A study examined two different methods used to increase story comprehension. These methods were implemented using two kindergarten classes from the Secaucus New Jersey Public School District during a 4-week instructional period. The students from one classroom listened to stories proceeded by dramatization. Retelling techniques used were role…

This paper describes a pilot study emphasizing responsive research and incorporating the views of participants into recommendations for future research using classroom videotaping. The study was based on the sociocultural theory of Vygotsky (1978), which emphasizes the importance of an integrated perspective of child language and thought.…

Noting that children's play activities, particularly the development of dramatic scenarios, have been a central focus of developmental-interaction thinking over many decades, this paper explores the emphasis on play and the specific meanings accorded to it within this developmental-interaction tradition. The first part of the paper considers the…

This lesson plan for grade 3 intends for students to use creative dramatics to demonstrate an understanding of three ways a mountain can be formed; students will also explore the effects of elevation on plant and animal life and on weather in the regions on both sides of a mountain. The lesson should take two to four days to implement. It provides…

Results support the use of the Developmental Drama Scale to determine levels of student involvement in developmental drama. From this research, an image emerges of the student highly involved in drama as right-brained with high self-monitoring and acting skills. (PD)

The activities involved in a student production of modern Spanish drama in a University of Toronto course and the links with language learning that make the course a partial language immersion are described. Problems in evaluating the course and student performance are discussed. (MSE)

Demonstrates how having students dramatize a novel from many points of view can help them to understand the work on different levels. (FL)

The author suggests methods of drawing the study of the solar system into every area of the curriculum, thereby capitalizing on the recent outer space craze of movies and television. (KC)

Described are several checklists used in the evaluation of specific teacher competencies appropriate to the field of learning disabilities; and reviewed are a book on nonvocal communication and a guide to drama activities. (DB)

Discusses a project to transform a short story into a play and perform it on stage in order to enhance student understanding of the Japanese cult of obedience and of the political events that led Japan to join the Germans in World War II. The article emphasizes that students become more motivated when they are exposed to subject matter in an…

Interactive Drama for Education and Awareness in the Schools (IDEAS) is an artist-in-residency program designed for classroom use by deaf adolescents and their teachers in urban areas. Using dramatic role playing, sign language, and drama-based teaching methods, the program presents content and provokes discussion in three broad categories:…

This article describes a university affiliated summer program which provided 16 young adults with Williams Syndrome with a creative dramatics program highlighting their language and musical talents. The article discusses the characteristic strengths and weaknesses of people with Williams syndrome, meeting students' interests and learning styles,…

Points out that melodrama can be used as a method for historical research, giving students practice in applying historical methods. Describes an innovative teaching technique in which students learn about slavery by staging a melodrama in the classroom. Gives detailed instructions on designing a melodrama. (GG)

Discusses how large hollow blocks can meet many preschool children's learning needs through creative dramatic play, and also gives some guidelines on how these blocks can be constructed by parents and teachers. (BB)