I hope all of you had a fantastic winter break and holiday season! What a year it has been. I have a feeling 2016 is going to be great!  All middle school classes this week talked about what they did over break. I was going to have them write in their DDD but decided it would be fun to rehearse our skills.  I sent a group of students outside while the audience members were told what to look for.  I usually remind my students to project, have good articulation, use gestures, show emotion on their faces, make eye contact etc. but this time I did not say a thing. It was a good experiment. I want my students to start speaking in front of an audience naturally without me having to remind them.  We than had a discussion as to what could have done better and what they did well.

In fifth grade we almost finished blocking for “Lewis and Clark”. Please help your children with their lines.  They were supposed to be memorized in class this week and quite a few kids still needed to look at their scripts. We only have a couple of weeks until our informance. Sharon Rockhill will be sending more information about that! An Informance is when we invite you to come and watch. It is NOT a final product, but more of an opportunity to see what we do in class. It is work in progress. I believe learning along the process is more important than a final product.   Please also help your children learn their cues. They need to know who speaks before their line 🙂

In Sixth grade we started our mime unit! I love this unit! I really focus on how important body language is.  I want my students to familiarize themselves with their facial expressions depending on their emotion.  Some of my students say that they are mad, when performing a scene but won’t  look it.  Actors need to show how they are feeling and that is in the body…posture, gestures, and expressions.  I had my students mime an activity they did over break! It was really a fun exercise. Their other classmates had to guess what it was.  We also went through the main rules of mime.  Ask your children to tell you what they learned in class. I asked them to go home and memorized heights, sizes, and weights of things in their houses.  In order to mime you have to know these things to look believable on stage.

In Seventh grade we started our Shakespeare unit! Seventh graders will be performing “Twelfth Night”! I am really looking forward to this. In class we talked about the language of Shakespeare and how different it is from the way we talk and phrase sentences. I gave all my students a packet of Shakespeare speeches and insults to start to practice at home. Ask you children to read some out loud to you! The more comfortable they are the more confidence they will have during their audition in a couple of weeks, which will be a cold reading.

In Eighth grade we are working on our monologue unit! Each student is to choose a monologue and have it memorized and ready to perform in class in a couple of weeks. Please help your children with memorization at home. I will help them with the process in class. They will be using this monologue to audition for “The Little Mermaid” on January, 26th.  They will also sing and do a cold reading from the script.  We talked about what makes a good monologue and how they should go about choosing an appropriate one!

sFifth graders this week worked on some improvisation.  We talked about how important improvisation is not only in drama class but in daily life. It can help you think on your feet, problem solve, lean how to ask good questions and practice being a good listener so that you can react appropriately .  In class, each student had to talk about a couple of events that happened over fall break. They had to concentrate on projection, articulation and inflection. I also asked everyone to try to show expression on their faces and show emotion with their arms and hands. I was impressed with how well everyone did! Especially not having a script! We will continue to block for “Lewis and Clark”this coming week!

Sixth and Seventh graders this week wrote a constructive review about their individual performance, as well as how they did as a group.  They had to mention a few things they did well and a few things they can do better next time they perform.  Each class also had a game day! Before I start another unit, I like to play drama games for a class period! Students love it!  Sixth and Seventh graders took a vocabulary quiz their second period of the week! These vocabulary words were kept in students Dotoli Drama Diaries all first trimester.  

Eighth graders this week had a game day! Before I start a unit I like to reward the kids with a game day and they love it! Eighth graders also took a  vocabulary quiz on first trimester words. They documented these words  in their Dotoli Drama Diaries.  In Eight grade flex we talked about all of the different crew options for the musical. It was exciting to start the process!  I loved hearing all of the  brainstorming that has already started. 

Fifth grade- In fifth grade students have continued to warm up with tongue twisters and vowel sounds. We focus on our diaphragm breathing, body position, and mouth formation so that our vowels our properly  vocalized.  Students have been physically warming up with isolation moves.  The rest of the class has been blocking for “Lewis and Clark”! Blocking is the position students stand for each scene including entrances and exits.  

Congrats to my sixth and seventh graders for having a successful Scene Night! I was very proud of all of my students for their hard work, dedication and having the courage to get up there in front of an audience.  Way to go! Thank you parents for your support.  I know your children love having you in the audience! In class we cleaned up and put away props, costumes and set pieces.  We then had a discussion in class about what students did well and what we need to improve on next time.  We then watched our scenes in class! Each student will write a review in their journals about themselves, as well as how they think their group did overall.  We talked about constructive criticism and how it can only make us do better next time and grow as a performer.

Eighth Grade-In class students have been brushing up their improvisation skills with scene partners.  This last week we focused on solo improvisations.  Each student had to get up in front of their classmates and perform for their final.  I gave each student a scenario. They had to follow my directions and problem solve in as many different ways as possible in order to accomplish their obstacle.  Some students had more physical scenarios and some had more psychological.  I was impressed with how well the eighth graders did! Their inner monologues were basically becoming outward monologues.

