| The Question |
The Teacher's Answer |
| Where and when do you use creative dramatics the most? |
The most during the controlled activities. In that cases, I concentrate on the specific techniques, nevertheless I feel that the elements of creative dramatics should permeate throughout a day in nursery schools. Children are better motivated, get better with the theme, and learn better a new theme and they are overall more enthusiastic. They bring, for instance, their books from home because they are dedicated to that theme. When we are accompanied by elements of creative dramatics all day long, it is more effective. And children enter roles just at the moment of the limited activity. Namely in controlled or main activities. In my opinion, that is good for feeling safe. Especially when children are little, they need a limited activity. We are dedicated to the theme the whole week but we enter the roles only in these controlled activities. We are sure and safe because the beginning and the end is always the same. |
| What methods and techniques do you use the most frequently and children are good at? |
Children in my class like to enter roles the most and improvisation. They laugh so much in improvisation. We definitely use brainstorming in stress situations. |
| How often do you, as a teacher, enter the different roles? |
I would say that during every activity. I keep returning to the limited activities and feeling safe. Children perceive me when I am a teacher or another character, for instance, as an Indian grandmother or an African shaman. With real seriousness, we enter into the roles in a controlled activity. We came to practice and experience that some children are more sensitive and fearful about what is real or unreal. Therefore, we strictly separate. When entering the roles I use the costume to children know when I am or I am not a teacher. It helps me to have a clear structure of a day. |
| Do you use properties? If yes, which one the most frequently? |
Yes, we do. As I mentioned, mainly during the moments of the controlled activities. Even myself, as a teacher, I wear a costume or have some object by me. I think that I use not only cloths but also everything what comes under my hand. Everything can be properties as for example natural products, toys, picture, crumpled paper etc. I am personally dedicated to the theme I am preparing for the children. For the usage of creative dramatics, the objects themselves come to my mind. I sometimes choose them deliberately or unintentionally. |
| Do you involve the children into reflection at the end of an activity? |
Yes, definitely. A reflection is at the end. A reflection should take place after every method of creative dramatics; nevertheless due to the limited time capacity I am not able to manage it. My “children” are used to discuss a lot and they need time for it. Therefore, at the end of all activities we do reflection, either expressed or in the form of a "thermometer". As well during the walk, we do the reflection of the whole day. I ask questions about what I liked or didn’t, whether the activity was pleasant or unpleasant or in the form of voting. |
