This collection of essays from many of the world's preeminent drama education practitioners captures the challenges and struggles of teaching with honesty, humour, openness and integrity. Collectively the authors possess some two hundred years of shared experience in the field, and each essay investigates the mistakes of best-intentions, the lack of awareness, and the omissions that pock all of our careers. The authors ask, and answer quite honestly, a series of difficult and reflexive questions: What obscured our understanding of our students' needs in a particular moment? What drove our professional expectations? And how has our practice changed as a result of those experiences? Modelled on reflective practice, this book will be an essential, everyday guide to the challenges of drama education.

A fun, accessible chapter-book debut from an exciting new talent--simultaneous hardcover-paperback launch
Marty McGuire would rather spend recess catching frogs in the pond than playing dress-up with the other girls in third grade. So when her teacher casts Marty as the princess in the class play, Marty's absolutely, positively sure that there's been a huge mistake. But after a special lesson in the art of improvisation, Marty comes up with her OWN plan to IMPROVE the play: Why use stuffed-animal frog onstage when a live one would be so much better? In the end, Marty's one-of-a-kind performance makes for an unforgettable show. Maybe Marty CAN live happily ever after, after all

Dorothy Heathcote MBE was a unique educator whose practice had a vital influence on the international development of Drama in Education. For more than half a century she inspired generations of teachers and educators all over the world by her original and authentic approach to teaching and learning.

This new collection of the essential writings of Dorothy Heathcote traces the development of her practice over her long professional life. It combines the most important and influential articles from the first edition with more recent pieces to show the significant development in Heathcote s thinking and practice. The book reveals the increasing complexity of her engagement with Mantle of the Expert as an approach to the curriculum and revisits earlier themes that are central to her work in such pieces as "Productive Tension" and "Internal Coherence. "In everything she writes she is concerned with introducing teachers to the power of drama as a means of activating the curriculum and giving them the insight and understanding to enable them to generate significant learning experiences with their students.

Each section is accompanied by an introduction, a summary of key points and an extensive list of resources. Edited by a leading expert in drama education and featuring a Foreword by Gavin Bolton, this new collection of Dorothy Heathcote s work will be welcomed by academics, teachers of drama, and student teachers. "

Journey through the jungle and coral reefs, across the African plains and icy poles, and even to the Galapagos Islands, as you discover all there is to know about the world's best-known and best-loved naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, in this beautifully illustrated picture book. From a childhood spent searching for fossils to his awe-inspiring work as a broadcaster and conservationist, learn about Sir David Attenborough's WILD life, as he goes further, higher and deeper than anyone ever before to share our incredible natural world, and embarks on a mission to protect it. A perfect gift for budding naturalists and fans of David's wildlife documentaries.

Learning about Social Issues through Scripts for Learners aged 11-16 offers secondary drama teachers a new and exciting approach to exploring social issues with their students. Focusing on the issues that matter to young people, it includes a wide range of classroom and performance materials carefully tailored for differing abilities and ages. The book is based around four original play scripts exploring themes of antisocial behaviour, eating disorders, the effects of war on families and riots - that have been tried, tested and proven to motivate and engage young people. As well as building performance skills, each script is accompanied by detailed schemes of work to help students explore what the issues mean to them and develop their problem solving and thinking skills. The book also includes cross references to pedagogical techniques and approaches, assessment for learning and 'learning to learn'. Written by an experienced author team, Learning about Social Issues through Scripts for Learners aged 11-16 provides a 'one-stop shop' for teachers to explore relevant and stimulating themes and topics that will engage students in lively debate, promote empathy and produce creative dramatic responses.

Nominated for ten UK book awards, Theresa Breslin's hit novel tells of how two young boys - one Rangers fan, one Celtic fan - are drawn into a secret pact to help a young asylum seeker in a city divided by prejudice. Now adapted for the stage by Martin Travers, the play has already been produced to great acclaim at Glasgow's Citizens Theatre. Graham and Joe just want to play football and be selected for the new city team, but a violent attack on Kyoul, an asylum seeker, changes everything when they find themselves drawn into a secret pact to help the victim and his girlfriend Leanne. Set in Glasgow at the time of the Orange Order walks, Divided City is a gripping tale about two boys and how they must find their own way forward in a world divided by difference. This educational edition has been prepared by national Drama in Secondary English experts Ruth Moore and Paul Bunyan. Published in Methuen Drama's Critical Scripts series the book: - meets the curriculum requirements for English at KS3, GCSE and Scottish CfE. - features detailed, structured schemes of work utilising drama approaches to improve literary and language analysis - places pupils' understanding of the learning process at the heart of the activities - will help pupils to boost English GCSE success and develop high-level skills at KS3 - will save teachers considerable time devising their own resources.

