- Discover how drama-rich pedagogy can engage and empower learners in English, history and literacy.
- Investigate three inclusive and authentically integrated units of work recently developed by the Australian Theatre for Young People.
- Observe flexible video resources modelling a range of rich learning strategies that meet the diverse needs of the primary classroom.
In this session, Robyn Ewing AM and Jacqui Cowell explain and demonstrate how the arts can help students learn and develop English and literacy skills. They say that, as discussed in Peter O’Connor’s keynote, "it’s a superpower".
We begin by taking a look at the new Australian Theatre for Young People drama education program portal, which is centred on developing inclusive literate practices.
Robyn and Jacqui tell us that it’s important to understand how drama-rich processes, like embodiment and enactment, help us to understand who we are. These practices also help us gain a perspective of the ‘other’ in our lives - helping us walk in each other’s shoes.
In short, dramatic practices can help to create deep understanding.
Next, they ask session viewers to take part in a drama exercise for themselves - from the Australian Theatre for Young People’s drama education unit on migration. They us an image from Shaun Tan’s The Arrival (it's on our blog list of authentic texts perfect for older EAL/D learners!) for this exercise, but it would normally be explored in the classroom by using a full, quality text.
"One of the beautiful things about drama is that you can be in the moment with your students." - Robyn Ewing AM
Interested in learning more about drama and literacy? Robyn Ewing co-authored PETAA's teacher reference text: Beyond the Script Take 3: Drama in the English and literacy.