The English Teacher's Drama Handbook

Book excerpt: The English Teacher’s Drama Handbook is a rich, thought-provoking introduction to teaching drama within the English classroom. Divided into two sections, the first part of the book explores deological influences that have shaped drama's relationship with English over the past 250 years and aims to help you locate your own practice within a theoretical and historical context. Starting with Rousseau's seminal text Emile, it considers the theories of key thinkers and practitioners and a range of complex issues including the construction of ‘childhood’, children’s play, the teacher and student relationship, the implications of linking drama and English and the impact of national curricula on drama and English teaching. The second half of the book offers a collection of comprehensive, practical schemes of work to inspire and support you and your students to realise the power of drama in bringing English language and literature vividly to life. Suitable for a range of ages and abilities, each activity makes explicit links to the key thinkers and issues explored in the first part of the book and explores a particular aspect of work in English - from grammar and spelling to poetry and play texts. Together with guidance on how to begin and progress the activities, each sequence includes ideas for exploring issues further in the English classroom. Written for English teachers at any stage of their career, The English Teacher’s Drama Handbook offers new ways of looking at drama and English that will ensure meaningful and enjoyable teaching and learning.