Using Drama for Oracy

‘Being able to listen attentively and speak lucidly and understandably or to use non-verbal communication effectively are crucial attributes in learning and life more generally. Developing oracy – the capacity to develop and express ideas through speech – is of central importance to both thinking and learning.’ 

Professor Donaldson (2015)

This course will be of interest and relevance to all teachers, (not just drama teachers). It looks at the ways in which Drama Strategies can be selected and used with intent, as ‘Talk Frames’, to stimulate and scaffold different types of thought and talk in any lesson, (not just in drama lessons), with groups of varying size and constitution. You will learn how to set up and negotiate a Drama Contract that includes Talk Protocols and, how the role of the teacher can be shifted, from talk model, to talk partner, facilitator, mediator and provocateur. The ways in which drama can offer compelling contexts, roles, purposes and audiences for talk, will be considered, with ‘step by step’ reference to a KS2 exemplar lesson.

HANDOUTS:

• A Drama Strategies booklet
• A copy of the Powerpoint (as a PDF)
• Two KS2 Drama Lessons
• A published article about ‘Drama for Oracy’

Patrice Baldwin is an internationally acclaimed ‘Drama for Learning’ specialist, having been a primary headteacher, School Improvement Adviser and inspector. She has led numerous training days on ‘Drama for Oracy’ both in UK schools, (including School 21) and at international conferences. Her next book, Process Drama for Second Language Teaching and Learning (with Alicja Galazka) will be published by Bloomsbury in October 2021. Her other books include, The Drama Box (with Lesley Hendy), Teaching Literacy Through Drama (with Kate Fleming), The Primary Drama Handbook, With Drama in Mind, School Improvement Through Drama and Inspiring Writing Through Drama (with Rob John).

This course is also available for schools to host online during 2021.

‘Patrice Baldwin is a rarity. She is one of the few primary drama experts left in this country and quite possibly the most experienced and effective drama primary teacher. Teachers on her courses, come away feeling more confident and with a broader repertoire. Her work is excellent!’ 

Pie Corbett

Absolutely brilliant! Patrice’s course opened doors for colleagues which they would not have believed possible. In everything she does, she walks delegates through the materials, and discusses the impact this has on children’s learning. She uses drama conventions to create opportunities for pupils to secure their learning in new and deeper ways. 

Mary Myatt