Open Forum

Good morning everyone!

I just joined today and am excited about connecting with fellow Theatre teachers. As the subject line states, I'm an elementary theatre teacher ( a rare breed, I know). Would love to know if there any other elementary theatre teachers on here and connect about how you do things in your classroom. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. 

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Nathan Pearce
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Hey, friend! Welcome aboard!

I'm not sure how many other elementary teachers might be on here (it's probably mostly middle and high school), BUT...NC does host it's annual NC Theatre Arts Educator Fall Sharing every September and there are definitely elementary teachers who attend that. You should totally come! It's in Winston-Salem this year, and it will be in Fayetteville next year! I go every year and always leave feeling awesome! :) 

Check it out:  https://www.nctae.com/fallsharing

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Medina Demeter
Hoke County High School
NC
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Nathan, 

I am an Elementary Theatre Teacher in Nashville, TN! Woohoo! It's the best career ever! I have taught Theatre for over 40 years, but just moved to PK-5 4 years ago. Let's definitely connect! 
Mama Craig  craigsm@lipscomb.edu

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Suzanne "Mama" Craig
PK - 5 Theatre
Lipscomb Academy
Nashville, TN
Suzanne.Craig@Lipscomb.Edu
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Hi, Nathan. 

While the Open Forum is a great place for middle and high school teachers, you won't find many elementary school teachers here.  The International Thespian Society that brings most of us here does not have an elementary school component.  

Your contact info says you are in North Carolina, so I'd like to second what Medina has written.  The North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators is a wonderful place to find your people.  I became a member when I moved to NC to teach in 2000, and I attended all but one Fall Sharing between then and my retirement in 2019.  (I was on stage during the one Fall Sharing I missed.)  You'll find workshops presented by fellow Theatre Arts teachers--elementary, middle, and high school--and have time to network with fellow teachers.  The Fall Sharing nurtured me as a teacher, an artist, and a human being.  Winter Focus is also fabulous for nurturing the artist.

The link Medina provided will give you all the information you need to get plans in line for this coming fall.

There is also a Facebook page where many elementary Theatre Arts teachers hang out: Theatre Teacher Lesson Lending.  The FILES tab at the top gives you access to tons of materials people have uploaded.  Unfortunately, the files aren't organized by grade level.  They aren't organized at all.  But if you can find the time this summer to explore there, you'll find some interesting lesson plans and materials.  And there are frequent posts by elementary teachers asking for advice.  The answers are sometimes brilliant.    

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CJ Breland
Retired Theatre Arts Educator
NC
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Thank you so much for the response. I figured I would be one of the few, the proud, the elementary Theatre Arts teacher. Any connection I can make with fellow theatre teachers, no matter the type of school, is important to me. I will definitely be checking out the Fall Sharing event.

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Nathan Pearce
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-06-2024 11:13
From: CJ Breland
Subject: Elementary Theatre

Hi, Nathan. 

While the Open Forum is a great place for middle and high school teachers, you won't find many elementary school teachers here.  The International Thespian Society that brings most of us here does not have an elementary school component.  

Your contact info says you are in North Carolina, so I'd like to second what Medina has written.  The North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators is a wonderful place to find your people.  I became a member when I moved to NC to teach in 2000, and I attended all but one Fall Sharing between then and my retirement in 2019.  (I was on stage during the one Fall Sharing I missed.)  You'll find workshops presented by fellow Theatre Arts teachers--elementary, middle, and high school--and have time to network with fellow teachers.  The Fall Sharing nurtured me as a teacher, an artist, and a human being.  Winter Focus is also fabulous for nurturing the artist.

The link Medina provided will give you all the information you need to get plans in line for this coming fall.

There is also a Facebook page where many elementary Theatre Arts teachers hang out: Theatre Teacher Lesson Lending.  The FILES tab at the top gives you access to tons of materials people have uploaded.  Unfortunately, the files aren't organized by grade level.  They aren't organized at all.  But if you can find the time this summer to explore there, you'll find some interesting lesson plans and materials.  And there are frequent posts by elementary teachers asking for advice.  The answers are sometimes brilliant.    

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CJ Breland
Retired Theatre Arts Educator
NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 6/6/2024 11:20:00 AM
From: Nathan Pearce
Subject: RE: Elementary Theatre

Thank you so much for the response. I figured I would be one of the few, the proud, the elementary Theatre Arts teacher. Any connection I can make with fellow theatre teachers, no matter the type of school, is important to me. I will definitely be checking out the Fall Sharing event.

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Nathan Pearce
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Original Message:
Sent: 6/7/2024 7:38:00 AM
From: Joanna Lewton
Subject: RE: Elementary Theatre

Nathan,

There are actually plenty of Pre K-8th drama/theatre teachers out here- you are not alone at all!

I recommend you join AATE (American Alliance For Theater and Education) if you have not already done this.  They have great resources (curriculum work, articles, PD (in-person and online), affinity groups to join, etc.

I have been a member for years; it is a fantastic organization.

Joanna Lewton

Arts Director
Capital City Public Charter School
100 Peabody Street, NW
Washington DC 20011
202 808 9750
JLewton@ccpcs.org

Celebrating 24 Years of Educational Excellence!

All are welcome and included at Capital City.   We stand with immigrants, refugees, and people of all faiths. We honor all cultures and languages.  We believe that Black lives matter.  We empower girls and women.  We stand with our LGBTQ community members.  We celebrate and support learning differences.  We value the rich diversity of our community.  We help one another. Together we are stronger.

Original Message:
Sent: 6/6/2024 11:20:00 AM
From: Nathan Pearce
Subject: RE: Elementary Theatre

Thank you so much for the response. I figured I would be one of the few, the proud, the elementary Theatre Arts teacher. Any connection I can make with fellow theatre teachers, no matter the type of school, is important to me. I will definitely be checking out the Fall Sharing event.

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Nathan Pearce
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Nathan,

Cory Wilkerson here, I'm the Chief Learning Officer for EdTA.  Welcome!  We have several robust resources for Elementary Theatre Teachers on our Learning Center. 
Just go to the EdTA Learning Center and put "Elementary" in the search engine for lesson plans, professional development webinars for elementary theatre teachers and more. 

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Cory Wilkerson
EdTA chief Learning Officer
Educational Theatre Association
OH
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Consider integrating games like "Freeze" to teach improvisation and quick thinking. Additionally, base skits on familiar stories to boost confidence. Prioritize the learning process over the final performance. 

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Avery Jones
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