Open Forum

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Will anything on the EdTA Click to Teach resources work for you? They also have some options for Drama Choice Boards.

Do you have a subscription to Drama Teacher Academy? They have tons of resources, and I think their Emergency Sub plans would give you a lot of options.

If you're having trouble finding any of these resources, shoot me a message, and I'll see what I can rustle up for you. 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Will anything on the EdTA Click to Teach resources work for you? They also have some options for Drama Choice Boards.

Do you have a subscription to Drama Teacher Academy? They have tons of resources, and I think their Emergency Sub plans would give you a lot of options.

If you're having trouble finding any of these resources, shoot me a message, and I'll see what I can rustle up for you. 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas? 

Hey there-

Tough class. I have had to go paper/pencil route as well because of the student situation in the room.

For a quick fix, I have used ChatGPT- work smarter, not harder…  choose a topic and ask ChatGPT create an article however many pages long you want and then ask chat to create questions or guided notes on the created article of choice. You can even ask chat to create a certain number of questions and use Blooms Taxonomy questions. You can do this all paper and pencil OR have students answer the questions on your tech platform so students have to submit. Topics of choice- anything that works for you! 

Another idea, drawing from the above, record yourself reading the article while students wear earphones and follow along. Then students can stop your recording and answer questions along the way.

I needed something for my students to immediately do when they walked in the room to immediately establish a norm of quiet… I use bookwidget.com and create a jigsaw puzzle of an image of choice, usually an image that has something to do with my lesson of the day… I also create a word search or crossword puzzle on the same site to reinforce theatre vocabulary. My district used Schoology- super easy to post. My students love this as they settle into class and while I am taking attendance or whatever.

Another idea that I will be implementing this month is something I am calling a Script Scavenger Hunt. This will take more time for me to prepare, but I am excited about it. First, I am using the same script for my class because of prep time, but one could use multiple titles. I will be coming up with specific questions that pertain to the script on a worksheet and/or post it as an assignment on my platform, then again, students have to submit and I do not have to bring home papers to grade. Questions will be along the lines of 1) characters and who says what… 2)props needs for a certain scene 3) what page does a certain scene begin 4) how do certain relationship change from beginning to end ETC….  Whatever your goals are ….

Finally, come up with a list of theatre jobs and students choose which job s/he wants to do do research on. Students will create a PPT. I have had to be very specific and establish criteria for each slide: for example, slide 1: first and last name, Title, date, image. Slide 2: topic, definition, image. ETC… if you run out of ideas for what to cover on slides… ask ChatGPT to inspire you. My students loved the tech piece to this! 

Anyway, I hope this has given you more ideas that you may use or this acts as a springboard of more ideas you may create.

i am really enjoying reading everyone's responses to your questions. I will def be implementing some of them. This is such great collaboration among all of us. Thank YOU!

Hello all

I'm looking for resources (and I can't believe I'm asking this). I have a class that is literally out of control. Every kid in that class has been suspended for fighting (except four) and they are not capable of emotionally regulating enough to perform or even be an audience.  I need suggestions for a "pencil/paper" theatre course for them to reset the room. I have no textbook or resources available.  They literally need worksheets or something along those lines.

I'm objectively looking for written theatre work that I can use to reset them. NOT suggestions for classroom management. I've been doing this a LONG time, had all the restorative training, have talked to parents numerous times, and I guarantee I've tried everything you can name. Most of them in this class  have been expelled from other schools. This was a combination of kids that was not supposed to be put together. Theatre games, improv, tech design and scene work have all been unsuccessful. They cannot emotionally regulate enough to listen to instruction, take feedback or be an audience.  I've done the Focus Five work. They refuse to participate and simply say "I don't care if I fail". The administration cannot offer support so I'm on my own. 

I need something ASAP to get through to January so I can reset. We have block periods so I have them for 85 minutes. They are decent readers but reading a play will probably not be sustainable since they can't be an audience. 

ANY ideas?