In that location are the things people say to teachers … and and then there are the things people say to drama teachers. It seems people overlook the fact that a little musical theater, in particular, tin can go a long way toward building student confidence, creativity and, yeah, even Common Core mastery.

Then the next time someone makes you cringe with a lowbrow comment about what you practice, here's how yous can respond with wit and wisdom.

"Anyone can teach drama—it's just pretending."

You say: "It'south about more than pretending. When students walk a mile in another character's shoes, they build empathy and expand their horizons."

"Should students really be spending that much time in the theater? Wouldn't the time be better spent on something more educational—like reading?"

You say: "Students spend tons of time reading in theater. They read and reread scripts for fluency and voice, dissecting portions for comprehension and analysis, so they volition in fact be doing plenty of reading. And yes, they do demand that much time. Students spend a lot of time with their scripts—reading closely and deeply to understand the characters and plot. Somewhen, their agreement of story and grapheme will help them create their performance—information technology's reading comprehension in activity!"

crazy things people say to drama teachers
"They can't all grow upward to be picture stars or recording artists, you know."

You say: "I wouldn't want them to! Putting on a musical develops so much more than 'stardom.' In the weeks it takes to put on a testify, kids learn how to interact, stick with a project, empathize and be creative. That's a lot of 21st-century skills! As well, the confidence boost they'll go by participating in a show volition transfer to other areas—think they'll be shy presenting in social studies afterward they've played Simba in The King of beasts Rex JR.?"

crazy things people say to drama teachers
"You got two degrees and a educational activity license to do this?"

You say: "If y'all're referring to how challenging it is to help a group of students understand complex narratives and work together toward a common goal, then yes, my education definitely helps."

"How do you even lesson-programme? It's just singing!"

You say: "It's one thing to pb a sing-along, and quite another to plan for kids to create scenery and costumes or written report a story that'due south told through vocal. That'due south probably why our lesson plans are so thorough—to tackle all the elements of the project."

crazy things people say to drama teachers
"Don't we have enough drama from the kids? Why exercise we need to add more?"

You say: "Don't worry, musical theater techniques can exist applied to math and other disciplines. You can explore algebra through music theory, or biology through improvisation. For example, actors in The King of beasts K ing JR. could improvise a savannah scene: Which animate being are they, and how will they interact with the other animals around them?"

"It must exist squeamish to play pretend all mean solar day and non take to do the real-world stuff!"

Y'all say: "Really, there's a lot of advisory text and nonfiction learning that goes into i of our shows. The students research the backgrounds and settings, and depending on the part they play, they may inquiry an animal or character besides. For case, if a pupil is playing a glace eel in The Piddling Mermaid JR., he tin inquiry marine life to develop the grapheme. Or if a pupil is in Winnie the PoohKIDS, she'll demand to brand calculations and measurements to build that famous trap that Pooh gets stuck in."

"It must be so overnice to non take to worry about didactics the Mutual Core."

You say: "My students read and research the story and script and journal nigh the feel. They build linguistic communication through domain-specific vocabulary for the play and the genre of theater. Kids explore math past designing sets and props, not to mention the counting and timing that goes into the choreography. And when they converse with peers and adults to form the show, they're developing speaking and listening skills. I haven't made an official listing, only that seems to encompass most of the Standards."

"I'g sure theater is great for kinesthetic learners, but …"

Y'all say: "Actually, the arts are good for all learners. Musical theater is inherently multi-disciplinary and appeals to all types of learners. Whether they are constructing a earth, singing and telling the story, or bringing the show to life through choreography, kids develop a sense of storytelling in all its forms. They may learn through motion, fine art or music, but we're reaching all kids."

"That looks like and so much fun."

You say: "You're admittedly right! Information technology is!"

By Samantha Cleaver

This is the fourth commodity in a six-weblog serial on Theatre in the Classroom sponsored by Music Theatre International, the creators of Broadway Junior 30- and 60-minute musicals for immature performers. Learn more at broadwayjr.com.