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1. INTRODUCTION
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your classroom has booked a Staging STEM (+) residency with Alley Theatre. Whether you have had an active role in this booking, or are being introduced to Staging STEM (+) for the first time, we are here to be your partners in the classroom.
OVERVIEW
Staging STEM (+) helps to reinforce curriculum, foster collaboration, and establish interpersonal skills while engaging students of all learning styles. The program features:
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Residencies of one or two weeks for 40-60 minutes a day.
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Customizable & tailored curriculum to suit your STAAR goals.
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Professional Teaching Artists.
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Opportunities for students to practice executive functioning skills while learning.
2. BEFORE THE RESIDENCY
MEET WITH US
The Staging STEM (+) planning phase consists of two concise planning meetings with the teaching team to determine the needs of the classroom. First, we will collaborate with you to ensure curricular goals are prioritized. Next, our expert team will add Arts to STEM, creating a customized STEAM curriculum that engages learners of all types. Meetings can be virtual or in-person.
PLANNING MEETING 1
15 MINUTES
LEAD TEACHER & STAGING STEM (+) MANAGER
DISCUSS SCHEDULE & CURRICULUM NEEDS
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Finalize & specify dates
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Determine a consistent daily schedule
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Gauge if a Spanish-speaking Teaching Artist is needed
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Identify curriculum resources
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TEKS
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4 vocab words
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4-5 test questions
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Visual aids & lesson plans related to the TEKS
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Identify a campus location & time for the Open Workshop performance on the final day
TIMELAPSE
ABOUT 2 WEEKS
After the first meeting, the Staging STEM (+) staff chooses the ideal Teaching Artist for your residency & drafts a customized curriculum for your classes.
PLANNING MEETING 2
20 MINUTES
FULL TEACHING TEAM, TEACHING ARTIST, & STAGING STEM (+) PROGRAM MANAGER
MEET TEACHING ARTIST & SHARE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
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Meet the Teaching Artist
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Discuss unique needs of the classroom (non-English speakers, neurodivergent students, etc.)
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Discuss classroom management strategies
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Review schedule & curriculum
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Discuss teacher involvement during the residency
3. DURING THE RESIDENCY
OVERVIEW
During the residency, a professional Teaching Artist will work with each participating classroom for 40-60 minutes daily, enhancing STEAM learning through the customized arts integration curriculum.
SNAPSHOT OF 2 -WEEK RESIDENCY
SNAPSHOT OF 1 -WEEK RESIDENCY
1. INTRO TO ACTOR'S TOOLBOX + THEATRE SKILLS
1 WEEK
2 WEEK
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Teaching Artist (TA) gives pre-assessment.
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TA establishes actor's tool box & other fundamental theatre tools.
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STEM content is introduced through vocabulary & essential questions.
2. MERGE THEATRE ACTIVITIES WITH STEM CURRICULUM
1 WEEK
2 WEEK
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Heavy focus on vocabulary, concepts, processes, & essential questions related to TEKS.
3. DRAFT PERFORMANCE TO DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF TEKS
1 WEEK
2 WEEK
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Students devise & rehearse their own performance to demonstrate their knowledge of the TEKS.
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Review content knowledge & real-world application through dramatization.
4. FINAL PREP FOR DEMONSTRATION OF LEARNING
1 WEEK
2 WEEK
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Students rehearse in the performance space, reinforcing the content they've learned.
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TA prepares students for the Open Workshop performance.
5. OPEN WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE
1 WEEK
2 WEEK
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TA gives students post-assessment.
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TA facilitates the Open Workshop performance.
OPEN WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE
WHAT IS IT?
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A demonstration of learning involving all residency participants
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A performance guided by the Teaching Artist
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A short piece of theatre created and performed by each class, that is based on the activities from the residency
Open Workshop works best in spaces where there is no competing noise or activity. Here are some examples:
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A library
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A multipurpose room
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An auditorium
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A cafeteria
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Your classroom
Open Workshop can be viewed by:
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Invited family members, if the school chooses.
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Fellow classmates who participated in the residency.
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School & district administrators, or other faculty members who are interested in watching the culmination.
An Open Workshop is NOT a polished performance. This demonstration of learning allows the audience to see the TA and teacher giving coaching and adjustments in real time.
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There is no need for costumes, props, or scripts for the students to hold.
WHAT WE DO
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Relay important details about Open Workshop to participating classrooms
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Provide invitations to send out to families
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
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Coordinate with school leaders to reserve location for Open Workshop rehearsal & performance
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Share invitations with intended guests
ROLE OF THE TEACHER
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP:
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Involvement & support while the TA is in the classroom
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Physical presence in the classroom, or assistance from other faculty members to ensure that the Teaching Artists are never alone in the room with students
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Daily feedback for the Alley team to asses efficacy & adjust as needed
4. AFTER THE RESIDENCY
YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US
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Each classroom receives a one-page document consisting of pre & post assessment data. Sample one-pager here.
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Participating teachers & school administrators complete this survey once the residency is complete.
*Percentages above represent the number of students who responded correctly to assessment questions about the topic.
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
713-315-5408
Meredith J. Long Theatre Center
615 Texas Avenue
Houston, Texas 77002
Copyright © 2024 Alley Theatre Education & Community Engagement.
