It is challenging!
I've done devised theatre as a participant with adults, and as a teacher with high school and now middle school students. Balancing the amount of discussion with the amount of 'doing' is a challenge with all ages.
Middle school students really want to have their say, so I often use large sheets of paper and graffiti style for brainstorming, comments, pros/cons, questions to explore, "What do we know? What do we want to find out?" and more. I also use exit tickets - share an idea, voice an opinion ... whatever the focus is at that time. I can read the exit tickets outside of class time, and can be ready to present them with a decision (I keep more artistic control with middle school than I used to with high school), the results of their vote, or a narrowed-down choice ready for a vote. Both of these methods help to cut down on the discussion time, while still allowing all students to express their ideas.
And I, too, strictly enforce one speaker at a time and hand raising. If they have been talking for a long time and I want to move them on, I will clearly say: "Three more comments, let's hear from people who haven't spoken yet." Then I stick to it (usually!).
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Kristin Hall
Drama Director
Lincoln Public Schools
Arlington MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-12-2015 02:22
From: Heathe Stecklein
Subject: Managing Student Collaboration?
I always have set rules that are implemented from day 1 and posted in my room, the most important of which is one microphone (only one person speaks at a time and I require hands). I also go over rehearsal etiquette where we discuss appropriate times for questions and ideas v. inappropriate times and questions. For group projects and rehearsals, my students complete group work contracts which sets up expectations for collaboration is rehearsals or script writing. If group members don't follow the guidelines, they can be fired by their group members and have to do an independent project. hope some of this helps.
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Heathe Stecklein
Theatre Director/Teacher
Aurora CO
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2015 22:57
From: Elizabeth Simmons
Subject: Managing Student Collaboration?
Lots of things we do in class and rehearsal are devised, and while I want students input and creativity, they often speak without raising hands, speak over eachother, and basically turn an organic process into chaos. How can I be open to their ideas while still maintaining control as a teacher and my vision as a director? Usually because we spend so much time discussing, I end up shutting the ideas down just so we can see SOMETHING fleshed out that I had in mindbefore stopping again to discuss it.
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Elizabeth Simmons
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Elizabeth Simmons
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