students

improve their literacy skills!

How does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Reading?

CURRICULUM

Language - Grade 7 – Reading – Reading Fluency

OverallExpectations

3. use knowledge of words and cueing systems to readfluently

SpecificExpectations

3.3 read appropriate texts with expression andconfidence, adjusting reading

strategies and reading rate to match theform and purpose (e.g., read in role with

suitable emphasis and phrasing to dramatizea text for an audience)

Research shows that memorization and repetition of a text build vocabulary and

fluency. Not many students enjoy

reading an informational text over and

over nor do they enjoy memorizing

words from a dictionary. However, if

students are offered the opportunity to

present a text in front of their

classmates, they would be eager to

memorize their lines. As well, they would

most likely analyze the text and verify

the meaning of words they are not

familiar with in order to portray the character or idea as accurately as possible.

The students would be building their reading proficiency using creative drama!

The curriculum expectations can be met by using this method for studying

Shakespeare, poems, novels, scripts or any other kind of text used in class.

Allow the students to portray different characters for different audiences.

Personal note: My love for Shakespeare flourished when I was allowed to create

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a full musical representation of Romeo & Juliet in grade 10 and then another

musical for Macbeth in grade 11. We created an original screenplay, original

musical score (including original lyrics!), and an intermission with a dance

number. Give the students the freedom to explore the texts in their own

creative way!

The video below illustrates how students can use a Tableau in order to

demonstrate their comprehension of a text.

How Does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Speaking?

CURRICULUM

Language - Grade 7 – Oral Communication – Purpose

OverallExpectations

2. use speaking skills and strategies appropriately tocommunicate with different audiences

for a variety of purposes;

0:00 / 8:43

A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension: T...

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SpecificExpectations

2.1 identify a range of purposes for speakingand explain how the purpose and

intended audience might influence thechoice of speaking strategies (e.g., to

present conclusions about a research projectthrough dramatization, a role play, or

a monologue; to interest classmates in asocial issue through a debate; to solve

problems or investigate issues and ideasthrough a group brainstorming session)

Oral Communication is a key

component in our ability to make

ourselves understood. Using creative

drama is essential in order to help

students understand the importance

of oral communication and the

various purposes of speech which

determine the choice of words,

intonation, rhythm, and volume one

might use.

In class, students could practice using different styles of speech

which would be appropriate to a given situation. For example,

students could participate in a role playing exercise in situations

where speech would be significant: news broadcast, interview,

presidential campaign, graduation, or wedding ceremony for

example. Or the students could also use the role playing exercise

to portray a character from a novel or short story.

How Does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Writing?

CURRICULUM

Language - Grade 7 – Writing – Form

Overall 2. draft and revise their writing, using a variety of

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Expectations informational, literary, and graphic forms and stylisticelements

appropriate for the purpose and audience

SpecificExpectations

2.1 write complex texts of different lengthsusing a wide range of forms (e.g., a fictional narrative

about a historical event to dramatizematerial studied; a mystery story modelled

on the structures and conventions of the genre)

Some students find it intimidating to write their own texts.

It is often challenging for students to write informational texts or essays. If

students are encouraged to write creative texts,

they can improve their writing skills in a creative

yet effective way. Students can dramatize a

historical event learned in class by writing a

fictional narrative instead of listing facts. Or

students can write stories which reflect

concepts that they have learned in class.

Students can also write scripts, screenplays, or

even create short stories through graphic

novels.

Students

can also

work in groups to develop a story, play, or

any other kind of text. By working in

groups, they develop their organization,

brainstorming, and collaborating skills while

having fun creating a dramatic text.

How Does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Media Literacy?

