Drama teachers - what are you doing in September?!?

[Dramateacher1]

Hi everyone,

Just reading the new guidance that came out last night and there is now a specific section on drama that was not there before.

Our school said that as they were in year group bubbles we would be able to just do our drama lessons as normal but make sure staff stayed 2 meters away from the students.

Now the guidance says this...

Minimising contact between individuals
You must do everything possible to minimise contacts and mixing. Your overarching objective should be to reduce the number of contacts between pupils/students and staff. This can be achieved through keeping groups separate (in bubbles) and through maintaining the social distance between individuals. These are not alternative options. Both measures will help, but the balance between them will change depending on the age of pupils, the layout of the building, and the feasibility of keeping groups separate from each other while offering a broad curriculum. If staff need to move between classes and year groups, they should try and keep their distance from pupils and other staff as much as they can, ideally 2 metres from other adults.

You should take particular care in music, dance and drama lessons to observe social distancing where possible. This may limit group activity in these subjects in terms of numbers in each group. It will also prevent physical correction by teachers and contact between pupils in dance and drama.

So I’m guessing group work is out? They must not touch each other in lessons? This is a bit of a last minute nightmare for our subject isn’t it?!?

What is everyone else doing? I’d welcome your ideas and thoughts. Many thanks.

I just came on here to post this exact thread!

So upset. I teach the 7 - 13 (age not year) age range and my planning is for 'normal' lessons within bubbles. I was going to keep the windows open and probably not have them crawling over each other in physical theatre things (no frantic assembly or anything, for example). But certainly recognisable Drama lessons.

Now, I don't know. I emailed my head last night which I felt bad about because I know she'll have all the rest of the guidance to go through but if new schemes of work need to be written there's only this weekend to do them in. She said she'll get back to me asap.

I've got a couple of Drama Notebook packs called 'socially distanced warm ups' and 'socially distanced games' I can send you if you want. Fairly useless and a bit miserable I suspect (I need to look at them more closely) but might serve as a 1 week stop gap.

Mine are a bit young for studying plays.

Lots of monologues and duolouges, I guess!

You're right, it's horrible.

(I'm still doing 3 Christmas productions, in theory ...!)

@manicinsomniac if you could send me them that would be great thank you.

We have moved to double lessons every two weeks to minimise student moment and the thought of doing theory with ks3 for 2 hours just makes me sad.

I was so looking forward to going back and getting back to some sort of normality, but it’s not going to be normal is it?

I wish they had given us some more notice.

It looks like I can't attach files to a PM but if you PM me an email address I will certainly send them.

No, doesn't look like it will be at all normal

2 hour lessons is a long time!

I already knew I was going to have to teach in a classroom as the students aren't allowed to leave their classroom base all day. The students can't even turn to face each other. I've tried to plan but I get too depressed!

ValancyRedfern I agree it’s depressing. I wanted the students to have the chance to be active and creative again in my lessons.

I think because I had planned for ‘normal’ lessons this new update has really thrown me. I’m just so sad for the students ☹️

I have no idea what to do with year 13. They were half way through devising their exam piece when we went into lockdown....

Not a drama teacher, but our drama dept is planning all theory work at desks for the first full term. They're gutted, as am I for them and the kids.

I'm not a drama teacher but I know at our school, KS3 at least are in one classroom all day. So practical work won't be happening.

I feel so bad for the teachers and the kids. We have a fantastic performing arts department and the kids really do get a lot out of it. There are many who really shine in the performances and it's so sad to think they won't have that opportunity

Just had it confirmed that we will be doing classroom based written work with all years for at least the first few weeks... gutted.

Inevitable, I think.

I'm sorry. It's rubbish.

I am sorry! This situation is particularly rubbish for Drama and Music .

I just wish the government had published this new info earlier so I’d had some time to prepare...

Oh, no Dramateacher1 , that's awful. I'm still waiting for my head to get back to me.

I agree, it's the timing that's so bad. It might have been possible to prepare suitable stuff with enough time to plan it. Now - not so much!

I read this, too. We have dance and drama at our school. There doesn't seem to be anything written like this about PE though?

I don't understand why it is routinely accepted (rightly or wrongly) that school pupils can't social distance but they have to in drama lessons!

**Piggywaspushed, our PE department are allowed to do practical lessons but outside and non contact sports.
It’s just so unfair for the students, especially those who have opted for it in ks4 and 5.

Yep, PE has to be outside.

Could drama be taught outside?

I might be able to do some Drama outside, yes. We have one outdoor classroom. Depends on when it is needed for Outdoor Ed or other things and also on how cold it is because it's in the woods with no sun (the children would be fine, I'm sure, but I'm a wimpy reptile ).
If it doesn't rain I could maybe use random patches of outdoor space but don't want to disrupt other classes and all windows will be open so not sure other teachers will like it.

How is everyone doing? I have failed to do much planning because I'm now ill. Will probably have to take tomorrow off and miss out on all the guidance as well. Arg! Perfect timing! I've been told I might be able to use outside space but as it can't be guaranteed I can't really plan with that in mind. Feeling very anxious!

Me too Valency (anxious, not ill). I'm making some basic plans of generic, distanced activities that could make up my first few lessons if need be but I'm still waiting to hear back from my head on what she wants me to do.

Sorry you're not feeling well. Terrible timing but that's going to be the way it is this term, isn't it. Imagine not being able to power through school production week, for example and having to be off!! (that's if we get any productions this year).

Sorry you’re not well ValancyRedfern. Probably stress! I was really looking forward to going back and had re done all my year maps, might as well bin them now I was going to do some planning over the weekend but just couldn’t find the motivation. I have missed practical work so much over the lock down and I know the kids are going to be disappointed to be in a classroom instead of the theatre.
Might just sign into my Disney + account and let them ‘analyse’ Hamilton...

I think that's totally valid DramaTeacher1 - cross curricular links and everything!

All seated and forward facing in a classroom here with some opportunities for pair work for KS3. I've thought of/adapted some games and warm ups and will try and do some chair-based 'practical' but it's obviously very restricted.