We have found success through our core text exploration programme. We work closely with class teachers to gain the knowledge and understanding of each core text subject in order to provide alternate learning methods.
Once we have a synopsis and character breakdowns provided by teachers we can then create bespoke lesson plans which we spread over the term or just teach as a one off session where children can learn the exact same core text but explore it out of classroom using the arts and dance. This provides an entire new lens for children to see their core text subject through.
Personal Experience
Do you remember reading a book as a whole class exercise just waiting for your turn to read a paragraph out loud? Some revelled in their turn reading confidently and clear others mumbled and stuttered wishing their name had never been called. It’s nearly dinner so your not entirely taking in the story or understanding why the fact the curtains are ripped and blue whilst there is rain dripping down the window meant the character felt anxious and upset. Why didn’t they just say ‘Mary felt anxious and upset’ rather than making us guess and making our lives difficult.
My ideal world would have been leaving the classroom once in a while and experimenting with different ways of acting out scenes of the book. Reading Mary’s lines without having knowledge of her backstory, then creating a hilarious and false backstory. Recreating the scene with this new information in mind. Now learning Mary’s actual backstory. How did her backstory change her mannerisms, tone of voice and body language? Ahhhhhh now I understand Mary’s character, I’ve felt it. I put myself in her shoes.
We all learn differently and that’s okay! Desk work is mandatory at school, I understand and respect that. Teachers are held on a pedestal in my mind, how they teach so many subjects and keep it interesting for their class, mark work, plan, observe and implement next steps is incredible! There are teachers I have met in my career where I have thought ‘I wish id had a teacher like you growing up’. Learning through the arts simply provides an additional avenue to explore.
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