Five Key Benefits of Using Drama In The Classroom

Hello Super Trouper Parents! In today’s article, we will be exploring the ways in which drama tools can be effectively used in the classroom. If you have had questions about our unique Play-Write Method, we hope this article will be enlightening.

When we think of drama, some might recall dramatic soap operas that have kept us enthralled for hours on end. While this is something we hope we can achieve with the examiner’s attention for our students’ work, we will not be exploring dramatic plot twists employed in the making of these shows today. Instead, we will be looking at how drama as a form can aid in the learning of Creative Writing in our young learners.

Benefit 1: Drama encourages experiential learning

Parents may have heard teachers commenting that the more a child reads, the better their language use will be. The reason for this is because the act of reading will expose the child to better vocabulary, sentence structures and ideas. However, is reading the only way to learn a language?

Certainly not. As babies, we learn languages through listening, watching, then mimicking those around us using these codes of expression - all before learning how to read! Experiential learning through watching how others (like performers) speak and act is therefore another effective way in which students can learn how to write well for creative writing. Unfortunately, this also means that the more a child is exposed to poor language use, the more their language skills will be adversely affected.

This is why the Play-Write Method uses dramatised scenes to engage students in experiential learning so that they can better envision a story while learning impressive writing skills.

Benefit 2: Drama opens up new ways of brainstorming

There are many ways to brainstorm for ideas such as the mindmap and the listing methods that many already adopt for creative writing. However, dramatic tools can also help students brainstorm. Devised theatre is a form of theatre-making in which the script is created through collaborative play. By using these very same drama tools, the Play-Write Method opens up new ways for our young learners to explore ideas for their writing.

In collaborative play, they are given the chance to welcome new ideas from their friends, which means that for students who have trouble expanding their stories, this will help them see outside the “boxes” of their own minds.

Benefit 3: Improvisation skills enhances creativity through spontaneity

No matter how thorough we are in exploring themes and topics in lessons, we can never guess what will come out during the exams. This is why a part of the Play-Write Method ensures the development of improvisational skills.

In class, we strive to not only build our students’ writing knowledge in the form of vocabulary and literary techniques but also their ability to adapt to any topic they may encounter with improvisational games! This will no doubt enhance their creativity through spontaneity as well.

Benefit 4: Movement and props appeal to kinaesthetic and tactile learners

Schools are traditionally catered for students who are stronger in audio-visual learning. What about students who learn better through kinaesthetic and tactile stimulation?

Theatre uses live organised movement, costumes, sets and props to appeal to audiences. This is why despite the advent of film, it is still as alive as ever. (Despite Covid’s best efforts!)

Our lessons will use not only theatrical tools but also film conventions to appeal to all our students. Not only will they watch us perform but they will also get a chance to perform their own stories, in turn becoming discerning creative writers!

Benefit 5: Building nuanced characters through dramatisation

Whether watching or performing, our students will be able to create the varied peoples that will populate their stories by learning the nuances in characterisation with the use of proper vocabulary. They will realise that their narrators do not need to be the same generic student in every single story. When a second character is introduced, they will have the power to create a separate, distinct voice.

From this skill, they will then be able to successfully appeal to the examiners and create an unforgettable story with believable characters!

Conclusion:

With that said, if drama tools are so beneficial in the classroom, why are Singaporean schools not widely using them? It may surprise you to find out that there are already a handful of primary schools in Singapore that are using these tools in the classroom. The reason it is not widely used however is that not all teachers are both theatre trained and know how to incorporate drama tools into their lesson. On top of that, teachers have too much to cover in class, not to mention a high student to teacher ratio, that they may not have the resources to let students explore such areas.

Lucky for our very own Super Troupers, they have the chance to do so! See you in our next post!