Thursday Workshops (October 14)
The following options are day-long workshops.
1. Shakespeare Set Free Workshop
Presented by Robert Young and Michael LoMonico from the Folger Shakespeare Library, this session offers an interdisciplinary, text- and performance-based approach to teaching Shakespeare to students of all abilities in grades 3 to 12. Based on the innovative Shakespeare Set Free book series, the workshop embodies the principles that the study of Shakespeare is possible and rewarding for all students, and that the best way for students to understand Shakespeare is to engage with the texts by performing scenes from the plays. The Folger’s practical and active approaches to teaching Shakespeare give teachers the means to help students own the language. Attendees will leave with teaching ideas that they can bring to their classrooms on Monday.
2. Playwriting in the Classroom
This practical hands-on workshop led by Stephen Di Menna, is designed for teachers who want to use playwriting as a teaching tool in the classroom. You’ll learn not only the basics of dramatic writing but also, more importantly, concrete methods of teaching dramatic writing to students of all grade levels. You’ll engage in activities that teach characterization, dialogue, plot, action, script format and uses of language in dramatic writing; and you’ll learn how to awaken and inspire your students’ imaginations and help them discover their voices as writers. Teaching techniques and applications to other curriculum will also be covered.
3. At the Heart of Magic
Led by Bob Barton, this workshop is intended for elementary teachers interested in using storytelling and story-making strategies to enliven their students’ experience of places, situations, actions and characters in the story of Peter Pan, and to encourage students to work together, express their opinions and listen to each other, and create meaning.
4. Rehearse and Recover
Spend the morning delving into the intricacies of Shakespearean text with practical tools and exercises used by professional actors. In the afternoon, treat your voice to the care it deserves. Janine Pearson, Head of Voice and Coaching at the Festival, will teach you exercises used by professional actors that will help you to keep your voice going through your long days in class.
5. You Can Sing, You Can Dance, You Can Draw!
Discover how easy it is to integrate the arts into your language program through exploration of crosscurricular lessons focused on Peter Pan. The lessons are designed to develop students’ knowledge and skills in the arts and their ability to use the arts to understand, explore and communicate feelings and ideas from and about themselves and their multicultural, multimedia environment. Led by Festival artists, this workshop will provide you with a complete unit plan to take back to the classroom. The unit is designed around the Grade 5 language and arts curriculum expectations but can be adapted to any elementary grade level.
Note: at the conclusion of your workshop (approx. 4 p.m.) you have free time to enjoy with colleagues. Why not plan to make dinner reservations? Please be sure to bring your play/drink tickets to the FESTIVAL Theatre for the 8 p.m. show. Join us afterwards for the Reception.
