Chapter 4 is about using drama to extend the reader. This is a technique to get bored students engaged and involved with the reading. I liked the example he used, " I felt as if these reluctant readers had been sitting on the bench during the big game completely bored". I think this is a perfect comparison. There are some students that are avid readers and will jump at the reading, however other students have to be pushed and pushed to read. I think this idea is great to engage all types of readers and students.
One of my favorite ideas for dramatization is correspondance where students responded to post cards, letters, and advertisements as the role of story characters. I think this is so cool because it is a great way to place yourself in the story. Instead of just looking up an answer from the book, the student actually has to pay attention to a lot of the details of the characters to complete the assignment. I always enjoyed assignments where we could be individual, and creative, so I personally would have enjoyed this assignment.
I found a website called eScholarship that discusses the benefits of drama and reading/ learning. It states that different dramatic activites helps students learn because they are utilizing different learning techniques. It helps students comprehend the world they live in by relating the reading to themselves. It also allows students to be individuals which is a useful tool after high school. It also helps them expand their vocabulary.
Source:
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4d62r6p9#page-2
I really like the idea of responding in a letter or post card as well. I think that this would be a good replacement of a quiz... to place yourself in the story, you have to have read! Good thing to point out.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of good reasons to incorporate drama as response to reading. James Gee has some really interesting research about embodiment and the ways that students increase understanding when they actually have to embody a character and think and act from the character's role :)
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