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Boosting Language Skills of English Learners Through Dramatization and Movement
Author(s) -
Greenfader Christa Mulker,
Brouillette Liane
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the reading teacher
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.642
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1936-2714
pISSN - 0034-0561
DOI - 10.1002/trtr.1192
Subject(s) - dramatization , psychology , drama , vocabulary , pedagogy , literacy , language arts , mathematics education , comprehension , the arts , dance , visual arts , linguistics , art , philosophy
This article presents an arts integration program that uses drama and dance to promote foundational literacy skills, with an emphasis on the oral development of English Language Learners ( ELL s). Previous research indicates that arts activities afford a beneficial opportunity for young students to practice language skills, but many teachers have received scant training in the arts. The Teaching Artist Project ( TAP ) is a professional development program that helps classroom teachers use dramatization and creative movement to enhance comprehension and promote verbal interaction in the classroom. Children learn to imaginatively connect the decontextualized vocabulary of the classroom with their own experiences. A mixed methods study of TAP found that K‐1 ELL s who participated in TAP showed improvements in early literacy skills compared with their peers. This article introduces approaches used in TAP , suggests sources of the language gains, and discusses strategies for successful implementation.