This is our story... By Daphne Said REFLECTION …isn’t it just for DP Theatre students?! Of course we, as artists and educators, all know why we carry out a specific warm-up, why we lead an ensemble through a series of exercises to guide them into the discovery phase and at the end of class or a workshop we undoubtedly find that moment of silence. We look back and question why certain moments were special, why
and she finds different ways for the students
some seemed rather flat and we take some ‘notes
to communicate that. Using the emoji stick or
to self’ on how we would run it differently next
colouring sheet or images they are already familiar
time. At this point we also make some interesting
with gives them the confidence to get involved.
discoveries about the group we are working with…
They have the opportunity to pass a comment
Basically we constantly reflect about our work and
verbally or in
we do this because we are perpetual learners with
written form,
a desire to grow, improve and discover new ways of
thus playing
approaching a task.
between the impulsive
But why do some or most of our students find it
reaction after
difficult, especially at the start of the year to apply
a task and
this technique? They look at us with incredulous
the more
faces when we ask them excitedly, to write their
thoughtful one that comes with writing. A
thoughts in their journal, to reflect about this
technique that is being used all the way from
exercise, to highlight their discoveries. Every year I
Grade 2 to Grade 8 is creating one guiding question
used to start with small tasks with my DP 1 theatre
for the students to answer at the end of the class.
class to guide them in their reflections and every
With the older grades, our secondary drama
year I faced a brick wall that tended to dampen the
teacher, Sara, also introduced statements for them
energy rather than, as I envisaged, spark further
to react to and this has been a great way to prepare
explorations and ignite small flames that developed
them for the high school drama classes. It has
into creative work.
encouraged students to respond to stimuli and share their responses and in the process make new
So, as a department we decided to put our heads
connections within the class.
together and start this process earlier! It was being done but in a haphazard way and there were gaps that we needed to address. This is our story: One that we are still developing and fine-tuning but a story that is already leaving a positive impact on our students. In elementary, as early as PK1, Martina, our highly energetic and creative Drama teacher took on this challenge and implemented a moment of reflection in all her classes! In the earlier years the focus is about how the task ‘Makes You Feel’
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