I teach drama to a Homeschool Group of around 5-6 students. Two are very easy to work with and are willing to try just about anything and have become fairly good actors. Two try, and are still learning well. How ever they are often brought down by the brother sister team the is the worst of the class. Don't get me wrong I love teaching drama, but i have never run it to children such as these two.
They don't respond to any intructions (no negative response or postive response ) They just sit there and stare at me like I'm a tap-dancing toad. Other teachers have refered to teaching these two, "like pulling teeth"
How can I get these students involved in the class?
Any activity ideas?
Please help they are pulling down the rest of the class, and it makes it no fun of the other students
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Here's my two cents...
I think that the phrase you used "brother & sister team" is part of the problem. I would try to work with them in a different mode all together. I DO understand what you mean by them just sitting & staring...perhaps they are related to some of my co-workers (haha...ok, but that's another story).
1. Regarding their "team" mentality, I think you should try to separate them as much as possible. Let them "try" to become more independent in nature. Perhaps by doing that they will work toward their own individuality. Siblings can often run into all kinds of problems when they are involved in the same activity at the same time.
2. You might want to pair them up with some of your stronger (more skilled) students during exercises. Sometimes this can help. As a musician, I always tried to play with more advanced players in order to challenge myself. This helped me improve tremendously.
3. Have them "individually" lead an exercise ...for the whole class to follow. It doesn't have to be difficult or for an extended period of time. An example of an exercise: Have each of them "interview" their classmates about a specific subject...like a talk show host interviewing a kitchen staff preparing for a huge banquet or a news reporter reporting on a major story...a disaster like a tornado. This gives them the opportunity to "have an experience in a leadership role".
4. Try making time to talk to them one on one as often as you can. Find out what they like about your class...what they don't. Do not ask them yes or no questions...ask them open ended questions. The more they reveal, the more you might have to "work with". Chances are this is a huge reflection of their homelife. Perhaps their own parents feel unmotivated or lack the vital energy in everyday living.
Good luck.
tell their parents telling the parents is ussaly the biggest threat to a kid otherwise just use rewards like pencils and candy for the best playrole or whatever your doing or the best workers kids like rewards :)
Well talk to their parents about it... adventually their parents do have control of them... Or if you don't want them to hate you even more than do something they want to do... secretly ask their parents what they like and then give them that... soon they will trust you and pay attention to you...