This edition collection showcases the increasing intersections between drama and applied theatre, education, innovation and technology. It tunes in to the continuing conversation that has been a persistent if not prominent feature of our drama education since the advent of accessible computer based technologies. The chapters in this book consider how technology can be used as a potent tool in drama learning and how the learning is changing the technologies and in turn how learning is transforming the technology. This collection includes contributions from leading scholars in the field on a range of topics including digital storytelling and identity formation, applied drama and micro-blogging and the use of Second Life in drama learning. The chapters provide a potent collection for researchers and educators considering the role of technology in drama education spaces. This book was originally published as a special issue of RiDE: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance.

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.

The ultimate gift for fans of Thomas the Tank Engine! This elegant boxset brings together all 26 books, in hardback, from the original Railway Series. A nostalgic offering to share between generations and a real collector's item that makes a delightful present for new babies who are sure to grow up to be firm Thomas fans. Children aged 3 and up will love beloved characters such as Percy, James, Gordon, and Toby who live on The Fat Controller's railway. Thomas has been teaching children lessons about life and friendship for over 75 years. He ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage. It all began as a story made up by the Reverand W. Awdry to entertain his son when he had measles. Now millions of people across the world have grown up with the tales of Sodor Island, enchanted by the adventures of Thomas and his friends, Percy, Gordon, and Toby, and all the other engines that work on the Fat Controller's railway. Have you met them all?

Learning about Social Issues through Scripts for Learners aged 11-16 offers secondary drama teachers a new and exciting approach to exploring social issues with their students. Focusing on the issues that matter to young people, it includes a wide range of classroom and performance materials carefully tailored for differing abilities and ages. The book is based around four original play scripts exploring themes of antisocial behaviour, eating disorders, the effects of war on families and riots - that have been tried, tested and proven to motivate and engage young people. As well as building performance skills, each script is accompanied by detailed schemes of work to help students explore what the issues mean to them and develop their problem solving and thinking skills. The book also includes cross references to pedagogical techniques and approaches, assessment for learning and 'learning to learn'. Written by an experienced author team, Learning about Social Issues through Scripts for Learners aged 11-16 provides a 'one-stop shop' for teachers to explore relevant and stimulating themes and topics that will engage students in lively debate, promote empathy and produce creative dramatic responses.

Encouraging both teacher and student imagination and expression, the eighth edition of this classic text helps future teachers integrate drama into the classroom and introduces students to a variety of genres and strategies, including mime, play structure, improvisation, and using drama in the special education curriculum. Unlike other texts, McCaslin focuses on drama as an art form as well as a teaching tool.

John Doona is an artist and a teacher of exceptional quality. He brings both artistic and human integrity to a wide range of drama work from the classroom to performance of the highest standards. His significant practice is firmly rooted in principle and knowledge of drama and children and young people. I recommend him to you as an exceptional and effective teacher and practitioner. Professor Jonothan Neelands, University of Warwick, UK What is a compelling scheme of work and how do I create one? What are the building blocks of Drama? How do I sustain interest and engagement? What is the purpose and impact of my daily work? Providing inspiration for daily practice alongside a full range of tried and tested schemes of work, this exciting new book offers support to secondary teachers wanting to create original drama experiences to meet their own unique classroom needs. The book models a positive and reflective approach to classroom practice offering a thoughtful exploration of the craft and art of drama teaching covering key issues such as classroom management, student engagement, planning, progression and assessment. After considering the theory behind drama in education and the fundamentals of practice, the majority of the text is devoted to the annotated schemes of work. These cover a diverse range of topics such as homelessness, addiction, terrorism and civil rights and show how the ideas discussed can be put into practice. Featuring a Preface by Dorothy Heathcote and a Foreword by Edward Bond, this resource will be valuable reading for both new and established teachers looking to deliver excellent inspiring drama lessons across the secondary setting and become a vibrant and effective drama specialist.

From bestselling authors Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda) and Adam Silvera (They Both Die At The End) comes a New York love story with a difference...

Meet Ben and Arthur. Ben is a battered dreamer who’s shipping his ex-boyfriend’s things back to him. Arthur is new to New York and struggling to fit in. After an memorable meet-cute in a New York post office, the boys lose touch only be be brought back together via a 'missed connection' advert. Is it fate? It looks like it. But after a series of disastrous first dates, Ben and Arthur may have to accept the universe should’ve minded its business.

