Dear Parents,

Allow me to introduce myself…My name is Jeni McCarrell and I am delighted to be your child’s Creative Dramatics teacher this year.

This is my 15th year of teaching. For 12 of those years, my experience was in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classrooms. Most recently, I have spent the last two years as the creative dramatics teacher at Forest Vista. It has been a very enjoyable experience to work with all of the children; especially rewarding to see them mature as they progress through each grade level.

I would like to emphasize what I hope to accomplish with my students, as well as inform you of the differences between formal drama and creative dramatics. Formal drama emphasizes the end product, the production and the dramatic impact on the audience. In contrast, Creative Dramatics is primarily for the participants. The emphasis is on the process; development of higher level thinking, exploration of movement, feelings, and self-expression. The children are communicating their own feelings and ideas. They are creating, rather than just playing a given role.

In addition, the children will be working individually and in cooperative groups. My goal is to help them develop “people” skills. The benefits can be observed through their ability to attain proper techniques in dealing with difference of opinions, taking turns in a conversation, and communicating effectively.

The following units will be covered this year:
1. creative movement, pantomime, improvisational work
2. speech, impromptu speech and storytelling
3. role playing and character development
4. group dramatization, skits, scenes

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Jeni McCarrell
mccarrellj@lisd.net

“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."
Joseph Chilton Pearce