Full Description
Acting Lessons for Teachers presents a solid theoretical foundation for the pedagogical benefits of enthusiastic teaching. Simply put, students are more engaged, misbehave less, and learn better from teachers who teach enthusiastically. A teacher's enthusiasm for his or her subject matter can be contagious. Since the dynamic of the classroom is similar to that of the stage in terms of speaker-listener relationships, the acting craft offers teachers a model for the skills and strategies that could be incorporated in their work to convey more enthusiasm for the material and for the students.
This book presents concrete descriptions of the specific acting strategies that would benefit the teacher: physical and vocal animation, teacher role-playing, strategic entrances and exits, humor, props, suspense and surprise, and creative use of space. Special attention is given to the potential advantage of instructional technology as a modern-day prop. Strategies are explained in terms of their importance and ease of incorporation into the classroom. Each is proposed as a skill that can be learned by any teachers who have the desire to enliven their teaching. Student descriptions of their own experience with teachers' use of acting strategies add real examples for each lesson. Finally, testimony of award-winning classroom teachers from a variety of disciplines and age levels provides evidence of the wide and easy applicability of these strategies.
Contents
Part 1 Background
Chapter 1 Teacher Enthusiasm: A Pedagogical Necessity
Chapter 2 Boosting Teacher Enthusiasm: A Crafterperson's Toolbox
Chapter 3 Educational Foundations for Teachers as Actors
Part 2 The Acting Lessons
Chapter 4 Animation in Body
Chapter 5 Animation in Voice
Chapter 6 Classroom Space
Chapter 7 Humor
Chapter 8 Role-Playing
Chapter 9 Props
Chapter 10 Technology Props
Chapter 11 Suspense and Surprise
Chapter 12 Making a Dramatic Entrance and Exit
Part 3 Epilogue
Chapter 13 Behind the Scenes, Loosening Up, and Preparing for That Step across the Classroom Threshold
Chapter 14 Classroom Management
Chapter 15 Enthusiastic Teaching: A Conversation with Friends
Chapter 16 Conclusion
Appendix 1 Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
Appendix 2 Testimonials from Award-Winner K-12 Teachers and College Professors
References
Subject and Name Index
