![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7285.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cBoth of them have had the introduction to theatre class,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThe girls and I will meet and I\u2019ll talk with them about what I\u2019m going to be teaching, and then they take it and do a mini lesson with them. It really depends on what we\u2019re doing. We might all be together for an activity or if I\u2019m going to be lecturing, the girls take the lesson and take a piece or part of it \u2013 not try to give them the whole lecture.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe adapt it so it will be interesting and engaging for students with disabilities,\u201d Baldwin added.<\/p>\n
Set design, improvisation, light, sound, direction, movement are among the topics covered, in addition to daily icebreakers and theatre activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my favorites was definitely getting to work on set design,\u201d said Dinsmore. \u201cWe gave them a lot of the choices and it helps them to be able to think for themselves. They chose the \u2018Wizard of Oz\u2019 and they cut all this out and they made it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had them write down\u00a0the area of the set they\u2019d like to build,\u201d added Baldwin. \u201cSome people wanted to build trees, some people wanted to do Dorothy\u2019s house. We had several different settings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another favorite lesson was learning more about the director\u2019s role.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all wrote a scene together, which was loosely based off \u2018Harry Potter,\u2019 and they all got a turn to be the director,\u201d said Dinsmore. \u201cThey got to tell us what voices to have and where to go, and Madelyn and I acted in the scene, too. That was really fun for me because it\u2019s giving them more of a well-rounded experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Smith brought all the students together for a lesson on improvisation, she sought the expertise of Baldwin and Dinsmore.<\/p>\n \u201cThe girls have a really good rapport with these kids now and helped me determine who would be best in the class to pair them up with for improv,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n Students shined in scenes from \u2018Toy Story\u2019 and \u2018Star Wars,\u2019 among others, according to special education assistants who are present for each class.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was very animated. It was nice to see them come out of their comfort zone a little and open up a lot,\u201d said Tiffany Ferebee. \u201cWhen they get to act out, they get to have more fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Another assistant, Rebecca Summers, also has seen students blossom in the class.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething I\u2019ve seen in Michael, he\u2019s very expressive in this class. He\u2019s in his own world outside of the class, but in here, I\u2019ve seen one of the best actors in the entire class. It\u2019s like he has a home on stage and that\u2019s beautiful to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Summers also noted the positive influence of Baldwin and Dinsmore.<\/p>\n \u201cJessica, because she likes to talk a lot, some people in other classes find it a little challenging; but in this class, both Madelyn and Kaylin bring out the best in her and they\u2019re so patient with her. And she can be herself in this class, which, in other areas of the school, is not as easy for her to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n