Reinforcing Education through Artistic Learning

 

We are Project R.E.A.L.

Serving Barter’s mission to use theatre as a vehicle for education to enrich lives, Project R.E.A.L. provides qualified teaching artists who assist educators by utilizing theatre techniques, and integrating the student's life experiences with the curriculum, in order to provide lasting knowledge in a transformative educational program, measurably improving learning and allowing students to take responsibility for their own education and shape their communities, now and in the future

 

Who we work with.

Ninth to Twelfth graders in all subject areas and levels, as well as all their teachers.

 

What we do.

We use theatre-based activities to create a classroom environment that encourages differentiated learning, expression of ideas, and critical thinking while also connecting the material directly to the personal lives of our students.

 

Why we do this.

Theatre is the perfect venue to address

all learning styles and can be a catalyst

for open dialogue.  A lesson on Beowulf

turned into a discussion about homelessness; activities about topography became a debate on what makes an ideal community; student-created scenarios depicting dependent and independent variables discussed the impact of television watching on studying and grades. These activities encourage the students to become an active participant within their communities.

 

 

How we do this.

Our first action is to cultivate a strong relationship with the classroom teacher.  With the teacher’s deep knowledge of the subject matter and of the students themselves, we are able to determine the needs of the students and how to best engage them in the lesson. This collaborative partnership is essential in our work.

 

The classroom teacher will then administer a Learning Style Inventory to determine in what ways the students best learn—either through auditory, kinesthetic, verbal or visual means. He or she will also inform us of what material they would like us to discuss when we visit. We then create a lesson plan focused toward the predominant learning style of each respective class and lead the class in exploration of the topic.

 

Which subjects benefit?

We cover all subject matters. Some areas we have already had the opportunity to cover: Algebra I and II, business management, ecology, geometry, literature, mythology and topography—just to name a few.

 

And, there's more!

—More for Students

Dream Catchers. Meeting after school one to two hours a week with the teaching artist, students will create a Forum Theatre piece that will be performed for the public. This group consists of students who have an interest in using theatre to solve problems within their community. The goal of The Dream Catchers Group is to “dream of the ideal." Student will get to explore issues about which they are passionate while having the opportunity to dream up solutions to these problems and how to make them a reality.

 

—More for Teachers

Professional Development. The theatre tools we use to help the curriculum come alive for the students are tools we want to share with our partner teachers. Structuring workshops as part of teachers’ professional development gives the faculty an opportunity to integrate some of the tools they’ve seen firsthand into their future lesson plans.

 

Find out More:

Contact Megan Atkinson, Project R.E.A.L Director

education@bartertheatre.com or 276.698.4765