Education for All

So you want to have an elementary school play, but how do you choose who gets each part. Since elementary students are quite a bit different from middle and high school students here are some ideas that you might find helpful in choosing parts.

First the students need to want to do it enough to give up some of their time. So schedule tryouts during recess or lunch time. If the student is willing to give up their recess or lunch then they really want to do it.

I rarely give students a long wait to try out. I tell them on Monday that we will be having tryouts that week so be sure to listen and watch the bulletins. If a student really wants to participate then they will remember and keep watching for the tryouts. This gives you an idea of which students really want this experience because they will stop you in the hall and ask.

Second, the students must be willing to speak loud enough to be heard. The first try out I have them line up, then I stand at the back of the room. The student is then requested to say any nursery rhyme that they would like to repeat. This way you can see if you can hear them and if they speak clearly. Then I have them say the nursery rhyme again, but I see if they can act a little so I ask them to say the nursery rhyme as if they were “a little old lady” or “like a cheerleader” etc. If they are too shy to do a little acting then I put them on the list for short speaking parts. Those students that speak loudly, clearly and do a little acting I put on a short list to have read parts. (more…)