Happy Thanksgiving and fall break to all. Have a happy, safe and relaxing week!

It’s Scene Night time! Sixth and Seventh graders will be performing their scenes this coming Wednesday, November 11th, at 6:00 pm in the gym and on the stage. Please come to support one another! 

Sixth and Seventh graders please make sure to read the email I sent to you on Wednesday. Please let me know if you have any questions.

It is also Veteran’s day.  Please join us on Wednesday November 11th, at 9:45 on the playground for a brief assembly.

Eighth graders have all finished their Freeze Walk assignments and have performed and directed their classmates. this week we started our Improvisation Unit, which will take us to the end of the trimester.  In 8th grade, my students work on partner and solo improvisation.  This week students brushed up their  skills with partners and had realistic scenarios to perform in front of the class!

Fifth graders have begun to think about their characters for “Lewis and Clark” We discussed that they must walk and talk like when they become their character.  We started to try some things in class to see if it felt right depending on the character one was playing. We practiced  posture, rhythm of speaking , body language,mannerisms  and actions to see how we were going to make our characters look and act differently then ourselves.  We also talked about “stage business” and what that means to the actor. Just because a character isn’t speaking on stage doesn’t mean one stops acting.  “Acting is Doing” so it is the students responsibility to “show” the audience through actions and activities on stage what it is they want the audience to know. During our warm-up this week students articulated and projected a Halloween tongue twister for me. Physically students followed my choreography/movement to music. I wanted to see how well they followed directions and how well they could move! They all did great! Happy Halloween!

Sixth and Seventh graders have been working on characterization the last couple of weeks.  Students were supposed to think about how their character speaks, dresses, walks, and moves.  They had to write down their characters personality traits, mannerisms, behaviors and come up with  a little history . Where were they born, how old is their character, is it a modern day scene or from a different time period?  Students also must be off- book (memorized) this week.  We only have a  few more class periods before scene night so please make sure you children are meeting outside of class with their scene partners and rehearsing.

Now that my students have a description of what their character looks like; it is time for costumes and props! Students are able to check out costumes an props during class. Many students will already have their costume at home. A great way to find a costume that is not very expensive is thrift stores!! I don’t want anyone spending a lot of money on scene night costumes.  We can always find something at home, in the costume room or create it!  

I have expressed to all of my students that I don’t want them wearing what they wore to school that day for a costume during scene night.   It is important the feel like they are becoming someone else, their character, and changing costume/clothes can help with this.  Make-up is not mandatory. It is a choice and should be done at home beforehand.  

Call time for 6th and 7th graders on November 11th is 5:15 pm.  I like to have everyone come at the same time so that they can check their set pieces and props. Students will also make sure they are in costume and talk to their scene partner(s) about any last things they may want to share.  I will also do a brief warm-up to get everyone ready mentally, vocally and physically! Happy Halloween!

Eighth graders have continued to perform their freeze walks as well as participate in their classmates freeze walks! It has been wonderful seeing every ones different  interpretations and how well they are listening to each other.

In Fifth grade, students had their cold reading audition for “Lewis and Clark”. They all did such a great job! It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of you classmates and audition.  Each student was handed a cast list with character descriptions.  They needed to come to class prepared to audition for a character of their choice.  Students had to  read a line from the “Lewis and Clark” script.  They were then asked to attach an emotion that I gave to them and read that same line again.   I was paying attention to projection and articulation.   I was also looking for some kind of action and expression when they read their line as well.  I teach my students that their are no small parts only small actors.  I want every student to know that is isn’t about how many lines you have; it is about how one presents themselves  on stage. Acting can be physical too and just because someone may not have a speaking line doesn’t mean they aren’t just as important as someone who does.    Please congratulate your children! I gave them all a cast list so that they can show you at home!

Sixth and Seventh graders have been working on their script analysis for Scene Night on November 11th at 6 pm! They were asked to highlight their characters lines, underline accent words, (which are the words that have more importance and emphasize when they are speaking) and show where their beat changes in their script.  Students also had to come up with an objective (goal) for their character and mark it in their script every time it changed.  Along with that, they needed to write down their characters motivation (How are they going to accomplish this goal). Lastly they were to write what their characters moment before is.  This is so the act or knows what happened before the scene that are going to perform. It gives the character a little more purpose.  This is something that the used their imaginations for a made up.  At the same time it had to make sense with the scene they are going to perform.  Our next step is blocking and memorization.  Please help your children at home with their lines.  They need to be off book by their class time the week of October 26th.  I have told all sixth and seventh graders that class time is not enough rehearsal time.  They must rehearse at home and try to get together with their classmates a couple of times outside of class. I have also offered Wednesday flex period to help with scene work!

Eighth graders have been working on presenting their “Freeze Walks”.  The eighth graders each get a chance to play “director”.  They stand up in front of their classmates and read their freeze walk into a microphone.  Their classmates must follow direction and mime what ever is read to them.  So far it has been really great to see all of the different ideas and creations they come up with.   This teaches my students to really listen and respond/react physically.  When miming, students are much more focused on their expression and bodies.  Physical acting is just as important and I am really starting to see that in class!

