Essential Drama

Get a dramatic start to the school year!

In the article for TEACH Mag, “Not Extracurricular: The Foundational Benefits of Drama for Middle School Students”, I share two classroom strategies that only take minutes. In it, you will meet Noah, a fifth grader who struggled with traditional academic subjects but commanded the school’s culminating performance as Macbeth.

Your dramatic entry into the school year doesn’t have to be Shakespeare. Any text that has a character will do. Try it with books your students are already reading! Examples used successfully in classrooms include: Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches, Elephant’s Rumble, Erie Canal, Matilda, The Odyssey, Voyage of the Half Moon, The Fighting Ground and so many more. I have many of them as well as additional Shakespeare adaptations in script format for this age group and would be happy to share them upon request.

Best,

P.S. Questions or thoughts to share? Contact me here

Your discount to TEACH Mag

TEACH Mag is offering a 20% off discount to Stage It subscribers! Subscribe to the magazine here and enter discount code StageIt20 at checkout.

Established in 1993, TEACH Mag is a Canadian educational publication for K–12 teachers around the world. They deliver practical, hands-on content covering classroom management, technology, reading, literacy, professional development, and of course drama — empowering educators with tools you can apply in your classrooms.

Is this a dagger which I see before me?

Below are just some of the lines that Noah spoke while mesmerizing the school community. These words follow Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan and are intended to show the depth of Macbeth’s guilt.

Please note that Macbeth is not included in the current Stage It edition. I am happy to make a 40-minute adaptation of Macbeth available to anyone who requests it. Interested educators can reach me here.

Congratulations to Ian Dale

Congratulations to freelance illustrator Ian Dale on his recent interview in Bold Journey. Stage It: Making Shakespeare Come Alive in Schools is fortunate to include several of his custom illustrations!

Built by the Brave follows a young boy on a thrilling adventure through American history. Written by actor, filmmaker and author, Kirk Cameron, with illustrations by Ian Dale. More information | Buy the book on Amazon

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