If you ask a High Meadows student to describe theatre, you'll probably get an overwhelming number of students exclaiming, "It's FUN!" Yes, underneath all the work that goes into learning lines, designing production elements, writing scripts, learning the rules of improv, and understanding the art of puppeteering--our students are having fun. Just as important, they are also learning fundamental social and communication skills.

It may seem like a given that theatre is a social experience for students, but they may not realize they are actually learning and incorporating the social skills they will need throughout their lives. Accepting responsibility, respecting others, and cooperating are concepts that are at the heart of a theatre arts class. We reflect many of these social skills in our Theatre Arts Department Core Values. We often remind students that theatre is a "team sport" and that it is our job to support our ensemble in the best way we can. Respect and empathy are vital elements to this work. Being able to put yourself in someone else's shoes and see things from another perspective creates trust, understanding, self-confidence, and an ability to work around your differences.

Certainly, students have multiple opportunities to express themselves in a theatre classroom, but it is also necessary for them to consider other perspectives and points of view. They are asked to solve problems creatively. They work together to ensure that each piece of a production fits into the larger vision and when conflicts do arise, they know that everyone in the room is working toward the common good. They are intrinsically motivated to succeed because of the trust and relationships they build within their ensemble. These life-skills are crucial to preparing students for the world they are inheriting.

Speaking is a key communication skill that obviously gets a great deal of attention in many of our classes. We introduce four vocal dynamics as early as Third Grade: Projection, Articulation, Pacing and Expression. By adding "Rehearse all of these," Four/Five class created an acrostic that we now use with all grade levels: PAPER. Regardless of the subject area, students benefit from using PAPER in any type of presentation.

Coincidentally (or not), a script is also written on paper. From reading a published script to writing an original script, actors, designers and techies alike exercise reading comprehension, make inferences and draw conclusions. It is also common to see actors keeping journals to record their observations about the process and their characters. Productions naturally incorporate the construction and presentation of visual materials. Designers instinctively discuss how their work conveys the ideas and information to a diverse audience.

For our students, it's just a regular day in drama. For us, theatre arts is a natural connection to all the transdisciplinary skills the PYP rightfully considers valuable in and out of the classroom.