Teacher in Role

Younger students love when the teacher goes into role (T.I.R) with them during an improvisation. It works well because it is unexpected if not overused as a teaching strategy, because the teacher is also 'playing' and therefore showing another, more human side to their personality. It is a shared experience that they are unlikely to have with another member of staff or possibly with another adult. It also helps keep an improvisation on track as the teacher can direct the improvisation in the direction that it needs to go in, ask questions to explore themes or ideas that may have not arisen yet and to help support less able students.

Tongue Twisters - Starter Activities and Practice at Home to Improve Vocal Technique

Some good tongue - twisters that can be done in class with students initially- say them altogether, then maybe they work on them in pairs. Practice saying in turn each tongue twister, slowly to start with and then try and get faster.

−         Red  lorry, yellow lorry

−         She sells seashells on the seashore

−         Ed had edited it

−         Are you copper bottoming 'em maam? No, I'm aluminiuming 'em my man

−         You know New York, you need New York, you know you need, unique New York

−         She stood upon the balustraded balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccupping and amicably welcoming him in

§         Then can be practiced at home to develop the use of  voice/ articulation by saying and repeating actual lines at home so that every word is clear.

§         Encourage the students to say them in front of a mirror so that they can see how much their mouth/ lips/ tongue have to move to get them right and clear!

Speedy Starter Game

A good whole class warm up game- this works well when introducing topics such as 'Commedia' because it gets students thinking quickly and introduces them to the idea of improvisation and develops their listening skills. It also develops good hand/ eye co-ordination for a cross curricular link to PE! 'Earth Air Water' game:-

·         Whole class in a circle. Teacher in the centre.

·         Throws a ball to people in the circle and says either 'earth, air or water'. Then they count down from 5-1.

·         The student has to catch the ball, say a member of that category and get the ball back to the W/Shop leader before they get to 1, or they are out.

·         Play until one person left.

·         Not allowed any repeated answers.