I just wanted to thank those of you who met with me for conferences. It was a pleasure sitting down and discussing your fantastic children with you. I am so grateful that I can to teach them every week in Drama class.  It was also great meeting new parents that I haven’t met before.  If you were not able to meet with me and you still wanted to, please make sure to email me and we can set something up or have a phone conversation.

Just a reminder that  6th and 7th grade  Scene Night is November 11th at 6pm! Would love to see you all there and bring whomever you would like to watch your children perform. 8th graders and parents and children of Quest Academy, the door is always open to you too as well!

Fifth graders have been getting ready for their “Lewis and Clark” auditions.  In class students practiced their diaphragm breathing.  We talked about the importance of breathing properly in order to project properly.  In class we also talked about articulation or “chewing our words” when we speak.  We also played a warm-up game called “Zip Zap Zop”. The fifth graders worked on eye contact, concentration, listening skills and  being direct with their movements! I was proud of how well they did!  We also talked about what is means to have a good audition.  A cold reading will be the type of drama audition fifth graders  will have for “Lewis and Clark”. This is when the student stands up in front of their classmates and reads a line from the script. I will also ask students to say the line with a specific emotion.  This takes a lot of courage to do and I am proud of all of my fifth graders! 

Sixth graders this week have continued their physical warm-ups and tongue twisters at the beginning of class. This week students were assigned their scene partners for scene night. Just a reminder scene night performance is November 11th at 6 pm in the gym.  See you all there!  Students have also been working hard to find a scene this week.  I think it is important students pick something that they want to do so that they are invested and have confidence to perform.   Sixth graders have a choice to do a drama, comedy, tragedy, horror, or Shakespeare.  I have many different books and scripts that they looked through this week in class. If students are not able to find one, I will then choose a scene for them!

Seventh graders this week have continued their physical warm-ups and tongue twisters at the beginning of class. Last week students got to choose  scene partners for scene night. Just a reminder scene night performance is November 11th at 6pm in the gym.  See you all there!   Students have also been working hard to find a scene this week.  I think it is important students pick something that they want to do so that they are invested and have confidence to perform. Seventh graders can choose a scene from a book, Television show, movie, tragedy, horror, comedy or a musical! Seventh graders are also allowed to write their own script if they choose to do so. I am looking forward to seeing what students choose!

Eighth graders have continued their physical warm-ups and tongue twisters at the beginning of class.  They also have continued to journal in their DDD’s.  We have been working on listening and following directions in class. I will take the class through many different scenarios and the eighth graders use their imagination to  act it out. Everything is done in mime so they really have to focus on their bodies and expressions.  It was so wonderful to see all of the different interpretations students had.  Each eighth grader will have the opportunity to  direct the classmates by taking them through this same exercise that they write on their own. I look forward to hearing everyone’s creative ideas!  

Thanks to all that attended Meet the Teacher Night! If you were not able to come please let me know and I can send you some information! 

It has been a great start to the school year!  Students have walked into class with excited faces and a positive attitudes.  Students all seemed refreshed and optimistic about their upcoming school year! It has been a pleasure to hear about what your children have done over the summer!  It sounds like a lot of adventures, traveling, summer camps and relaxing!  

In 5th grade we started to talk about classroom rules and expectations.  This is a transition year for students and I want to make sure your children feel safe and comfortable in the environment they are in.    Drama is a great place to learn daily skills; such as projecting, articulating, focusing on eye contact, know how to have a conversation, and how important it is to listen and respond appropriately.   I want students to feel like they can try new things and take risks in my classroom without being judged.  This week we started to play some ensemble games.

In sixth grade we talked about our year ahead and gave an improvisational speech about our summer.  This helped students brush up on their public speaking skills. Students had to pay attention to projection, articulation, gestures and how well they told their story. We also played some ensemble games for some ice breakers! Students also started their vocabulary words in their DDD (Dotoli Drama Diaries) as well as standing up in front of their classmates to warm-up vocally with tongue twisters. 

In Seventh grade we talked about what to expect in drama this year.  Students got up in front of their classmates and talked about their summers, focusing on blocking, eye contact, projection and articulation.  Seventh graders also brushed up on their improvisation skills  in class.  We also reviewed some ensemble games to get a mind and body ready for the day.  This week students started their vocabulary in their DDD (Dotoli Drama Diary) as well as warmed up vocally with tongue twisters. 

In Eighth grade students have started to warm up to music in the beginning of class.  They get to choose 3 things their classmates must do during the song.  An example would be to move like Rain, raking leaves, moving through honey.  Everyone did a great job using their imagination and changing their positions and levels during their song.  Students started their weekly journal entries as well as keep their vocabulary words in their DDD (Dotoli Drama Diary). Vocally students warmed up with tongue twisters as well as getting up in front of their classmates and talking about what they did over summer.  I made sure to focus on projection, articulation, blocking, inflection, eye contact, keeping their audience engaged and how well they told their story.   They all did a great job and it was so fun hearing about what they did!