Personalized Learning Plan for Thespys™
- Topic - Personalized Learning Plan for Individual (or group) theatre event
- These performance and technical events are based on state and national curriculum for theatre. Students who excel at these events can compete at the Kansas Thespian Festival. Students that receive a superior at the Kansas Thespian Festival will qualify to compete at the International Thespian Festival.
- Student Interests - “We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents, and interests.” – Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook
- These are some questions to ask yourself before you define your goal for this project:
- What do you like best about theatre class?
- What things make coming to your theatre class more appealing/interesting?
- What do you expect from your me, as your teacher?
- What do you like to do when you’re not at school?
- What are you interested in?
- What do you like to do with friends?
- What do you like to do by yourself?
- Is there something you want to learn more about?
- How do you like to learn best?
- What is your favorite subject? Why?
- What else should we know about you?
- These are some questions to ask yourself before you define your goal for this project:
- Goals “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” - Pablo Picasso
- Ensure Equity – All students will have an equal opportunity to be successful in the area of theatre in which they would like to excel.
- Raise Achievement – Starting at where you are at today, you can work on improving your theatrical skills in the area of your choice.
- Inspire Student Action – This is a project where you get to pick the material and the mode to present it in a theatrical world.
- These are questions you should ask before you set your goal for this project.
- What are your strengths and abilities?
- What are areas you would like to improv in?
- What are your personal goals and aspirations, particularly for college and career readiness?
- What are your short-term vs long-term goals?
- How can we measure your growth and success?
- How will you know that you’re making progress toward your goals?
- Tools
- Videos on Superior Individual Events - learn.schooltheatre.org/thespian-honors-acting
- Guide with rules: http://www.olathesouththeatre.org/uploads/1/2/6/9/12699089/thespys_program_guide_2019-2020.pdf
- Learning Modalities
- Visual Learners
- Do performances for the class.
- Model how to slate, transition, and perform. Show them videos of superior-rated individual events.
- Rubrics on the website with instructions that can be reviewed.
- Auditory Learners
- Podcasts on the website with insturctions on how to excel at IE’s.
- Break into groups to discuss how to work on the IE’s.
- Group projects where there can be discussion about how to improve.
- Tactile Learners
- Planning the IE with notes.
- Drawing out the blocking or making sketchs of the project before starting.
- Making a “plan” in an outline form for out to accomplish the project.
- Kinesthetic Learners
- Get on their feet and start “playing” with material (acting or tech)
- Plan blocking by using Viewpoints in a rehearsal.
- Begin by drawing objects or pulling images to make an inspiration board.
- Visual Learners
- Choices
- Performance Categories
- Monologue
- Duo Acting
- Group Acting
- Solo Musical Theatre
- Duet Musical Theatre
- Group Musical Theatre
- Technical Categories
- Costume Construction
- Costume Design
- Lighting Design
- Makeup Design
- Scenic Design
- Short Film
- Sound Design
- Stage Management
- Theatre Marketing
- Selecting the material
- Material can be from any published full-length or one-act play or musical that is written for theatre. See the guide for instructions on publishing companies.
- Performance Categories
- Defining Your Starting Point & Refine Areas of Focus
- Find your baseline on the rubrics to figure out where you are starting. Possible have friends, parents, or the teacher evaluate you on your performance level before you start.
- Before starting the individual event, look at the rubrics and figure out your starting point. Then figure out where you want to go. Pick the areas in which you want to improve.
- Tracking & Assessing – “Without continual growth and progress, such words as ‘improvement,’ ‘achievement,’ and ‘success’ have no meaning.” – (attributed to) Benjamin Franklin
- Use the rubrics provided by the Educational Theatre Association
- https://www.schooltheatre.org/communities/community-home/librarydocuments/viewdocument?DocumentKey=c1849031-3ce7-4981-b999-19c285027a56
- The ratings are (4) Superior, (3) Excellent, (2) Good, and (1) Fair.
- The ratings tabulate to a numeric total from 4 to 24, depending on the number of criteria included in the individual rubric.
- Average scores are rounded up to the nearest whole number, if there are multiple people assessing the performance (i.e. family members, classmates, etc).
- Record each rehearsal and performance.
- Take pictures of each step of your design project.
- Keep a log of your scores on the project as you rehearse and develop it. Constantly assess the project using the rubrics.
- Use the rubrics provided by the Educational Theatre Association
- Building a Dialogue
- The following are questions that could be used in evaluating your process with a friend, parent, or your teacher.
- How do I feel about the progress I am making in tracking toward my goal?
- What strengths and I currently building?
- What areas do I feel I still need more work in?
- What recent achievements have I made?
- How was I able to make these gains in learning?
- How can I apply these strategies to areas where I might still need more work?
- How can your friend, family member, or teacher help you? What do you need from them?
- The following are questions that could be used in evaluating your process with a friend, parent, or your teacher.
- Compile a Student Portfolio
- Take pictures of your progress along the way.
- Film you rehearsals and your performances.
- Determine your audience for your final project.
- Make a plan for how you will share your progress and your final product.
- Share your Final Project/Performance
- Students – A safe place that creates a support system for everyone. Celebrate your work with the class by telling them your goals and letting them celebrate in your successes as you improve.
- Parents & Siblings – These can be some of your biggest cheerleaders. Share your work with people that will build you up.
- Teachers and Private Coaches – These people can serve as role models or mentors. Keeping them informed can be a powerful motivator for your continued academic growth. They can help you with questions that you have about the work or provide constructive feedback, if you desire.