Total transformation! “My First Acting Series” helps students read with expression, understanding and fluency.

Kamaron’s dramatic expressions exploded on his face and in his voice. I couldn’t believe this quiet young boy, so polite and soft-spoken, was the same student creating the lively character of Joel from “My Second Monologue Book: Famous and Historical People”.

But it happened again and AGAIN during my visit to The Lighthouse Academy!

Malik was next and as he introduced himself, I could hardly hear his voice. But when he began to read the part of Mack in the “My First Monologue Book”, he used gestures and voice inflection to turn the monologue into high comedy! “I like comedy,” he said with a smile when he finished.

Karra was the last to read. She, too, had a shy smile as she was introduced as one of the top readers in the classroom. Her face and voice grew lively as she read the monologue of Pete in “My Third Monologue Book: Places Near and Far.” I told her, “Facial expression is an acting skill!” Karra told me that she wanted to read the monologue again. “This time, it will be better!”

“My students have been practicing a lot over the weekend,”said Ms. Wickham. “Soon they’ll have them memorized and present them to the class. After that, everyone will be clamoring to perform! I’ll definitely need more books.”

My visit to this classroom, like all the other classrooms I’ve seen, was filled with students who were excited about using the "My First Acting Series”. They transformed into enthusiastic learners, developing a wide variety of dramatic, reading, and social skills. The teachers I’ve observed have used the books and the Teacher’s Guide in imaginative ways. Teachers and students alike share an overwhelming enthusiasm for incorporating drama into their learning. Theater made the lesson come to life. The “My First Acting Series” is where life meets theater.

Innovative Ohio Teacher Uses the My First Acting Series for Small Group Work, Parent Conferences

The possibilities are endless with the My First Acting Series! Mrs. Parrish, a third grade teacher at Lake Ridge Academy using My Second Monologue Book: Famous and Historical People, took the monologue series to a whole new level.

Using Part One: People You Know, she introduced the lesson with some questions about how students can visualize characters. She partnered the students up and gave them each a monologue and the following instructions:

“Read the monologue quietly to yourself. Then read them out loud to each other. Listen carefully to your partner as they read and visualize the character who is speaking. Who is this person? What are they doing? When, Where and Why are they doing it? After you’ve shared your monologue aloud several times, get your art supplies and draw a picture of your partner’s character.”

Students split up and went to their small group areas and got to work. Silent reading led to some energetic exchanges and expressive performances. Partners shared monologues such as, BOB, ANALISA, JOE and DEBBIE. A youngster was delighted when she realized that she had the part of a female plumber! Another student tried to grapple with the idea that he was playing the part of a teacher!

Mrs. Parrish moved around the room, asking questions and guiding the third graders. Then the drawing began.

Students visualized the character. Using markers and colored pencils they created pictures using the Five W” – Who, What, When, Where and Why.

Mrs. Parrish collected the drawings as the students finished – promising her class she would pin them up on a large bulletin board in the room. As I circulated around the room, the youngsters, with much animation, told me how much they liked using the monologues in class.

“I just have to tell you what success we had sharing monologues as part of our student-led conferences. The kids were really proud to take on the role of another child - use a different voice, tone, attitude, and present their reading. Parents loved hearing their kids read with great expression and fluency. The surprising piece was how much parents enjoyed listening to the kids explain what the monologues were and why their children picked the 'role' they played.”

The pictures taken on my visit to Mrs. Parrish’s classroom show how engaged the students became when using the My First Acting Series. Mrs. Parrish adds, “The possibilities are endless!”