Teachers’ Event: Using drama to explore literature and literacy

Ten Broken Hill teachers participated in an enjoyable evening workshop with Jane Vaughan and Robyn Ewing AM on Tuesday 8th November. They explored the role drama processes can play with quality literature to help develop children’s oracy, reading and writing.

Freya Blackwood’s wonderful wordless picture book The Boy and the Elephant (shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award 2023) was the book chosen for the workshop’s focus. Before looking at Freya’s story, teachers had the opportunity to think about their own special place, why it is special and how they might feel if its existence was threatened.

A range of drama strategies were used to delve deeply into the story including visualisation, storytelling, embodiment, improvised conversations, conscience circle and hotseating. Experiencing these led to a rich discussion about the critical importance of quality literature in engaging learners in deep literacy learning alongside nurturing their imaginations, creativities, empathy and compassion.

Teachers talked about the value of this kind of professional learning. One teacher commented that she felt the workshop had fostered her own creative artistry. Another liked the emphasis on process rather than ‘acting’ or performing. Several teachers felt their students would benefit from these experiences and said they were keen to put these strategies in place straightaway.

Plans are underway for other creative workshops in 2023. Big Sky Stories would be keen to hear from teachers regarding professional learning topics and themes.