The Gruffalo is an internationally bestselling picture book, a popular stage show, a BAFTA and Oscar-nominated animation - and now the story has been adapted into a fun and accessible play script by Julia Donaldson. Ideal for children to use as a school play or at home, The Gruffalo Play has been designed with rehearsals and performance in mind. A clear layout and colour-coding for each character will help children to follow their lines and join the action with ease. The book also contains a hints and tips section which includes helpful advice on staging the play and performing it with larger groups. There are ideas too for themed make-and-do Gruffalo activities, as well as stage make-up for Gruffalo and Mouse! And of course no production of The Gruffalo Play would be complete without the lyrics and music for beloved Gruffalo Song. With Axel Scheffler's fun illustrations, this wonderful, dramatic way to share the classic story is sure to delight teachers, parents and children everywhere.

This revised Student Edition of Ibsen's popular play contains introductory commentary and notes by Sophie Duncan, which offer a contemporary lens on the play's gender politics and consider seminal productions and adaptations of the play into the 21st century. As well as the complete text of the play itself, this new Methuen Drama Student Edition includes a: * Chronology of the play and Ibsen's life and work * Discussion of the social, political, cultural and economic context in which the play was originally conceived and created * Overview of the creation processes followed and performance history of the play, including recent performances such as a 2012 short film adaptation and a stage adaptation set in colonial Calcutta. * Analysis of some of the major themes and specific issues addressed by the play, such as whether it's a feminist play and its author a feminist * Bibliography of suggested primary and secondary materials for further study Ibsen's 1879 play shocked its first audiences with its radical insights into the social roles of husband and wife. His portrayal of the caged 'songbird' in his flawed heroine Nora remains one of the most striking dramatic depictions of the late 19th century woman.

A behind-the-scenes tour of the magnificent Royal Opera House in London, thirty minutes before curtain up, led by Figaro the cat. It's opening night of The Nutcracker, and the performers at the Royal Opera House in London are busy getting ready to step out onto the stage. Meanwhile, Figaro - the opera house's resident cat - is poised to take readers on a behind-the-scenes tour to meet the many people working to make tonight's performance a resounding success. This backstage tour of the Royal Opera House takes readers from department to department to discover what's involved in putting on a performance such as The Nutcracker. Featuring examples from key works of opera and ballet, highlights of the tour include trying on the Mad Hatter's wig from Alice in Wonderland; practising for a fighting scene from Romeo and Juliet; putting the finishing touches on the Sugar Plum Fairy's tutu; learning to 'play dead'; and creating explosions on stage. Including an introduction to a classical orchestra, key ballet terms and basic stage directions, the book encourages readers to explore the many ways they can get involved.

Join Jada and Granny Jinks in this charming new series for readers aged 6+! Gorgeously illustrated throughout by Selom Sunu, and brimming with warmth, tricks and magic, this is the perfect read for fans of The Naughtiest Unicorn and Wigglesbottom Primary! Granny Jinks and Jada have officially joined the Dalton Green Magic Society, but the fun has only just started! For their next trick, Granny Jinks and Jada will have to perform magic with the cheekiest assistant of them all - an animal! Will naughty Luna the cat learn her magic trick in time, and will Jada's best friend, Matilda, ever find the perfect pet for hers? Inspired by the true story of Jenny Mayers - the first Black woman to be accepted into the Magic Circle. *Includes how-to magic tricks for you to try at home!* With themes of finding courage, making friends, managing relationships at home, school and in the community, this is a wonderful new series for readers aged 6 and up!

A playful picture book that urges readers to bop, bounce, and shake from the author of Fraidyzoo There are so many ways to dance! You can jiggle or wiggle or stomp. You can bop or bounce or go completely nuts. You can dance at the market or the bus stop, with your fingers or your face. You can dance because you're happy or even because you're sad. But, what's the best way to dance? Exactly how you want to! In How Do You Dance?, author-illustrator Thyra Heder explores dance in all of its creativity, humor, and-most of all-joy, in a picture-book celebration of personal expression that will inspire young and old readers alike to get up and get moving.

Chloe Lukasiak believes that things happen for a reason. She knows that life would be easier without disappointments, bullying, and medical issues - but sometimes it takes challenges to inspire you to achieve big things. From her status as fan favourite on the US hit reality television show Dance Moms to her current life as a social media star with millions of fans, Chloe has found that self-acceptance and kindness are the key to getting over the rough spots in life and realising your passions. This full-colour, heavily designed book, featuring never-before-seen photos, inspirational quotes, and Chloe's own doodles and poetry offers exclusive insight into Chloe's world as well as a message that will inspire all readers to pursue their dreams and be true to their selves.