CURRICULUM

Language - Grade 7 – Media Literacy – Producing Media Texts

Overall 3. create a variety of media texts for different purposes and

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Expectationsaudiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and

techniques

Specific

Expectations

2.1 identify a range of purposes for speaking and explainhow the purpose and intended audience might influence thechoice of speaking strategies (e.g., to present conclusionsabout a research project through dramatization, a roleplay, or a monologue; to interest classmates in a socialissue through a debate; to solve problems or investigate

issues and ideas through a groupbrainstorming session)

Using Creative Drama is a great approach

for students to better understand Media

Literacy. Students can learn how to

understand and decode various types of

media through drama activities like role

play, class debate, presentations, or even

creating their own advertisement or show

to demonstrate purposes of speaking,

points of view, and target audiences. There

are many class activities which could incorporate creative drama in regards to

media. Students could make a film or commercial, a news broadcast (live or on

video), or demonstrate a live political debate.

Lesson PlansHere is a sample of Lesson Plans taken from LessonPlansPage.com that use drama in

order to improve literacy :

Title - Using Drama to Improve Language & Literacy

By - Pat Lavigne

Primary Subject - Language Arts

Grade Level - K - 6

Suggested Time - 60 minutes each

Using Drama to enhance Language and Literacy

Lesson Plan to Act Out a Story Read as a Group

recall portions of a story,

act out portions of a story,

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illustrate portions of a story,

improve reading comprehension, and

improve reading fluency.

Lesson Plan to Create a New Story

recall portions of a story,

act out portions of a story,

illustrate portions of a story,

improve reading comprehension, and

improve reading fluency.

1. What is the basic theme of the story -- create a title that depicts this.

2. What is the problem? To help determine the problem with kindergarten and first grade

students, you may have to cue. Asking "What happened? UH OH!!! What

happened?" will usually generate great problems. Add this to the 3rd block in the k/1

story plan.

3. What is the solution,

4. What events introduce the characters,

5. What events help solve the problem,

6. How does the story end?

7. Write all of this on the chalk board, white board or overhead -- to enhance student

participation, have students write this out. Using overhead transparencies assist

small groups in developing their play because they can take the overhead for their

group play into their small groups for the small group work. For older children, walk

through as a group a story then have students write a play in small groups with a

graphic organizer.

Assessing the Students with Creative Drama

Here are some suggestions on how you can incorporate the use of creative

drama to effectively assess your students.

Assessments during activities in class:

Role Play: assess their understanding of characters or themes in novels or

poems

Improvisation: assess their ability to vary the form of language used

depending on various situations and audiences

Monologue or Dialogue presentation: asess their understanding of

Shakespeare

Dramatization of a Poem: assess ability to interpret poems

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Assessments for Units:

Newsbroadcast: assess their understand of point of view used in the

media

Writing a screenplay: assess their knowledge of an event or era studied in

class

Dramatization of a Research Project: assess their understanding of a

particular topic

Creative Project for Poems/Shakespeare: assess their ability to interpret

texts

References

Dale S. Rose, M. P. (2000). Imagery-Based Learning: Improving Reading Comprehension with Drama

Techniques. The Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 94, No. 1 , 55-63.

Mcmaster, J. C. (1998). 'Doing' Literature:Using drama to build l iteracy. The Reading Teacher, Vol. 51,

No.7 , 574-584.

Morton, B. K. (1973). Creative Drama - A Visit to Class. The English Journal, Vol. 62, No. 4 , 622-627.

Roe, E. P. (1977). Creative Drama Builds Proficiency in Reading. The Reading Teacher, Vol. 30, No. 4 , 383-

387.

Stewig, J. W. (1972). Creative Drama and Language Growth. The Elementary School Journal, Vol. 72, No. 4 ,

176-188.

Vail, J. W. (1985). The Relation between Creative Drama and Oral Language Growth. The Clearing House,

Vol. 58, No. 6 , 261-264.

Will iams, P. A. (1947). Creative Reading. The English Journal, Vol. 36, No.9 , 454-459.

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Lesson Plans Page

Does Creative Drama Improve Literacy? Yes It Does! | English Language Curriculum - Where does

Creative Drama fit in? | How does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Reading? | How Does

Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Speaking? | How Does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in

Writing? | How Does Creative Drama Build Proficiency in Media Literacy? | Lesson Plans |

Assessing the Students with Creative Drama | References