As the holiday season approaches, many educators find themselves in a bit of a conundrum: How do I maintain a culturally responsive and inclusive learning environment when dominant culture often presents a nostalgic, singular vision of what this time of year should be - white snow, yuletide carols around a piano, eggnog, and perhaps a decorated tree with lots of presents nestled by a glowing fire?
For some, this scene from White Christmas resonates deeply; but for others, it does not. This can be especially challenging for educators striving to prioritize a culturally responsive curriculum. How do you acknowledge and honor all traditions (or lack thereof) that accompany this season?
Should you have a Christmas tree in the classroom, light candles on a Menorah, or create a winter solstice wreath? Do you say 'Merry Christmas', 'Happy Holidays', 'Happy Kwanzaa', or opt for 'HappyChrismahanukwanzakah'?
The good news is... you don't have to worry about any of this if you empower your students to share stories. Culturally responsive learning experiences are rooted in guiding students to explore their interests by honoring their lived experiences while learning about people different from themselves.
One way to facilitate this exploration is by helping students ask questions and search for stories within themselves, their classroom, and the broader community.
Storytelling is the foundation of both theatrical and literary art forms. Breaking down the different elements of a story and their functions can help students build skills across all areas of drama. During the holiday season, students can focus on crafting stories unique to their experiences, rather than adhering to an imposed or inaccurate representation.
To develop writing and acting skills, teachers might consider using the verbatin theatre-making strategy popularized by theatre artists Anna Deavere Smith and Moisés Kaufman.
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Check out these DT+ resources and learn directly from artists at The Paper Birds Theatre Company for in-depth instructions on using Verbatim Theatre exercises with your students! |
In a nutshell, students act as journalists, interviewing a variety of people, and then using verbatim transcripts to write monologues that they perform as authentically as possible. The goal is to capture in writing and performance the nuances and unique qualities that each person brings to their interview.
During this time of year, you can create interview questions that ask about traditions or stories related to holiday or winter themes. Then, have students learn and perform these monologues, sharing how they embodied the people they interviewed.
This project will bring a variety of seasonal stories to life, honoring and building empathy for how different people engage during this time of year.
To develop improvisational skills, teachers might use a form of Applied Theatre called Playback Theatre, which is an improvisational storytelling technique where actors listen to audience volunteers' stories, and the audience selects the actors to represent their experiences. The actors then spontaneously re-enact key moments from these stories.
This activity can be adapted to holiday themes, with students working in small groups as both audience and actors. Playback Theatre can also be a starting point for developing a longer devised theatre piece to share with a wider audience.
Finally, you can always take the pressure off by showing your class a DT+ production.
Featuring a range of performances that explore universal themes of community, resilience, and creativity, these productions can foster meaningful shared experiences for all students.
These productions can help to foster engagement and discussion without excluding anyone (not to mention giving you a day off from lesson planning!).
The end of the year doesn't have to be a time of uncertainty or fear that someone will be left out of the joys of the season. Those joys can be reimagined through the way we give and receive stories in our lives. By focusing on culturally responsive learning experiences, students will see that their stories matter, and that listening to a range of other stories fosters connection and a sense of belonging.
With this approach, the holiday season can truly be one of the most wonderful - and inclusive - times of the year!
Earlier this year, Julia Cuppy was part of our Acting Essentials: The Foundations of Character Work Professional Development course. Find out more and access this on-demand course here.